A recent grad’s resume should look a lot different than someone who has been in the working world for 10 years or more. Therefore, your resume should reflect the stage you are in your career, and in life! Also, your resume should be tailored to the specific industry you are applying. Here are some tips to make your resume more effective:
Career stage: college grads
- Education
- Experience
- Leadership
- Awards/Activities
- Skills
Although most entry-level positions require a minimum of 2-3 years experience, being a recent grad is not a disadvantage because employers want employees who can bring new ideas to the workplace. In fact, many positions are geared towards recent grads. Thus, having your education at the top will help you to stand out. Also, HR departments and hiring managers admire your extracurricular and leadership experiences, so make sure those are located at the top!
Career stage: senior level
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Summary statement
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Experience
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Professional organizations
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Education
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Skills and certifications
Although you may be at the seniority level, it is important to make sure that your resume is easy to read. Thus, make it easy for someone to find your experience and skills. Also, since you are applying to a senior level position, it is acceptable to submit a two-page resume. No one expects you to cram all of your senior level experience onto one page!
Career changers:
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Objective
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Relevant experience
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Additional experience
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Professional organizations/community involvement (optional)
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Education
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Skills and certifications
Even though transitioning from one career stage to another is difficult, crafting the perfect resume is even harder! Hence, include an objective that explains why you want a career change. Also, describe why you are a good fit for the new position. Lastly, split up your experience into categories to highlight specific experiences.
For everyone:
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Summary statement
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Experience
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Professional organizations
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Education
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Skills and certifications
If you have a few years of experience under your belt, create a summary statement of your previous work experience. Give the HR manager a brief and useful description of what you’ve been up to. Actually, this part of the resume is where you should deepen into the responsibilities you have had at each position of your career stage.
These tips are very useful to formatting your resume according to your career stage. However, you still want to include personal touches that will help you distinguish yourself and show your personality!