10 Tips for Good Resume

Getting a job is sometimes tasking if you do not have a good resume. Many times we are told to prepare a resume that is tailored to the job before the interview. Whatever you put down should be the experiences, qualities you have or the responsibilities that you hold. The following are tips that one should follow in order to come up with a good resume.

10. Submit your cover letter and resume properly

In the top ten tips for resume writing, submit your cover letter and resume properly is position 10. Begin by combining your cover letter and resume into a single PDF file reasons being, employers do not have the time to open multiple emails. Do not include the cover letter with the body of the email because the employer might not see it instead; type your cover letter on a letter head, save it as a PDF then put it together with your resume. Make sure your resume and cover letter is one page each. Limit the body of the email to a few sentences i.e. address the person the application is going to, introduce yourself and what position you are qualifying for and mention that you have attached your cover letter and resume.

9. Proofread your Resume Twice.

In the top ten tips for resume writing, proofread your resume twice is position 9. Ones resume must be free of any error. Just one misspelled word or punctuation error can ruin ones hard work. Most managers do not consider positions for those whose resume have mistakes. You should proofread your resume twice on the following areas: spelling, facts and figures, spacing, punctuation, clarity and content, contact information and layout. Do not proofread your resume on the screen but print it out and proofread and you will notice how many errors are visible on the printed page.

8. Include relevant resume keywords

In the top ten tips for resume writing, include relevant resume keywords is position 8. Your resume should have the same keywords that appear in job descriptions. By so doing, you will increase your chances of your resume matching available positions- and you being selected for an interview. The keywords should include specific job requirements, your skills, software and technology competencies, relevant credentials, and previous employers. For example someone looking for employee benefit management position should use these keywords- employee benefit plans, health care benefits, benefit policy, FMLA.  Use a job search engine to get keywords.

7. Include your Contact information on your Resume

In the top ten tips for resume writing, include your contact information on your resume is position 7. The main reason we include our contact information is for the employer to get in touch with us.  You can do so by including your full name, street address, city, state and zip, home phone number, cell phone number and email address. Use personal email address and not your work address. In case you accept text messages, list them next to your phone number.

6. Prioritize your Resume Content

In the top ten tips for resume writing, prioritize your resume content is position 6. It is important to prioritize your resume content so that your most important and relevant experience is listed first with what you accomplish listed at the top of each position. As you compile the information for your resume, prioritize your accomplishments by importance, achievements and relevance to the job you are applying for. Put yourself in your employer’s position and try to figure out what information should be relevant. Then, prioritize the information you provide in each description. Present what you think is of greatest interest to your potential employer first.

5. Write a Custom Resume

In the top ten tips for resume writing, write a custom resume is position 5. Write a custom resume that highlights the experience you have that is relevant to the job you are applying for. It is sometimes worth the effort when you are applying for a job that is a perfect match for your qualifications and experience. For you to customize your resume, edit your resume so that your skills and experience are close to the job description. Use the keywords from your job posting and place them into your resume.

4. Choose a basic Resume Font

In the top ten tips for resume writing, choose a basic resume font is position 4. The basic font is a requirement when writing a resume because it is easy to read. Make your resume simple. Use 10 or 12 font to ensure your resume is read. Basic fonts like Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman and Verdana can work well. Section headers can be made a little larger or bold. Do not overuse capitalization, bold, italics, underlines or other emphasizing features. If you decide to bold certain sections, then bold uniformly.

3. Choose a right Resume Font

In the top ten tips for resume writing, choose a right resume font is position 3. All resumes have been written in either Arial or Times New Roman so decide and know that the font you choose will influence the reviewer’s perception of you. Consider whether you want to submit your resume electronically or not because sometimes, what might appear small on the screen would appear big on print. The simplest solution is to convert your resume to an Adobe PDF file while others will require that you submit in the Microsoft Word .doc or docx file format. Try a few fonts and see what looks best with your information. Experiment with both serif and sans serif fonts and with bolding and unbolding the heading to see what looks best.

2. Use a Resume Template

In the top ten tips for resume writing, use a resume template is position 2. A resume template can help you when your resume needs writing or rewriting. It is always advisable to review your resume template to get an idea of what a resume should look like. Use a resume template or a sample as a starting point for creating your own resume. Add your information to the resume template, then tweak and edit it to personalize your resume so that it highlights your skills and abilities.

1. Review Resume Examples

In the top ten tips for resume writing, review resume examples is position 1. One should choose a resume that highlights your strengths and achievements then review it. Start by taking a look at the original resume, try to review it yourself, identify its strength and weaknesses. Check the evaluation form with the general feedback and grading, get back to the resume.