How to write the perfect resume

Have you applied for countless jobs, yet never received a single reply?

Your resume may be letting you down.

Every job advertisement attracts hundreds, if not thousands, of job applications. Hiring personnel are extremely busy and do not have time to read through each application line by line. They usually start by skimming the documents and quickly rejecting those that do not meet their criteria (formatting, length, inclusion of certain keywords, et cetera).

A well-crafted job application will grab a recruiter’s attention and land in the shortlist pile, while a generic application will most likely end up in the trash.

What is a resume?

A resume is a job application document that is submitted to prospective employers in response to a job advertisement. It contains a summary of the applicant’s experience, skills and education. It is usually accompanied by a cover letter. The aim of a resume is to make a strong first impression by showcasing your qualifications, experience and personality.

Outside North America (Canada and the USA), the equivalent document is known as a curriculum vitae and is commonly referred to by its initialism CV. Within North America, a CV refers to a lengthy document that is mainly used by academics to apply for grants, fellowships and positions in institutions of learning.

How long should a resume be?

Your resume should ideally be no longer than two A4 pages in length. However, there are exceptions. If you are a fresh graduate, are applying for an entry-level job or do not have a lot of work experience, you may find that all relevant information fits neatly on a single page. Conversely, if you are applying for a senior position or a role which requires specialist skills, a two page resume may be too short.

Resist the temptation to force a fixed length by omitting crucial details, adding irrelevant information or using filler words as padding.

Recruiters want to see a concise document that is tailored to the requirements of the position you are applying for.

What to include in your resume

Whether you are applying for your first job or are further along in your career, writing a resume can be a daunting task. At any given moment, the number of job seekers greatly exceeds the number of available jobs. As a result, competition is extremely fierce and it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.

Here are the essential sections which should feature on a resume.

Contact Details

Include your full name, email address and telephone number at the top of the first page. You could also add your LinkedIn profile or a link to your website if space permits and you feel that it is relevant. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the recruiter should not have to hunt for this information.

If your primary email address looks unprofessional, consider setting up a secondary address for job applications.

For example, your name is Albert Einstein and your email address is fluffykitten99@yahoo.com.

You would create something more appropriate, such as albert.einstein@gmail.com or a.einstein@gmail.com.

Personal Statement

This is a brief introduction that summarizes who you are and the attributes, skills and qualities you possess that make you the best fit for the particular job. A personal statement should be tailored to each position and should be around four to six sentences in length.

Employment History

This is where you list your present job (if you are currently working) and previous jobs in reverse chronological order. In other words, list your most recent job first and your least recent job last.

Each item on the list should include the full job title, a summary of your duties and the start and end dates.

Each summary should highlight how you used your skills and expertise to make a positive impact.

Education

Which stage of your career you are in determines whether this section appears before or after the Employment History section.

High school graduates and recent university graduates would place this section before, as they are unlikely to have any significant work experience. On the other hand, a person with a ten-year employment history would place this section after.

The items on this list should also be in reverse chronological order and should include the name of the qualification, the name of the educational institution, the start and end date of the period of study and the awarded (or expected) grades.

Skills

This section showcases your key skills. Carefully reading the job description will unearth valuable clues as to which skills the ideal candidate should possess. Only include skills you are confident about. If the job description mentions a skill that is not one of your strengths or one which you are still honing, do not feel compelled to include it here.

Describe a balanced mix of hard and soft skills.

Examples of hard skills include:

• Database management
• Proficiency in a foreign language
• Web development

Examples of soft skills include:

• Conflict resolution
• Leadership
• Teamwork

Additional sections

Here are some other sections which could be included if space permits and they add value:

• Awards
• Hobbies
• Industry-specific certification
• Personal projects
• Volunteer work

References

In the past, including referees on a resume was the norm. Nowadays, it is not recommended because recruiters typically do not contact referees at such an early stage of the recruitment process. This usually occurs towards the end, once the successful candidate has received a conditional offer. Do not needlessly waste precious space on your resume.

There are also data protection issues to consider. You submit your resume to multiple employers in response to multiple job advertisements. Your referees could be subjected to unsolicited communication from unethical recruiters who view them as potential clients.

Another consideration is self-preservation. If you are currently employed, would you want it known that you were looking for another job?

However, some job descriptions explicitly mention that references should be included. In those cases, you would comply by providing the following information for each referee:

• Full name
• Title
• Organization name
• Email address
• Phone number

Always seek permission from potential referees before including them on your resume. Also, clarify which contact details you should specify. While most referees would not mind the inclusion of their email address and work phone number, they may balk at the inclusion of a personal phone number.