Writing a resume requires discipline. After all, one page isn’t very much when it comes to recapping your career, especially when you’re no longer an entry-level employee with one job under your belt.
If you’re looking for a new job, it’s important to remember that a resume should act more like a highlight reel than a deep dive into you and your history. While you should design your resume however you wish, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
Here are three things you should have on your resume:
1. A summary. Including a short summary of who you are and your major achievements right at the top of your resume can save your hiring managers some extra work and get to the essence of you are. The purpose is to offer an easy-to-read snapshot of you and your accomplishments. Put things like “Increased sales by X over Y years” and “television producer with 10 years of experience in news.” The format should look like the rest of your resume.
2. Awards and distinctions. Some people like to sprinkle the awards and distinctions they’ve acquired throughout their resume. If doable, the better scenario would be to create a separate section. People naturally gravitate toward reading the first bit of every section (instead of taking in every word of an entire resume), so do yourself a favor and create a separate section to highlight some of your most worthy accomplishments.
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3. Certifications.
Chances are good that, no matter what industry you’re in, there are certain certifications available to you that demonstrate your proficiency in a certain program, field or skill. Make sure to highlight those by displaying them prominently on your resume. Also use this area to highlight any distinct skills or programs that are relevant to your particular skill (i.e. – listing coding languages you’re proficient in or languages you speak that might be relevant to your future job).
4. Interests.
It may seem like a fluffy thing to have on your resume, but a line that highlights your interests and passions can actually be a valuable piece of your resume. Why? Hiring managers are human; they may see something on your resume that sparks a conversation or creates a shared bond. In an interview, this is particularly helpful — great hiring managers know that the key to a good interview is to make it not feel like an interview, so if they can draw on something fun or interesting from your resume, you may find yourself in a conversation that gets you laughing and eases your anxiety.
5. White space. You may be tempted to cram in every last detail about every last job, but you may be doing yourself a disservice. If your resume doesn’t have adequate margins (at least 0.8 inches), or the text is ridiculously small, a hiring manager is going to have a very hard time reading it and may just push it aside. Remember, a resume is just supposed to be a teaser; leave in only what’s relevant so that you can maximize the white space on the page.
Bonus tip: As you prepare for the job search, remember to think beyond your resume. Use sites such as Comparably to find out how employees feel about the companies you’re applying to, and see how much people like you get paid.
