Filling your resume.What goes into your resume? How do you fill the space? How do you ensure recruiters will spend longer than 6 seconds reading it?
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CONTACT INFORMATION:Create a strong first impressionYour contact information should always be at the top of your resume. Your name should be the biggest text on the page, and your contact info must be easy to read and current.
WORK EXPERIENCE:Focus on what matters mostYour paid work experience should form the bulk of your resume. Include jobs held in the past ten years and/or most relevant positions to the job you are applying for.
OTHER EXPERIENCES:Fill in the gapsIf your previous job history doesn't match the job you are seeking, you have gaps in your job history, or you have not held many jobs yet, consider adding volunteer work or internships to bulk up your resume.
SPECIAL SKILLS:Stand out from the crowdIncluding a technical skills section can help recruiters quickly scan your resume and are a great way to include pertinent keywords. However, limit this section to hard skills - this is not a place to list that you are a great communicator or that you are organized (those are soft skills).
EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATES:Lay the groundworkIn most cases, it's important to include your educational experience, whether that's high school, an associate's degree, an advanced degree, or an industry certificate.
EXTRA TIPS:Polish, proofread, perfectHere are some tips that could be the difference between a manager reading your resume and tossing it aside:
GAPS IN EMPLOYMENT:Accounting for anomaliesIf you have been out of the workforce or incarcerated in the past, you can still put together a professional resume that reflects your experiences and skills.
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Here are some resume examples from livecareer.com. Click on each to expand:
Post-incarceration resume sample, adapted from jailtojob.com:
Skills-based resume sample:
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