Resume Writing: How to write a high impact resume?

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Last Updated on February 24, 2020 by Skillslelo

One important thing, you should always remember while writing your resume is its purpose. The main purpose of your resume is to make an employer interested enough to invite you in for an interview.

You can’t get an interview without a great resume. This article is going to help you, how to write such a great resume.

  • Websites for resume templates
  • Types of resumes
  • Which type of resume is better?
  • Essential contents of a resume
  • Which resume is the best? One page or two pages
  • The most important sections of a resume
  • Include high impact words on your resume
  • Which things should not be shown on the resume

 

Websites for Resume Templates

1. AMCAT

  Amcat offers text-based resume templates for new graduates. Although most of the resume templates are pretty basic, the platform also provides a few infographic resumes.

You get to choose from four primary sections based on your educational background. When you dive into each section, you will see multiple sub-categories.

BEST FOR:

New graduates

TYPES OF TEMPLATES:

The main categories are based on educational background:

  • Engineers
  • Business
  • Humanities
  • Science

Types of resumes

There are three most common resume formats you can use to present information to your prospective employer.

  1. Chronological resume
  2. Functional resume
  3. Combination resume

Chronological Format:

It is one of the most commonly used resume formats. Employers tend to prefer it because it’s straightforward and easy to scan.

This type of resume emphasizes your work history and your work is typically listed in order of the most recent job first, but that’s not always the case.

If your most relevant work history was long ago, you may list that first and continue in reverse chronological order.

This format is useful for those candidates who:

  • have a consistent work history and increasing job levels over time. 
  • are Entry-level candidates

Structure of Chronological Resume

  1. Contact details
  2. Title or Objective
  3. Professional experience
  4. Education
  5. Skills

Important points about Chronological format

  • The most important section of a chronological resume is-
    Professional experience:
    List your most recent or current position first, followed by the one that preceded it, and so forth until you’ve reached your first job.

  • Write dates (in mm/yy – mm/yy) format throughout your resume.

  • In the Education section:
    List your most recent or highest degree first, followed by any degrees that preceded it

  • Do not use this format if you have career gaps as it will highlight that.

Functional Format

This type of resume format highlights your skills and abilities, as opposed to the chronological order of your work experience.

In functional format, your skills and abilities are given more importance than your work history.

The goal of the functional resume is to showcase your skills first to attract the attention of the recruiter.

A functional resume is particularly useful for job-seekers who:

  • Have frequently changed jobs.
  • Have gaps in their work history.
  • Are reentering the workforce.
  • Are transitioning into new careers.

Structure of Functional Resume

  1. Contact details
  2. Qualification Summary
  3. Skills
  4. Professional experience
  5. Education

Combination Format

This format combines the best elements of the chronological and functional resumes.

It usually begins with a short Title or Objective followed by a strong Profile/Skills section to sell your most relevant and marketable skills, abilities, knowledge and training acquired throughout your career.

Structure of Combination Resume

  1. Contact details
  2. Title or Objective
  3. Profile or Skills
  4. Professional experience
  5. Education

Which type of resume works better?

  • If you wish to attract the recruiter’s attention to your experience, go for the reverse-chronological structure.
  • If it’s your skills you want to capitalize on, choose the functional resume.
  • If the position you’re applying for calls for a seasoned pro with a unique combination of skills and experience, the combination resume may be your safest bet.

Essential contents of a resume

  1. Name, Address, Phone Number and Email
  2. Job Title
  3. Company names and dates
  4. Job Duties
  5. Licenses and Certifications
  6. Education
  7. Languages

Be sure you’ve listed your contact information correctly on your resume. Make your job title easily understandable by as many employers as possible.

List the highest level of education first.

List your level of proficiency in a foreign language: “Speak conversational French,” “Fluent in Spanish,” “Read and write Italian,” “Familiar with Russian” and so on.

Which resume is the best? One page or two pages

If you are an entry-level candidate, stick with the one-page resume but a one-page resume is not always best.

If you have an extensive and relevant work history or a detailed technical background of more than five years, try to keep your resume to two pages.

The most important sections of a resume

There are two most important sections of a resume:

  1. Profile/Skills Section
  2. Professional Experience Section

Profile/Skills Section

The Profile is the heart of your resume, consisting of the most relevant keywords applicable to your position or industry at any given time.

It’s your transferable skills, what you can and really want to do for the employer, and what you want the employer to notice about you.

The first paragraph of your Profile section acts as an umbrella over the other items. It provides a big picture of where you’re coming from and gives the reader reasons to keep reading.

Start writing your profile section with the following starters and the type and level of skills you have that would best match the job, keeping in mind what you really like to do.

Starters for your Profile section

  • Proficient in…
  • Experience in…
  • Skilled in…
  • Perform…
  • Familiar with…
  • Comprehensive experience in…
  • Extensive knowledge of…
  • Proven abilities in…
  • Train and supervise staff in…
  • Knowledge of…
  • Trained in…

Professional Experience Section

For your Professional Experience section:

  • In charge of…
  • Direct…
  • Coordinate…
  • Effectively lead…
  • Manage…
  • Control…
  • Supervise…
  • Responsible for…

Include high impact words on your resume

  • Achieved
  • Demonstrated
  • Introduced
  • Reinforced
  • Adapted
  • Designed
  • Investigated
  • Reorganized
  • Administered
  • Developed
  • Maintained
  • Researched
  • Advised
  • Drafted
  • Managed
  • Restructured
  • Amended
  • Eliminated
  • Modified
  • Reversed
  • Analyzed
  • Established
  • Monitored
  • Reviewed
  • Approved
  • Evaluated
  • Motivated
  • Revised
  • Assigned
  • Expanded
  • Organized
  • Saved
  • Assisted
  • Expedited
  • Participated
  • Budgeted
  • Formulated
  • Prepared
  • Spearheaded
  • Compiled
  • Generated
  • Processed
  • Streamlined
  • Computed
  • Guided
  • Produced
  • Strengthened
  • Conducted
  • Implemented
  • Promoted
  • Structured
  • Controlled
  • Improved
  • Proposed
  • Supervised
  • Coordinated
  • Increased
  • Provided
  • Supported
  • Created
  • Initiated
  • Purchased
  • Taught
  • Focused
  • Performed
  • Screened
  • Built
  • Planned
  • Solved
  • Collected
  • Scheduled

Which things should not be shown on the resume

  • Salary requirement or salary history
  • Don’t tell it is a resume by typing “Resume” at top of the page
  • Reasons for Leaving a Job
  • Religious or Political Groups
  • Any Negative Information

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