Writing Resumes and Understanding Job Advertisements

Step by Step Guide on writing Resumes

  1. Pick the Right Resume Format & Layout
  2. Mention Your Personal Details & Contact Information
  3. Use a Resume Summary or Objective
  4. List Your Work Experience & Achievements
  5. Mention Your Top Soft & Hard Skills
  6. Include Additional Resume Sections – Languages, Hobbies, etc. (Optional)
  7. Tailor Your Information for the Job Advertisement
  8. Craft a Convincing Cover Letter resonating your resume
  9. Proofread Your Resume and Cover Letter

Basic DO’s

  1. One page in length. You should only go for 2 pages if you really, really believe that it’ll add significant value. HR managers in big firms get around 1,000+ resumes per month. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
  2. Clear section headings. Pick a heading (H2, for example) and use it for all the section headers.
  3. Ample white-space, especially around the margins.
  4. Easy-to-read font. We’d recommend sticking to what stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, Overpass, etc. Don’t (ever): Comic Sans
  5. Pick the right font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11 – 12 pt for normal text, and 14 – 16 pt for section titles.
  6. As a rule of thumb, save your resume as PDF. Word is a popular alternative, but it has a good chance of messing up your resume formatting.

Tips on perfecting your education section:

  1. If you don’t have any work experience, mention your education section first.
  2. Mention your latest educational entry on top.
  3. If you have a university degree, don’t mention your high school at all.
  4. ONLY mention GPA if you had a very impressive academic career (3.5 GPA plus).

Checklist for Resume Writing

  1. Does your contact information section have all the must-have information?
  2. Is your contact email professional? E.g.: firstname+lastname@email.com
  3. Are you using the right resume format?
  4. Is your resume 1-2 pages?
  5. Did you include all the must-have sections in your resume?
  6. Did you list only the most relevant work experiences?
  7. Did you list achievements instead of responsibilities?
  8. Did you tailor your resume to the job ad you’re applying for?
  9. Did you mention the right amount of work experience in your resume?
  10. Did you list your education in your resume?
  11. Did you list all the right skills for the position you’re applying for?
  12. Did you add any other important resume sections?
  13. And finally, did you proof-read your resume?

Understanding Job Advertisements

  1. Look for Key Requirements in terms of qualification and number of years of experience.
  2. Look out for skills that you have that match the requirements and needs of the job.
  3. Look at the contract duration. (Short term/long term).
  4. Don’t make several applications to one company just for the sake of employment, apply for what suits your qualifications.
  5. Never look desperate and negotiate your worth
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