How to Create a Solid Resume

How to Create a Solid Resume

When most people hear the word "resume", they tend to feel a bit of anxiety and uncertainty. What makes a resume deemed as great and professional? Is there even such a thing as a "perfect resume?" These questions, along with many others, can be explained by our expert team at Express Employment.

A few successful resume building tips include careful edits, having relevant and focused content, seeking a second (or third or fourth) opinion, having a consistent format, and clear legibility. Mediocre resumes without these necessities will unquestionably be ignored and thrown away by hiring managers. Hiring managers may receive hundreds of applications and resumes per day, so it is important to stand out from the rest.

Aside from the content itself, the visual/design aspect of your resume can make or break for some hiring managers. For legibility purposes, avoid small font sizes, heavy blocks of text, vague language, complex wording, and random formatting. Additionally, resumes should always be consistent, brief, and easy to grasp. A sloppy resume might not only be immediately discarded, but it can also give the hiring manager a bad first impression, even if the person applying happens to be perfectly qualified.

Be sure to select the best resume strategy type for your needs. Resume strategy types include targeted, chronological, functional and combination:

• A targeted resume is edited particularly for the company you are applying to. By having a specific resume for the position, you can highlight key points that will help you stand out from other applicants. Targeted resumes take more time to create, but are highly effective. 
• Chronological resumes consist of what most people expect when creating a resume. They include a brief history of your work experience, ordered from the most recent to least recent. Chronological resumes can help your job experience be clear and relevant to the employer. In addition, admirable work and achievements should always be placed at the top of the resume. Most hiring managers prefer chronological resumes, but that doesn't mean other types should necessarily be ignored. 
• Functional resumes do not focus on when you worked, but rather what your role was. For functional resumes, someone's experience is the main component. Functional resumes can help brush aside large employment gaps or unrelated work within your career path. 
• Finally, combination resumes are a hybrid of functional and chronological resumes. This format is used to outline the skills you have and relate them to past employment experiences.

Although there is no perfect type of resume, these four types can help outline your experiences and abilities in a way that is both visually appealing and easy for the hiring manager to follow and understand.

Check on your resume's legibility as well. Avoid fonts that are overly decorative and difficult to read. Universal fonts, such as Arial or Times New Roman are solid choices. Although these fonts may seem dull at first, it is certainly much better for the potential employer to be able to read your resume. The size of these fonts should range from 10-12 pt. 

Consistency is not only important in your layout, but in your text blocks as well. Make sure that you do not use more than two fonts for your entire resume. Sometimes, it is appropriate to use three fonts, but only in rare cases, such as with creative resumes. If one decides to use bullet points to list their experiences, make sure to use them throughout the entire resume. It may seem oversimplified at first, but having consistency can make your resume appear more professional.

Your resume should also be catered towards the position you are applying to. Professional resumes should not be longer than one page, but two pages are sometimes an exception depending on the field of work. Keep your resume updated often, and only use a more creative layout if it applies to your field.

Although these suggestions can greatly improve your resume, make sure to seek an outside opinion before submission. With Express Employment, we provide diverse professional services for individuals searching for future careers, including tips and tricks like this. Be sure to visit our website specific to our Athens, Braselton, Covington, and Lawrenceville locations to learn more.