7 Tips For Building A Resume From Scratch

  

7 TIPS FOR BUILDING A RESUME FROM SCRATCH

Written by: Emmanuel Akinlabi

Staring at a blank page and thinking about how to transform it into a sharp resume could, sometimes, cause stress to some people. But frankly speaking, taking quality time to write or update your resume is a chance to show off all your hard work and think specifically about your career goals.

With the right tips, building your resume does not have to be a difficult task. Rather, it can help remind you of everything you have accomplished so far. These include your actual work experiences, volunteer experiences and many more!

To fix or write your resume from the scratch, follow these 7 tips:

1)    First, make a list

·     Make a detailed list of all your professional, educational, volunteer, and extracurricular experiences. Endeavour to save this list. It might come in handy in the future if you need to fill out a form for your complete work history.

·    Highlight the best stuff – especially anything that is relevant to your intended career or your prospective job.

 

2)    What to spotlight

This is what most human resources or hiring managers focus on when they read a resume.

·         Your name

·         Your education

·         Your current job (or your current volunteer activity)

·         Your previous jobs (or your previous volunteer activities).

Ensure that these items are easy to find. Also remember to include dates.

 

3)    What to include

·         Skills needed for the role you are applying for.

·         Specific accomplishments. You can quantify them if possible.

·   Strong adjectives to strengthen your skills. For example: Excellent communication skills.

 

4)    What to avoid

·    Typos. These generally are mistakes which could be grammatical or spelling mistakes. Typos should be avoided on a resume at all costs. Find a detail-oriented friend or family member to proofread your resume for you before sending it out to prospective employers.

·         No slang words! They remove the professionalism in your resume.

·     Buzzwords may not tell the employer about you. Focus on your skills and experiences.

·    You do not need to provide extensive details on everything you have ever done on your resume. You will have other opportunities to share these details in cover letters and interviews.

·     Also, avoid shading on your resume. It can come out as too saturated and illegible on some printers.

 

5)    Keep it simple and easy to scan

·      Use bulleted points, not paragraph descriptions, sentences, or statements.

·  Use an easily readable font. Some human resources or hiring managers usually suggest using fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Verdana etc.

·       Always send your resume as a PDF whenever you are applying for jobs. This will ensure that your formatting stays in its original condition no matter where it is downloaded.

 

6)    Mind the details

·         Add space between sections.

·         Use bullet points.

·         Use legible font sizes. Select font sizes that are clear enough to read. Font sizes between 10 and 12 are usually suggested.

 

7)    Demonstrate your positive traits in action

·    Use tangible examples from your work history or your education. For example: “Created a filing system that saved the company time and yielded greater efficiency in paper management”.

·         Show how your previous employers benefited from your work.

·   Bulleted accomplishment statements are more user-friendly than paragraphs.

If you stick to these tip and work hard at your resume, you will be successful in creating your own resume from scratch! If you get stuck or need help, you can drop into the Youth Employment Centre and meet with an Employment Counsellor.