How do you want your prospective employer to remember you? Neat and presentable? Dull and boring? Interesting and precise? Companies have limited time to interview every interested applicant, so they use an eliminating process to screen the right person for the job using professional resumes.

You can never underestimate the power of your resume. It is your first and sometimes best chance to show your abilities to your prospective employer. The average employer only spends 6-7 seconds looking at resumes, so it’s only a matter of a few seconds to make an impression. You have a few moments to convince your employer that your resume deserves attention before they throw it in the bin. Since the first impression lasts, a beautifully designed and well-formatted resume can change how prospective employers perceive you. Thus, marketing your strengths and skills with a well-crafted resume can help you stand out among other applicants.

Choosing the Right Professional Resume Format to Land an Interview

Part of creating a well-written resume is selecting the right format to share your professional story with the recruiter. However, not all job seekers format their resumes in ways that showcase their specific skills and work experience as well as they could. 

There are three main resume formats that most recruiters expect to see: chronological, functional, and combined. Don’t assume that one resume format is a one-size-fits-all solution for your job hunting needs. 

The bread and butter choice for most job seekers, especially for college students, is the reverse-chronological resume format. It is a traditional resume format where you emphasize your work experience and list your job in order from the most recent to the oldest. However, work experience is not the only factor to consider when choosing a format – position, company, and industry also matter. 

Unlike a chronological resume, functional resumes de-emphasize work experience and devote more space to relevant skills and accomplishments. If you want a career change or you have limited work experience, this resume format may help you land a job.

Another standard resume format is a combination of the chronological and functional resume. You can call it the best of both worlds and a happy medium since it brings both the skills and work experiences to the forefront. 

5 Simple Tips for Writing Your Resume

Let’s face it: reading resumes is nearly as tedious as writing one. Fortunately, you only have to write one; employers need to read dozens! With several applications to read, recruiters need to skim resumes. So how can you guarantee that resume ticks all the boxes and stands out in a sea of applications? Here are five simple tips to tweak your professional resume and get recruiters to notice it:   

• Include the most relevant information 

Recruiters don’t spend much time reading every job seeker’s resume. Even if you have extensive work experience and education, keep your resume concise. Keep only the essential information. 

• Use a professional font

When writing a resume, some recruiters prefer classic and easy-to-read fonts like Helvetica, Arial, and Geneva. It is also essential to highlight the headings (bold, italicize, underline, CAPITALIZE) and increase the font size to 14-16 points. Be sure to use a font size of 10-12 points in the body to make it readable. 

• Start with your necessary details: name, address, and contact information

After you’ve decided on the format and layout, you can now add content, including contact information, work experience, education, skills, organizations, and references. Don’t use an informal email address from your early days on the Internet. Meanwhile, the skills section is your time to flex, so don’t forget to highlight both your hard and soft skills. 

• Proofread and edit your resume

Before you print your resume and send it to potential employers, make sure to proofread. Check for grammar and spelling errors, then get a second opinion from a trusted friend or colleague.

• Look for the keyword(s) in the job posting

Keywords can make a big difference in a successful job search. Make a keyword list and include as many keywords as possible throughout your resume. Proper keywords will show prospective employers that you pay attention and that you are a fit for the company. 

Today’s competitive job market requires you to have a professional resume that can help you sell yourself to employers. Make sure to include the most relevant information on your resume and highlight specific skills to increase your chances of approvals. If you want to get more callbacks, job offers, and interviews, download the professional resume from JC Porter!