CV Writing

Top 5 Tips to Write a Good Resume

A resume (or a CV) is a document that summarises your educational and professional background. It is commonly used in job applications, internships, and graduate school applications. An excellent resume presents your accomplishments and talents in a clear and simple manner, allowing employers to easily understand your qualifications, skillset and accomplishments.

Why is writing a good resume important?

Writing a good resume is essential because it is your first chance to make a positive impression on a potential employer. Your resume is a summary of your education, skills, abilities and experiences, and it should clearly and concisely highlight your top qualities, skills and achievements.

A well-written resume will help you distinguish yourself & will help you stand out from others. You will be able to make an immediate first impression which will significantly increase your chances of being interviewed. On the contrary, a poorly written or generic resume may not exhibit your specific qualities, abilities and qualifications. Besides, if you use a generic resume, it will just be another one from the thousands of applicants for the HR manager and will not catch their attention.

Moreover, a good resume can be a helpful instrument for networking and developing professional relationships. Even if you are not actively job hunting, having an up-to-date and well-written resume can help you create a good network and demonstrate your knowledge to potential clients or partners.

Therefore, creating a good resume is essential as it can help you successfully express your skills, abilities and credentials to potential employers, increasing your chances of landing the job.

Top 5 Tips to Write a good resume

While we have prepared a detailed and comprehensive guide on writing an effective resume, this article will briefly discuss the top 5 things to keep in mind while writing an effective resume.

Keep it concise: Your resume should not be more than two pages long. Use bullet points and short & precise paragraphs to underscore your skills and accomplishments.
Use a clear layout: Use headings, bullet points, and clear fonts to make sure that your resume is easy to read. Ensure that the resume has consistent formatting, such as using the same font style and font size for headings and paragraph text.
Tailor your resume to the job: Customize your resume to the specific job that you are applying to. Read the job description in the job advertisement and highlight the requirements. Use that as a guide to show that you have the relevant experience and the necessary skills for the job. A good resume will always use showcase that the applicant has the skills required for the function.
Highlight your achievements: Rather than just listing your responsibilities at a previous role, prominently point out your achievements to showcase the impact that you have created in each role. Use specific examples to highlight your skills and accomplishments.
Proofread the resume: Remember to review and double-check your resume for spelling and grammar mistakes. A resume with errors can make an instant impression on the potential employer.

Bonus tip: Quantify what you have achieved in your previous role. Quantifying your accomplishments will tell precisely the impact that you have created in your earlier roles. In addition, it will also indicate to the employer that you think analytically and monitor projects using a data-centred approach.