Resume Writing Tutorial: Write a Resume That Gets Results
In this resume writing tutorial, you’ll learn how to write a professional resume that is certain to impress any employer you send it to. There are 5 easy steps I’m going to walk you through:
- STEP 1 – Resume Heading
- STEP 2 – Objective Statement
- STEP 3 – Skills Summary
- STEP 4 – Work Experience
- STEP 5 – Education & Professional Training
Start With a Resume Inventory
The first thing you want to do when writing your resume from scratch is to create an inventory of everything you have done in your career. This could be work experience, places you’ve worked, college, education, research, skills, accomplishments, references, training, seminars, published works, inventions, association memberships, honors, awards, volunteerism, etc., even personal hobbies. Anything and everything.
Use this resume planning worksheet as a guide to help you collect and inventory all your skills and experiences.
Avoid looking at a resume template you found on the Internet and trying to cobble all of your life’s experiences to fit. The best way to write your resume is to take your time and write down everything I mentioned above and organize it into a resume worksheet. This way you’ll have everything all in one place and then you can systematically read through this article while transforming your worksheet into a first-class resume. And I’ll be here with you every step of the way.
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet here
STEP 1 – How to Write Your Resume Heading
This is probably the easiest part of writing your resume. It’s as simple as putting your name at the top of a piece of paper. But don’t worry because I’m going to show you how to do it with a little bit of style so you look professional.
The only information a resume heading needs to contain is:
- Your name (in a larger BOLD font, 14 – 18 points)
- Your address
- Your best phone number
- Your best email address
- Optionally, you can put credentials next to your name
That’s it. Nothing more is needed nor expected.
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet
STEP 2 – How to Write a Job Objective Statement
A job objective is a statement that clearly defines the type of job you are seeking in a particular industry. There is much controversy on whether you should use a job objective statement or not. It’s seems 50-50 between experts. Those who agree and those who feel it’s outdated.
I’m a big proponent of having a job objective statement on your resume. Without it, you are making it difficult for employers to qualify you in an efficient manner.
Example: If I’m a Project Manager looking for a position with a hi-tech company, wouldn’t it be better if I clearly communicated this on my resume?
Watch:
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet
STEP 3 – How to Write a Skills Summary
This section is usually a bullet point list of 5-7 of your best skills written as accomplishments. You want to demonstrate the skill in a qualifications statement to emphasize how you’ve used it, where you used it, and what you have done with it.
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet
STEP 4 – How to Write Your Work Experience
Your resume should generally be no more than one page long, but if you have lengthy career history, you can use two pages. Resumes that exceed two pages are better suited for academic and scientific positions.
Your work history is where you get to show-off your skills, strengths and accomplishments in detail.
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet
STEP 5 – How to Write Your Education Section
In this section, list your degrees, certifications, and relevant training. If you don’t have a college degree, list professional training, seminars, or volunteerism relevant to your field. Don’t list high school if you’ve completed college.
Download the Resume Writing Worksheet
STEP 6 – How to Write a Volunteerism Section
Creating a volunteer section under your education is a perfect place to list community service that might influence a potential employer and demonstrate your qualifications.
STEP 7 – How to Write Your References
Do NOT put “References available upon request” on your resume. Instead, prepare a separate reference sheet with 3–4 professional references and only give it to an employer when requested.
STEP 8 – A Few Resume Do’s and Don’ts
- Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for
- Use action words and industry keywords
- Quantify your accomplishments where possible
- Make your resume easy to scan
- Do NOT list irrelevant or outdated experience
Download more help here:
Now go out there and write the best resume you can and I guarantee you’ll get flocks of employers calling you for job interviews every day.
