How to make Presentable Resumes

 How to make presentable Resumes

Everyone is familiar with the old saying “First Impression is the best Impression….” When you meet a stranger the first thing that comes to our notice is his looks. Based on the looks we make the first judgment of any person. Only after this other things including what the person communicates is given importance.

Similarly in an interview your first impression is formed based on the resume that you present to the interviewers. A resume is your blue-print of what you are actually.

Your resume acts as your first meeting with the potential employer and like in any meeting; you should ensure that you put best foot forward.

It is quiet shocking to know that many people do not know how to make resumes and how to compile their achievements on paper. If you are one of those please go through the following details to make your resume more presentable and attractive.

Types of resumes that can be made:

There are several basic types of resumes used to apply for job openings. Depending on your personal circumstances, choose a chronological, a functional, combination, or a targeted resume.

1) Chronological Resume:

A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent position listed first. Your jobs are listed in reverse chronological order with your current or most recent job, first. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them.

This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history.

2) Functional Resume:

A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your chronological work history. It is used most often by people who are changing careers or who have gaps in their employment history.

3) Combination Resume:

A combination resume lists your skills and experience first. Your employment history is listed next. With this type of resume you can highlight the skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, and also provide the chronological work history that employers prefer.

4) Targeted Resume:

A targeted resume is a resume that is customized so that it specifically highlights the experience and skills you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for. It definitely takes more work to write a targeted resume than to just click to apply with your existing resume. However, it's well worth the effort, especially when applying for jobs that are a perfect match for your qualifications and experience.

5) Mini Resume:

A mini resume contains a brief summary of your career highlights qualifications. It can be used for networking purposes or shared upon request from a prospective employer or reference writer who may want an overview of your accomplishments, rather than a full length resume.

Checklist for making effective resumes:

1) The very first rule of resume making is that it should be short and sweet. Keeping it short helps the employer to screen through it easily and make a decision fast. No one would like to take more than 3 minutes in reading your resume.

2) It should be easy to read. Effective resumes means that it should be well-organized, with clear headings, brief statements of responsibility, and bulleted points for emphasizing achievements.

3) Do not make excessive use of professional jargons in your resume. This would give an impression that you are trying to act smart. So keep it as simple as possible.

4) Do not use different font size and keep the font type to Times New Roman.

5) Keep Line-spacing of 1.5.

5) Before you submit your resume please make sure that you do a spell check. If you don’t then it shows that you are careless in your activity. Give your resumes to be proof-read by your colleagues and friends. One cannot completely rely on automated spell-check.