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What are some advice for when I'm writing my resume?

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Kavita’s Answer

Here are a few things that I think are crucial when you look at a resume:
1. Format: Look for formats of resume that are used in the industry where you’d like to work. Search the internet for a few samples. Formats of resumes can be country-specific too. Research well before finalizing on a format. You can also come up with your own format that you think is better than what’s available out there, but ensure that there is consistency within the content of your format.
2. Structure: The way information about you is provided in the resume helps the hiring manager know how organized you are at work. Structure your resume well such that it helps the reader get an understanding of your career and your experience.
3. Tailor it for the job: It is essential that you tailor your resume for the job that you are applying. Think like the hiring manager for that job and tweak your resume to highlight the positives that will help you land the interview. Also, add only what is relevant to the job that you are applying for.
4. Keywords: If you are looking for recruiters to reach you through job portals, then it is essential that you add a few domain-related keywords to your resume for you to even show up in the search results. Carefully read through a couple of job descriptions and note down the common terms used in the industry, and include them to describe your contributions or experiences in each company that you have worked for.
5. Proofread: I cannot stress enough about proofreading your resume. All the grammatical and spelling errors need to be fixed. Most word processing tools have an in-built spell and grammar checking feature, use it. Sloppy resume can lead the hiring managers to think that you do sloppy work. Ask a friend to read your resume and help you fine-tune it; another set of eyes will help bring in fresh perspective.
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Aditi’s Answer

Hi Vanisha,

My one key advice for writing a great resume would be, to customize the resume based on the job one is applying for, and not trying to have a one-size fits all version. The same template and basic structure can be used, but the content must be curated to converge towards the job's requirements. One could have a diverse set of skills, but not all of them would be extremely relevant to the job. Therefore, its important to customize the resume in a manner that the relevant skills are highlighted and emphasized on sufficiently, making them hard to miss for anyone vetting the resume or even fleetingly glancing at it.

For e.g. if I am a full-stack software developer applying for the role of a web-developer, I would emphasize more on my web programming skills by including more information on my experiences and projects that intensively involved my front-end development expertise, and briefly mentioning about my back-end coding experiences. I would also rearrange the non-chronological sections like the ones that list out skills or personal passion projects, to ensure everything related to web tops the lists. The idea is to keep the focus on the skills needed for the job that one is applying for.

In addition to that, a few more basic tips would be to,
- Keep the content crisp and concise, and keep the resume under a single page
- Keep the formatting clean, simple and uniform throughout, and save it as a PDF to keep the formatting intact
- Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs
- Proof-read several times to ensure there are no typos
- Keep your contact information updated and prominent

Hope this helps. Wish you all the best with your resume writing and job searching!
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Andrew’s Answer

Hi Vanisha,
Here are a few of my thoughts on resume writing:
- The most important thing is to be succinct in your resume - if you put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter, they have so many applications to review and they want to be able to identify the best candidates efficiently.
- formatting makes a huge difference - making your resume visually appealing will help set you apart and highlight why you are the candidate for the role.
- Whenever possible, use concrete numbers/figures when highlighting your achievements and the impact/result of your work
- Get as many people to review your resume as possible. Getting their feedback on if they think you are represented by your resume will help you a lot.
- Don't be modest - your resume is an opportunity to showcase all your achievements and you should be proud of everything you've done!

One resource I always use is Muse and their resume writing and cover letter articles (here is their resume section to start - https://www.themuse.com/advice/resumes), they have a ton of great resources and tools to use when writing your resume.

All the best with your resume and job search!
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Akshata’s Answer

Here are couple of things that i would think is important to remember while preparing a resume :
1. Put the Best Stuff “Above the Fold” basically it’s your first impression
2.Make sure to update your recent skills
3.Curate Your Bullet Points
4.Experience First, Education Second
5.Highlight Honors, Not GPA
6.include Continuing or Online Education
7. Show Some Personality (Feel free to include an “Interests”)
8.Beware of Interests That Could Be Controversial
9.Constantly Refresh It
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Mansi’s Answer

Resume writing tips
Look for keywords in the job postings.
Review resume examples for your industry.
Use a professional font.
Include only the most relevant information and put the most important information first.
Use active language.
Call attention to important achievements.
Only include subheadings and sections you need.
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Adrian’s Answer

My advice would be ;
- Keep to short and concise. A couple of pages of relevant information is a far better read than 5 pages of detail!
- Focus on what you have ACHIEVED, not just a list of jobs that you have done. How did you make a difference in each role? What did you deliver?
- Make it Personal . I want to read a resume and feel i know something about the personality, not just a list of where they have worked.
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Kevin’s Answer

Besides the comments from the other folks, I would also add to make sure it is visually appealing with the way the content is laid out and spaced. People sometimes forget that if a resume comes across as too cluttered and overbearing to read, it can get skipped upon. Balance out the real estate of the resume through the use of varying font sizes, bullets and spaces (between paragraphs or sections) as you shift from one experience to the next.
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Wilson’s Answer

Hello Vanisha R

10 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land a Job

Employers use resumes throughout the hiring process to learn more about applicants and whether they might be a good fit. Your resume should be easy to read, summarize your accomplishments and skills, and highlight relevant experience. Below are 10 tips to help you write a great resume.

Need resume help? Get professional resume advice by filling out our resume feedback questionnaire.

Resume writing tips
While there are a few commonly used resume styles, your resume should reflect your unique education, experience and relevant skills. You might consider having multiple versions of your resume tailored to the jobs you’re applying for. Here are a few key resume writing tips that will help you organize and design your resume.

Resume Format

1. Look for keywords in the job postings
The best place to start when preparing to write a resume is to carefully read the job postings that interest you. As you apply for different jobs, you should study each job description for keywords that show what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. Include those keywords in your resume where relevant.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as a medical billing coder, an employer might list keywords like “coding,” “claims submission,” “compliance” or “AR management” in the job description. Pay particular attention to anything listed in the sections labeled “Requirements” or “Qualifications.” If you have the skills that employers are looking for, you can add these same terms to your resume in the experience or skills sections.

2. Review resume examples for your industry
When crafting your resume, you might study examples of resumes from your industry for inspiration and best practices. While there are many ways you can use resume samples, there are three main takeaways you should look for:

Make it simple and easy to read. Resume samples are simple and straightforward. This is because employers have a minimal amount of time to review your resume, so readability is key. This also means selecting a professional, clean font.
Make it brief. You’ll notice that each section of the resume sample is short and to-the-point, including the summary and experience descriptions. Including only the most key and relevant information means employers are able to consume more information about you, and more quickly understand your fitness for the role.
Include numbers. You might also notice that there are often metrics included in the experience section of resume samples. This is because employers are highly responsive to measurable proven value. Numbers allow them to better understand the value you may bring to the position. For example, one bullet point under the experience description for an administrative assistant reads, “Executed processing of vendor contracts and implemented a standardized process, reducing contract discrepancies by 90%.”
When using resume samples, you should keep in mind that these are not meant to be copied exactly. While you should avoid using them as a template, samples are useful as examples of high-quality resumes in your industry and job title.

3. Use a professional font
Because employers have only a short time to review your resume, it should be as clear and as easy to read as possible. You should use a basic, clean font like Arial or Times New Roman. Keep your font size between 10 and 12 points. Selecting a clear, readable font will help make your resume appear more professional.

You should also make sure to reduce or eliminate any extraneous whitespace. Too much blank space might make your resume seem sparse, distracting the audience and possibly raising a red flag. By reducing extra white space, you make it easier for the resume reader to focus only on the content of your resume instead of the white spaces. You can reduce white space by increasing your font size to 12 points and possibly adding an additional, optional section like “Skills” or “Awards and Achievements.”


4. Include only the most relevant information and put the most important information first
While you might have extensive work or educational experience, it’s important to keep your resume as brief as possible without leaving out key information. Hiring managers don’t spend a lot of time reading each resume. Research has shown that hiring managers tend to spend only 6 seconds per resume. If your resume includes old or irrelevant information, such as jobs held over 10 years ago or minor degrees and achievements, it may distract from key information.

Try to include only work experience, achievements, education and skills most relevant to the employer. You can find the most relevant attributes by closely reading the job posting. You should prioritize important information higher on your resume to draw attention to key skills and achievements.

5. Use active language
Your resume should be written using active language without extraneous words. This means using power words, such as “achieved,” “earned,” “completed” or “accomplished.” If your resume is too long or seems hard to read, you might consider making sentences shorter or ideas more concise.

For example, you may have a job description that reads:

“During my time at Freedom Inc., I ran multiple team-based projects and helped each team member with various tasks associated with each project.”

This example could be shortened and strengthened in the following way:

“Led multiple team-based projects and effectively coordinated group tasks.”

The revised version communicates the same ideas about your accomplishments while reducing the number of words and including more active language.

6. Call attention to important achievements
Instead of listing your job duties under the experience section, select your top three or four most important achievements in each role you’ve held. Where possible, include numbers that measure your success for that particular goal or achievement.

You might also consider including a separate “Achievements” or “Skills” section to specifically highlight relevant achievements in your education, career, volunteer work or other experiences.

7. Only include subheadings and sections you need
Whether you’re using a resume template or creating your own, you may find there are some recommended sections you do not need.

For example, you may need a resume summary or a resume objective, but you should not include both. If you are just graduating from college or high school and have not yet held a professional position, do not include an empty work history section. Instead, you might replace the experience section with relevant coursework, academic achievements and other experiences like internships or extracurricular projects.

You may also find it useful to combine sections if you are having trouble filling a section with more than two bullet points.

8. Choose appropriate margins
Typically you should use a one-inch margin size on all sides of your resume with single spaces between the lines. If you have too much white space, you might consider making your lines spaced by 1.15 or 1.5. You can also increase your margins if you find it is difficult to fill your resume, but they should stay below two inches.

9. Proofread and edit
Before sending your resume, you should undergo several rounds of proofreading to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors. While there are several proofreading programs and tools you can use, it is also helpful to ask trusted friends or colleagues to review your resume. It is helpful for an objective third party to look at your resume as an employer might to find ways you can correct or improve it.


10. Decide whether you need a unique resume for different jobs
Before submitting an application, you should ask yourself, “Have I made it as easy as possible for this employer to see that I’m qualified?”. If you’re applying for a job that has unique requirements, you may need another version of your resume to fully demonstrate your qualifications. Decide on a case by case basis which resume to use.

Your resume is often the first step to getting an interview with an employer. Make sure you include the most relevant information on your resume, organize it to highlight the most important information and carefully review for errors. Once your resume is polished and finalized, it should help you get more callbacks, interviews, and job offers.
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Christopher’s Answer

A resume is a living breathing document. It should be catered to each role you are applying for. Find key words in the job descriptions requirements and tailor your resume to that specific role.

In most cases you have to also make sure your resumes are short, sweet, give stats, accomplishments and tell your story why you are a great fit for the role you apply for!

Check out this document on how to write an ATS friendly resume - https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/ats-resume-template
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Susana’s Answer

The first thing people will see is the first paragraph of your resume, so make it inspiring, very professional and rich of information but short at the same time, for example:

***Over 15 years of multinational experience, with a proven track record of complex project management, business development and financial analysis for Latin America in different fields including: Strategic Marketing, Trade Marketing, Product Development, Commercial-Sales, Accounting, Controlling. Core strengths: Strategic Planning, BDM, Forecasting, ROI, Product Analysis, Sales Profitability, Financial Reporting. Strong written and verbal communication skills, multilingual, critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making and team player.

Always include your achievements from previous positions or even from college as a highlight, for example:

***Accomplishment: Corporate Recognition 2019 / ASP Challenge 2018. 2% increase in Net Sales by applying the new standardized Terms & Conditions model, allowing to reduce the Gross to Net and maximize customer investments

Try to keep it simple and short, include maximum 3 bullet points for each previous experience.

If you have any gaps in between jobs, be prepare to answer why during the interviews

Include all your educational background

Include the most relevant and recent certificates you have gotten.

Format is also important, so not too much colors, keep it serious you can add a thin colored line at the top and the bottom to give it some structure. Use bold only for titles. Keep the font format consistent (ex: Calibri 10). Use standard paragraph separation.
Make it look appealing at first sight, so it will be attractive to read.

An advise is to keep changing your resume based on each position you will apply, try to customize it as much as you can based on the requirements of the position you are applying for. For example If you are applying for Financial Analyst position but you haven't work yet as a financial analyst in the past but you have the skills requested, include those in the resume. By doing this the automatic search the system does will select your resume for sure.

I hope this tips can help.
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Sofia’s Answer

Keep it simple:

-One page is more than enought
-Highlight your expiriences (personal, professional, volunteer experiences) and what have you developed with that experiences. For example if you wake up 5x week every morning to run you must be someone that developed focus, discipline and resilience.
-Show your ability. If you're super creative, why not do something different?!
-Be yourself

Be sure you're apllying for something you connect with:
-Shearch the company mission and vision
-Know where you're going and also think how your ability will help the company

Good luck,
Sofia
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