11 RESUME STRUCTURE TIPS TO LAND MORE INTERVIEW

Go through your old resumes, and you will find that most of them are similar. They all follow the same format, have the same information about you, and contain the same vocabulary. As a result, all of these resumes look similar too.

No wonder it is so challenging to get noticed by recruiters. To stand out from other candidates, use resume builders as tools to make your resume unique. Resume builders can be anything from templates designed specifically for creating impressive resumes, different fonts with creative designs, or even pictures that will help catch recruiters’ attention.

The job market has changed, and people do not just start sending resumes in response to job postings any longer. Nowadays, prospective employees take their time planning everything before sending out their resumes.

In addition to your resume, you will also need a cover letter, thank-you note or any other type of message that is explicitly addressed to the recruiter or employer that you are targeting. Of course, this takes time and effort.

Moreover, it requires some creativity and imagination on your end. To save yourself from burnout and disappointment, use these 11 resume structure tips for building effective CVs:

ORIGINAL DESIGN AND FORMATS

1. a) Use colours wisely: Make sure you choose an attractive font size and colour combination for your name, contact information as well as education details at the top of each page. Then make sure you make everything else black so that employers can read it easily without having to squint.

1. b) Use colourful and original formats: Typing your resume into Microsoft word or just opening a template that you found online will make it look like everyone else’s resume. Be creative! Make sure that the format of the resume shows your creativity from top to bottom.

GOALS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Add goals with short descriptions of what achievements were made towards achieving them. These are good for emphasising work experience and achievement in school life, sports and community activities where one has excelled.

For example, include statements such as “My goal was to save $30,000 for my first home,” then list all your achievements by year up to now toward this goal. It is a great way to show what you are capable of and how well your plans work. Just make sure that these goals and achievements relate to the job position that you are applying for.

EDUCATION DETAILS

Include as many education-related items on your resume as possible. Use bold, italics, and capital letters to call attention to courses taken or awards received in different subject areas just like you would call a recruiter’s attention with skills related words such as “Outstanding”, “Expert”, etc.

Be creative! Describe your classes in an exciting but positive way, especially if they have something in common with the job position for which you are applying. For example, if, among other things, your high school curriculum included entrepreneurship courses.

SKILLS

Use professional and personal skills throughout your resume. This is the place to list what you have done related to the job position you are applying for.

For example, if in the past year you worked as a sales and marketing representative at XYZ Corporation, emphasise this point by describing it as: “Marketing and Sales Representative 2006-2007 ABC Inc” or “XYZ Corp (Sales & Marketing)” Again be creative with your choice of words!

VOLUNTEER WORK

When listing volunteer work positions, include what services were provided, how many hours per week etc.

It is also a good idea to mention any awards or special recognition received while volunteering, such as being named employee of the month.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Make sure you list the names of employers, job titles and dates.

Use action verbs such as “Managed”, “Supervised”, “Sold”,, etc. when describing your work responsibilities and achievements.

For example, include statements such as Managed store staff 2005-2006 ABC Store Supervising 3 employees in inventory control Maintaining client portfolio Accomplished a sales increase of 10% over 6 months, Developed budget reports for management, Analyzed marketing campaigns to determine market penetration etc.

Also, make sure that all information is consistent across all sections of your resume. If you list one company under work experience, then make sure this is also listed under education or volunteer history if applicable.

HOBBIES

This can include anything from home repair to playing guitar in a band!

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Include programming languages, software and any other relevant technical details.

Include the level of proficiency, such as beginner or expert.

REFERENCES

This is an optional section, but it can come in handy if you have excellent references that will support your application for employment without being asked directly.

Make sure you include at least three professional references which are available on short notice. If possible, include former employers, professors or volunteer supervisors etc., with whom you had regular contact.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

A resume where this information is not included may be missing some colour that will catch the reader’s attention, mainly if other candidates apply for the job position.

Lists of awards received for sports, academic or other achievements can help you personalise your resume and make it stand out from the rest of the applicants who did not think to include such information.

OTHER DETAILS

Include additional details that align with your resume objective and interests, hobbies, etc., if applicable; include any licenses, memberships or professional affiliations that support your career objective and may be of interest to potential employers.

Also, add a picture to your resume if this is relevant to the job position for which you are applying (e.g., modelling career).

Your resume should be neatly formatted and professionally presented.

It is also important to avoid grammatical mistakes or spelling errors; otherwise, you may miss out on a job interview!

CONCLUSION: RESUME STRUCTURE TIPS

This article has been posted as part of the author’s attempt to help others search for employment. If this article about the different CV structure tips was helpful, please share it on social media and leave your comments! (Even if you have already shared once, click again!) 

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