How to write an outstanding resume

Your resume is a vital document that showcases skills, achievements, and experiences to potential employers. It is your chance to create a lasting first impression and demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the job. However, sitting down to craft an outstanding resume can be a challenging task.

In this article, we want to walk you through some critical steps to create a resume that stands out from the crowd and hopefully help you secure your next role.

Why even have a Resume?

A well-crafted resume can be the key to landing your dream job. It is an opportunity to showcase why you are the best fit for their organisation. However, before you start crafting your resume, it is essential to understand what it is and more importantly what it isn't.

First and foremost, a resume is not a comprehensive list of everything you have ever done in your career. Instead, it is a targeted marketing tool that should be tailored to the job you are applying for. It should be concise, relevant, and easy to read. Think of it as your professional calling card.

Showcasing Your Skills and Experience

In this section, you need to demonstrate your unique skill sets and how they have helped you advance your career. Whether you specialise in a particular programming language, have excellent communication skills, or are a master of design, it is essential to showcase how your skills stand out from other applicants.

Tailoring Your Resume to the Job

One of the most critical aspects of creating a resume is tailoring it to the job you are applying for. Research the company and the job requirements to find out what skills they are looking for in a candidate. You can use the job description to guide you on what to include in your resume, ensuring you are the perfect fit for the role.

However, tailoring your resume does not mean lying or exaggerating your experience. Instead, it means highlighting the skills and experiences you have that are most relevant to the job you are applying for.

This step is time consuming but the resume is outstanding right?

Make a Lasting Impression

Your resume must make a lasting impression on potential employers. You can accomplish this by being concise, relevant, and straightforward. Use clear language, bullet points, and white space to create a visually appealing layout that is easy to read.

Another way to make a lasting impression is to include an introduction statement at the top of your resume. This statement should be a brief overview of your skills and experience, highlighting why you are the best fit for the job.

Finally, make sure to proofread your resume carefully. Spelling and grammar errors can make a negative impression on potential employers, so take the time to ensure your resume is error-free.

Choosing the Right Resume Format

When it comes to creating a resume, choosing the right format is very important. The format you choose will depend on your circumstances and personal preferences. Here are some of the most commonly used formats:

Chronological Resume

The chronological resume format is the most traditional format and focuses on your work history, starting with your most recent job and working backward. This type of resume is best suited for those with a stable work history and a clear career progression. It is also a great format for those who want to showcase their career growth and achievements over time.

When creating a chronological resume, it is important to list your job titles, company names, dates of employment, and key responsibilities and accomplishments for each position. This will give potential employers a clear understanding of your work experience and qualifications.

Functional Resume

The functional resume format emphasizes your skills and abilities, rather than your work history. This format is ideal for those just starting their careers or those who have gaps in their employment history. It is also a great format for those who want to showcase their transferable skills.

When creating a functional resume, it is important to highlight your key skills and accomplishments and provide examples of how you have used those skills in previous roles. You can also include a summary of your qualifications at the top of your resume to give potential employers a quick overview of your skills and experience.

Crafting a Compelling Professional Introduction

Your professional introduction is a brief statement that summarises your career highlights, unique value proposition, and career goals. It is the first thing a potential employer will read, so it is essential to make it stand out. A well-crafted professional summary can grab the reader's attention and encourage them to read further, making it a critical component of your job application.

Highlighting Your Unique Value Proposition

Your unique value proposition is what sets you apart from other candidates. It is your unique combination of skills, experiences, and personality traits that make you the best candidate for the job. Therefore, it is essential to showcase this in your professional summary to give potential employers a reason to consider you for the position.

Demonstrating Your Career Progression

It is wise to demonstrate your career progression in your professional summary. Highlighting the skills and experiences you've gained over time shows that you are continually growing as a professional. It also gives potential employers a sense of your work ethic and dedication to your career.

Showcasing Relevant Achievements

You may want to showcase relevant achievements to demonstrate your ability to add value to the opening. This could be anything from decreasing tech downtime to improving internal processes. By highlighting your achievements, you can show potential employers that you have a track record of success and can make a positive impact on the organization.

A resume is a very straight forward document, but your summary is the only part where you can shine and show personality. Don’t let your resume fall short by not including a compelling introduction.

Showcasing Your Work Experience

Your work experience section is where you list your job history, describing your roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Some tips to consider here:

Listing Your Job History

List your job history in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Include the job title, company name, and employment dates.

Describing Your Roles and Responsibilities

Describe your job roles and responsibilities in a clear and concise manner. Use bullet points to make your job tasks easily digestible.

Quantifying Your Accomplishments

Include specific examples of your achievements and quantify them wherever possible. One way to do this is to use specific examples. Consider using the STAR method (situation, task, action and results) to create a more compelling example.

Crafting an outstanding resume takes time, patience and is a never-ending process. However, following these steps can significantly increase your chances of getting hired. Remember to be concise, clear, and tailored to the job you are applying for.

Revert back to your resume whenever you change roles, achieve something new or add a new skill. It is an adaptable document.

If you need further support around resume writing or would like us to review your document for free, reach out today.

Peritus Partners is a next generation recruitment team that focuses on blending education, business and community together. Interested to see how we can help find the best talent for your team or interested in finding a new job? Reach out today 😎