What Should You Include on Your Resume?
Balance | Carolina Malagamba
Resume writing can be trying. What should you include? How many years back should you go? Do you include experience that is not relevant to the position for which you are applying? This stress can become compounded when one has a wide range of skills or experience. The Internet has a tremendous amount of advice for writing a resume, lists of dos and don’ts are readily obtainable. With all of this information available, how do you filter down to the basics?
Have more than one resume. If your experience varies widely, you may need to have more than one resume. Adapt each resume to the field or position for which you are applying. Tailor your experiences and accomplishments to align with the job requirements.
Include a summary section. Most companies use an applicant tracking system to scan their resumes. Having a clear summary that lists the position you are applying for will push your resume score higher on the list.
Include your education. Even if you do not have formal education or your education isn’t relevant to the position you are interested in. Completing a degree, coursework, or training classes will show the employer your commitment to learning and exploring new ideas.
Write about your accomplishments. Employers do not simply want to see that you worked on email marketing campaigns. They want to know what the results of your campaigns were. Do not be afraid to brag about yourself.
Add your contact information. This may sound like a no-brainer, but contact information is often overlooked when focusing on your work history and skills. Include an email address unrelated to your current job. If necessary, create an email address specifically for job hunting. Always include a phone number where you can be easily reached as well. Having your home address is only advisable if you are looking for work in the geographical area in which you already live.
Job hunting is one of the more stressful activities that we engage in during our lives. Just remember to sell yourself. Present your skills, work history, and accomplishments and let your words show the recruiter what an asset you will be for their company.