109,000,000.
That’s the number of Google results for the search query “resume examples.”
My first attempt at writing a resume was when I was in high school. I was overwhelmed. Which option was right for me out of so many options? How did I create a resume that got me paid interviews with such little experience? I was paralyzed by all of my “resume examples” and decided I needed outside help, so I packed up my research and made an appointment at my college’s Career Center.
There, I met a brilliant career counselor who taught me how to get a job. She provided me with examples of everything from resume samples to cover letter samples to reference list templates, but for the sake of this post, I will only talk about her resume secrets.
I scrambled back to my dorm room to edit my resume after she gave me the samples.
The whole thing was a mess.
Fortunately, I had a follow-up appointment where the counselor was able to understand my experience and help me customize my resume in light of my work experiences, skills, and accomplishments. Wouldn’t it be great if we all had access to amazing counselors to help us accomplish our career goals?
This post was created to guide you through all of the horrible, okay, and absolutely AMAZING resume examples on the web.
Let’s go!
Every day I’m Optimizin’ — Resume Optimization
Only six seconds.
It takes recruiters six seconds on average to review a resume, according to TheLadders, an online job-matching service.
To determine which parts of resumes hiring managers focused on during those six seconds, TheLadders used “eye-tracking” software. Recruiters spent 80% of their time on the following:
- Name
- Current title and company
- Previous title and company
- Previous job start and end dates
- Current job start and end dates
- Education
Why Company?
Company names are important to recruiters because they are all about branding. As a result, if you have any big names to showcase, make sure to include them at the beginning of your resume.
Why Title?
Recruiters want to see if your most recent job title is comparable to the job for which you are applying.
Takeaway: Your resume’s top section gets the most traction, so make it attractive.
Resume Formatting
It can be challenging to write the perfect resume since everyone has a different definition of “perfect.” Let’s focus on format rather than perfection.
It is important to decide how to organize the content of your resume.
The Chronological Resume
The chronological resume is probably the type most of you are most familiar with. Employers prefer this type because it provides a clear path of your work history. Just because this is one of the most common resume formats does not mean it is the best format for you.
If you are applying for a job in a field in which you have a consistent record of success, a chronological résumé is the best option. You should not use this format, however, if your most recent work experience does not relate to the job for which you are applying.
Here’s when not to use a chronological resume:
- When you have experience in only one field and are applying for a job in a different industry
- If you are an entry-level job seeker with little to no experience
- If you have held most of your jobs for less than one year
- When you have large gaps in your employment history
If you fall into one of these categories, you should consider using a different resume format.
Here is your Plan B option:
The Functional Resume
This type of resume centers around your skillset, experiences, and achievements rather than the former jobs you’ve worked. The functional resume makes no mention of your former roles and dates of employment. If it does so then it does so vaguely. Here is when you should consider a functional resume:
- When you are an entry-level job seeker and have little to no work experience
- When you are reentering the workforce after a long gap in employment
- When you’ve held numerous jobs yet those jobs do not show your professional growth.
Although I’ve read that recruiters view functional resumes with suspicion, I use one, and it’s landed me A LOT of interviews.
The Combination Resume
A combination resume is a hybrid between a chronological and a functional resume. You begin by describing your functional skills and related qualifications and end with a reverse-chronological employment history.A combination resume is appropriate in the following situations:
- If you are changing careers, highlight your skills that pertain to the current position that you are applying for
- Using a chronological resume for job applications hasn’t worked for you
- You’re applying to a position for which you have little experience to offer on your resume
Fact: Over 90% of employers are now submitting resumes directly into searchable databases, =and a similar percentage prefers receiving resumes via email.
It is an ABSOLUTE MUST that you have:
- Formatted resumes in print form, which can be attached to an email and sent to employers
- Text-based (ASCII text) e-resumes stripped of most formatting and pasted into e-mails sent to employers (or into online job application forms).
Read the recruiter’s instructions carefully. A particular type of file may be recommended. These are the file types that work with which method of delivery at a high level.
- Text (ASCII) resumes remove all formatting, making them compatible with all email systems and easier to paste into resume databases.
- PDF resumes are very compatible and consistent in appearance across platforms, but may cause employers problems if they try to paste them into a database.
- Online Resume lets you view your resume at any time of day, and it can easily be converted into an online portfolio.
Takeaways:
- An ideal resume format does not exist
- During your job search, you may need to create more than one resume
- Make sure you follow the format indicated in the job description