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What are the most important aspects of a resume?

I have started a resume with a template but haven't filled everything out yet.

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Subject: Career question for you

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Flo’s Answer

Congrats, Joyce! If you're not in a rush, that's fantastic — it gives you time to really visualize how you'd like your resume to represent you and how the company and hiring team will connect with your story.

I've experimented with various resume styles to express myself and have also been in a position where I reviewed hundreds of resumes daily. What I've continued to learn and observe is this:

CONCISE – Keep it short and simple. Convey the essence of your professional experiences, skills, and summary in one page (maybe two if necessary). Hiring teams often appreciate brevity.

RELEVANT – Tailor your resume for each position you apply to, unless you're applying for very similar roles. You can use tools like ChatGPT.com to help customize your resume for specific roles, highlighting the most relevant experience and skills. You may need to use specific words to convey similar task to different roles you're applying for.

CATCHY & PROFESSIONAL – Remember, the hiring manager might be reviewing dozens of resumes for a single role. How can yours stand out to the “lazy eyes” scanning quickly? Consider adding a touch of color to your name or using bold lettering for key sections. You might also add a small symbol next to your phone number and email to make it visually appealing.
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James Constantine’s Answer

Dear Joyce,

Essential Elements of a Successful Resume

A well-crafted resume is a vital tool for job seekers, as it forms the initial impression for prospective employers. Here are the key elements to focus on when building your resume:

1. Contact Information Start your resume with your contact details, comprising:

Full name
Telephone number
Email address
LinkedIn profile (optional, yet advisable)
Location (city and state)

Ensure these details are current and professional. Preferably, your email address should incorporate your name.

2. Professional Summary or Objective This segment gives a concise summary of your qualifications and career aspirations. A professional summary showcases your skills and experience pertinent to the job you're seeking, while an objective statement reflects your career goals. Customize this section to match the job description.

3. Work Experience The work experience section is typically the most significant part of a resume. It should encompass:

Job title
Employer's name
Location (city and state)
Employment dates (month and year)
Bullet points outlining your duties and accomplishments

Use dynamic verbs to depict your achievements and, where feasible, quantify outcomes (e.g., "boosted sales by 20%").

4. Education Detail your educational history, including:

Degrees earned
Major(s) or field(s) of study
Names of institutions
Graduation dates

If you have pertinent coursework or honors, consider including them, particularly if you're early in your career.

5. Skills Incorporate a skills section that enumerates both hard and soft skills relevant to the job you're seeking. Hard skills could involve technical abilities or certifications, while soft skills might include communication, teamwork, or problem-solving skills.

6. Additional Sections Depending on your background and the job prerequisites, you might want to include extra sections such as:

Certifications: Relevant certifications can bolster your qualifications.
Volunteer Experience: This can illustrate dedication and additional skills.
Projects: Emphasize significant projects that exhibit relevant experience.

7. Formatting and Design A well-structured layout improves readability:

Employ clear headings for each section.
Maintain consistent font sizes (usually 10–12 points).
Use bullet points for easy scanning.

Steer clear of excessive graphics or colors unless you're in a creative field where such elements might be suitable.

8. Tailoring Your Resume Lastly, customize your resume for each job application by integrating keywords from the job description into your resume. This not only aids in passing through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) but also shows that you've taken the time to comprehend the role.

By concentrating on these key elements, you can construct a persuasive resume that effectively highlights your qualifications and enhances your prospects of securing an interview.

Top 3 Credible Sources Used in Answering this Question

1. The Balance Careers This source offers extensive guidance on resume writing best practices, including in-depth explanations of each section's function and tips for effectively customizing resumes.

2. Harvard Business Review HBR provides insights into contemporary hiring practices and underscores the significance of personal branding through resumes, along with strategies for making resumes stand out in competitive job markets.

3. Indeed Career Guide Indeed's guide outlines the crucial components of resumes with practical examples and advice tailored to various industries, assisting candidates in effectively presenting their experiences.

Probability the answer is correct: 95%

Best Wishes,
JC.
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Dr’s Answer

Hey Joyce! 😊

It’s awesome that you’re getting started on your resume! Crafting a solid resume is like building your personal marketing masterpiece, so let’s make it shine like a star. 🌟

Here are the most important aspects you’ll want to include to make your resume stand out:

1. Contact Information 📞
Make sure your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one) are front and center. Keep it professional—your email should be something like Joyce.smith@..., not coolcat123@... (unless you want to be remembered for the wrong reasons 😜).

2. Resume Objective or Summary ✨
This is like your elevator pitch—a brief statement (2-3 sentences) that sums up your career goals and what you bring to the table. Focus on how you can contribute to a company or position. Example: “Motivated student with strong communication skills, looking for an internship in marketing to apply creativity and organizational skills.”

3. Education 📚
List your school, degree, and graduation date. Include your GPA (if it’s great!), any honors, and relevant coursework. If you’re just starting, make sure to emphasize projects, clubs, or any relevant activities—they help show what you’ve been learning and applying.

4. Experience 🧑‍💼
This is the meat of your resume! List your work experience—it can be internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, or even personal projects that relate to the field you're applying for. Under each position, include bullet points that describe your responsibilities and achievements. Use action words like “led,” “developed,” or “improved” to make it sound dynamic. Don’t forget to mention skills and outcomes (e.g., “Increased social media engagement by 30%”).

5. Skills 🛠️
This section shows you’ve got the tools to succeed! Include technical skills (like software you can use), languages, and soft skills (like teamwork or problem-solving). Be honest about your abilities, and if you’ve taken any classes or certifications, throw them in here too!

6. Certifications and Achievements 🏆
Did you get a special certificate or award? Include it! Whether it’s a first-aid certification, a coding boot camp, or a leadership award from school, these can help set you apart and show your commitment to growth.

7. Projects (Optional but Awesome!) 🎨
If you’ve worked on any projects (school-related or personal), especially ones that demonstrate skills related to the job, this is a great place to showcase them. For example, if you built a website for a school project, or worked on a data analysis project, include a short description and highlight the results!

8. Volunteer Work or Extracurriculars 💖
If you’ve volunteered or been part of any clubs or organizations, this is your chance to show that you have a well-rounded personality. This is especially helpful if you’re still in school or don’t have a ton of work experience yet.

Final Tip: Keep It Clean and Readable 📑
Employers typically glance at resumes for just a few seconds, so make it easy to read. Use bullet points, keep paragraphs short, and avoid cluttering your resume with too much information. Oh, and proofread! (You’d be surprised how often a simple typo can make you seem less professional.)

Once you’ve filled out everything, make sure it represents you well—like a snapshot of who you are professionally. And hey, remember to have fun with it! You’ve got this, Joyce! 🎉
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Jamilah’s Answer

Hi Joyce!

An important aspect to crafting a resume is its format. It is important that your resume is easy to read, professional, has a cohesive style, and that important information is easy to spot at a glance. You can have great accomplishments and experience, but if it is presented poorly, it may not be read. Look up multiple resume templates so that you can view a variety of formats. From there, you can use a provided template, or build your own by incorporating elements from various sources.

A good template will guide you in filling in relevant information. Keep the resume itself to a single page. Avoid using multiple fonts and too many colors. Be sure to have headings and your name in bold and present information in concise sentences. Bullet points are a great way to organize lists such as skills, awards, education experience, etc.
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Margarita’s Answer

In addition to all that was suggested by other contributors....
One thing to remember is resume needs to show your high points and benefits for the position you're applying for.
Only list positives that are relevant. Do not list every detail and ability.
Job descriptions and descriptions on job postings help.
Imagine you are looking at such resume from hiring person's point of view. How close is your resume to what they are looking for in their job posting.
Try to find some networking as well in addition to sending out resumes. It is also who you know, not just what you know.
Good luck!
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Danusa’s Answer

The most important aspects of a resume are those that effectively showcase your qualifications, skills, and achievements. Here's what you should focus on:

1. Contact Information
Include your full name, phone number, professional email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable).
Ensure this information is easy to find at the top of your resume.
2. Professional Summary or Objective
Write a brief statement highlighting your skills, experiences, and career goals.
Tailor it to the job you’re applying for to grab the employer’s attention.
3. Work Experience
List your jobs in reverse chronological order.
Include your job title, company name, location, and dates of employment.
Use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and achievements, focusing on quantifiable results (e.g., "Increased sales by 20%" or "Managed a team of 5").
4. Skills Section
Highlight key skills relevant to the job, such as technical abilities, languages, or soft skills.
Use keywords from the job description to align your skills with the role.
5. Education
Include your degree, school name, location, and graduation date.
Mention relevant coursework, honors, or certifications if applicable.
6. Certifications or Awards
List industry-specific certifications, professional awards, or recognitions that enhance your qualifications.
7. Formatting and Design
Keep it clean and professional, using consistent fonts and bullet points.
Limit your resume to one page unless you have extensive experience.
8. Tailored Content
Customize your resume for each application by emphasizing experiences and skills most relevant to the position.
A well-structured resume not only presents your qualifications but also demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism.
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Nada’s Answer

Hi Joyce,

This is a great question!

Regardless of whether you're a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience or a fresh graduate wanting to move into teaching, having a clear, succinct, and impactful CV is crucial. Given that you've recently left school, a one-page CV would be ideal, but remember, it needs to be distinctive!

In the current job market, there are numerous valuable educational resources and templates that you can utilize. For instance, I discovered an outstanding CV template on Etsy, which I bought and simply filled in the gaps. Typically, the first page serves as an introduction or cover letter, presenting who you are and why you believe you're the perfect fit for the role. The second page is your actual CV, highlighting your relevant experience and skills for the position.

Bear in mind, skills are transferable! So while you can add your current experience (if any), its great to also check out your dream job on LinkedIn, identify the necessary skills and then consider how you can acquire these skills through a more accessible role, such as Customer Service, which can be gained through working at a fast-food restaurant or supermarket. You can also tailor your CV to emphasize Transferable Skills over specific job titles, making you a more attractive candidate for a wider range of roles, rather than being restricted to jobs based on your previous titles.

I hope this advice is beneficial. And remember, your career is a journey, not a destination. You may start in one area and end up in another - there are not short cuts in life. That's completely fine. Embrace the journey!
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Dwight’s Answer

Resumes need to express everything you accomplished in life. Explain the good and the bad. Try to be as accurate about schools, jobs, training, certificates and more. A time line of success.

Dwight recommends the following next steps:

tell about yourself
what you like to do your accomplishments.
high school and college or just high for a job.
elementary all the way to 12th grade is basically a overall resume but called a transcript.
all you will need in todays life and future trust me.
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