How can you make your resume look more professional?

Golden rules for making your resume more professional: ? Use text based format with least infographic elements possible ?Make it short, focused & impactful ? Focus on providing relevant informations only ? Avoid using photographs, bar graphs, table, charts, icons etc ? Emphasise on your achievements and results and not on roles & responsibility ? Always make sure to customise your resume based on the job description ? Never forget to proofread your resume before sending ? Make sure to company your resume with a tailor made cover letter ? Ensure that you are using PDF file to save your document ? Do not include unnecessary personal informations like your marital status, full address or parent name ? Use formal language, no slangs

It is okay to have a third page if it is recent and relevant information, especially for more senior roles like director or C-Suite level that require a certain amount of years of experience. Focus more on the content and not so much on the length. As a recruiter, I don't care if you give me a one-page or a three-page resume as long as you meet the requirements and PROVE how you meet the requirements.

The chronological resume is being widely used despite the industries in most of the Asian and European Countries, Middle East etc.

The most common format is the reverse chronological resume which works well for you if you're aiming for a similar role in a similar environment. However if you are making a career shift you'll need to highlight your accomplishments to project you into the desired role. A functional resume can work, however some people view this format with suspicion as it may hide gaps in employment and accomplishments are separated from professional experience so it is hard to tell where or when they were achieved. My favourite format is what I call a 1-page resume which actually is a cover page with all your RELEVANT marketable information, and from page 2 you include your professional experience in reverse chronological order.

Chronological is my go-to format for clients, unless their unique scenario necessitates a functional. Also, there’s no requirement that the experience is paid, and chronological often takes a backseat to functional because experiences don’t APPEAR relevant on the surface. Remember, resumes are intended to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences to the job being applied for, and I believe no experience gets wasted. A thoughtful journey through your employment, volunteer and life experience is the beginning of a great resume. In most cases, the information gleaned and how it’s aligned to the position that wins the interview rather than the format presented (chron vs. func vs hybrid).

Traditional CV templates may look boring but they are there because they work! Unless you are looking for work in a creative industry (where a portfolio or Canva style CV may be valued) stick to the standard templates in word. Be aware of cultural differences depending on which country you are applying for work in. For example, some countries may not expect a photo on a CV, others may. Ultimately, your CV is a showcase of your skills but it should always be written with the audience in mind. Think first, who is going to read your CV and ensure that they will understand it.

K.I.S.S. principal is key. It’s less about how beautiful your résumé is to you, and more how easy it is for the person reviewing to determine your qualification for the job. Notice I said person because software can’t see your enhancements anyway. Definitely do the following: - use bullets that speak to why you’re a top candidate (aka on-the-job receipts) rather than a explaining your day-to-day tasks. - use bold, italic, and underlined text treatments to highlight key information you want to stand out; however, ensure consistency in how you use each style. - give them some white space.

Understanding the difference between serif and sans-serif fonts is essential for proper resume creation. Serif: fonts that are slightly more decorative and have little marks or style flairs at the end of letters. While usually appealing to human readers reviewing a physical resume, serif fonts are harder to read on screens and may cause ATS compliance issues. Sans-serif: fonts that do not have decorative components to their lettering. These fonts are generally more basic looking and, as such, are easier to read on a screen and process accordingly. Know that your resume review will be an entirely human process? Use a serif font. If there are any machinated processes, though, it's probably best to use a sans-serif font.

We also emphasize section arrangement and content relevance. Section Arrangement: Prioritize valuable sections. For example, graduates should start with education, while tech experts can add a technical summary after the initial summary. Content Relevance: Place skills, expertise, and job highlights that match your target roles upfront. Start each job with a scope line, highlighting primary duties first, and secondary duties later."

Remember that making your resume easy to read for HR or the hiring manager helps them! Arial 11 or Times 12 should be minimum font size. 1 inch margins. Clear headers to navigate the document - use bullets and indenting to facilitate quick understanding of the related experiences to the job description. Above all, keep your focus on them! What they need to know - the job requirements - and what your related experience, metrics, and impact is for those. Yes you can include things you feel are related but keep it streamlined. Everything can live in LinkedIn. Your resume needs to be tailored to each and every job and focused so they can make a quick decision to move you to the interview list.

Customising your resume for each job is something that sets you apart from the crowd and clearly denotes that you have done your due research about the position as well as the organisation. ? Here please keep in in mind customising doesn’t mean copying the job description and using it as it is in your resume. ? Customizing means going through the job description thoroughly and understanding what employer is exactly looking for and on the basis of that highlighting your skills, achievements and experiences that aligns with the JD.

People focus on quantity over quality. Stop sending 100 applications in one day, instead spend 1 day tailoring an application for the most suitable vacancy. A recruiter looks for someone who is a perfect match/fit for the open role. So, learn about the company, the position, if possible - about the recruiter too(!) and tailor your resume and cover letter accordingly.

Often tailoring your personal statement on your CV can really make a difference. I'd encourage you to read through the job description and look at the values of the company. Can you show the link between what they are looking for and what you can give? For example, if the role and company value teamwork, make sure you emphasise this in your application. Also if they need specific qualifications or skills ensure these are noted. This will make it more likely that your CV is seen as a 'fit for role' and helps the recruiter or ATS (applicant tracking system) screen your CV.

I call this passing the "checkmark test" - ensure your resume provides evidence/proof that you've done all the things the job posting calls for. And ensure your achievement statements are full of value, impact and results!

Customize your resume for each job field not for each job, as I mentioned all the time if you start to customize your resume for each job it will start to because far from the truth.

Here's another proofreading trick. Read your resume, cover letter, and thank you notes out loud. That extra effort makes it easier to ensure that what you have written reads well, is easy to understand, and that there are no typos.

Errors in your resume imply that you don’t have attention to detail. Given that many of my clients are scientists and trained to have high attention to detail, this is a necessary space to make sure it’s clear and free of errors. Use all the tools (Grammarly is fantastic) and have someone review it. Pro tip: edit from the bottom of page 2 and move up to the top. Forcing yourself out of normal top down editing can catch things you might have missed.

I'd encourage reading your CV backwards when proofreading. So start at the end and work your way back up through it. This challenges your brain to think differently and you may be more likely to spot any mistakes or typos. If your CV is not in your first language it can be useful to get it reviewed by someone that is native in that language to check the flow as well. As even grammatically if it is correct, the flow may not work. Always check the format that you send your CV over in. If you are sending it in Word, make sure the edit section does not show the amendments you have made to the document.

Adding to the great tips already shared, here are a few more ideas to help you proofread and edit your resume: 1. Print It Out: Proofreading on paper can help you spot mistakes that you might overlook on a screen. 2. Use a Different Font or Color: Temporarily change the font or color to help you see the text in a new way and catch errors more easily. 3. Use a Checklist: Create a checklist of common resume errors to look for, such as inconsistent verb tenses, capitalization, and punctuation errors—then review the resume for each issue separately.

Also be careful of job/industry specific acronyms and abbreviations that might not be known by recruiters and other target audiences - explain or omit them

In a resume, content is king -- but the format must support content delivery, helping ensure that details are easy to spot, read, and consume. I am all for using strategic design like colour, shading, or even text boxes....but note the word 'strategic'. You don't want the design to distract the reader, you want it to support the content consumption. All the bells and whistles in the world won't get your resume appreciated more. Strong, related content is what counts!

I am against a few points mentioned here. If you are not a creative professional, do not waste your time on creativity. No designs, no logos, no icons, no social media other than LinkedIn, please! Instead, add awards, volunteering experiences etc.

Can I just say NO, here? Focus on content, on demonstrating the transferable skills and experience you have for the position, and on a plain, straight forward format to make those easy to read. Unless you are a graphics designer, no color, no logo, no icons, and above all, no photo! Yes, I know your photo is on your LinkedIn profile, or should be, but do not include a photo on your resume in the United States or Canada, and many others. If in doubt, leave it out! Two more don'ts -- don't include references until they are asked for. The only social media profile you should include is your LinkedIn url, unless you are applying for a social media management role.

If you use colours in your resume design, make them the same as those in your LinkedIn profile banner. This will make your personal brand consistent. Also, when using colours, think about what feeling you want to convey with them. Don't use overly aggressive colours that would distract from the content.

Don't retrofit your content into a format because you think it's attractive. Lean into clean, easy-to-read formatting that allows your content -- and all the amazing contributions you've made -- speak loud and clear. Readers needs to quickly and efficiently visually parse your resume. For this reason, I prefer left justified formats that use an F/E pattern, which aligns with natural reading patterns. All the information included should be relevant and curated to align with the role you are targeting.

I really like having a writing sample on my resume. No matter where you're working, you need to know how to communicate. College papers, project memos, etc. can give your resume a personalized flair that also helps your author voice shine through to support your professional brand.

When writing a resume, I always encourage the applicant to look at sending a cover letter as well. They may not always be read, but they can add more depth to an application and allow the candidate to sell their career story, motivation and aspirations for the role much more clearly than a CV alone.