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1
Know your audience
2
Choose a format
3
Pick a design
4
Customize your resume
5
Here’s what else to consider
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1 Know your audience
Before you start designing your resume, you need to research your target industry and company. What are the expectations, norms, and preferences of your audience? How formal or creative is the culture? What keywords and phrases are relevant to your field? You can use online tools, such as Jobscan, to analyze job descriptions and match your resume to the specific requirements. You can also look at samples of resumes from your industry and see what works and what doesn't.
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Different industries have varying expectations when it comes to resume design. For example, a creative field like graphic design may allow for more visually appealing and artistic layouts, while a more traditional industry like finance or law may prefer a more conservative and professional design. Research the norms and expectations within your specific field to guide your decision.
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This is critical as you want to capture attention and drive action from your reader. I agree about research. Some fields require a CV rather than a resume (academia). Another example is law, where they don't want to read about the things that are typically expected for a role - they want strong accomplishments with metrics.
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2 Choose a format
There are three main types of resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid. Chronological resumes list your work experience in reverse order, starting with the most recent. This format is ideal for candidates who have a steady career progression and want to highlight their achievements and growth. Functional resumes focus on your skills and abilities, rather than your work history. This format is suitable for candidates who have gaps in their employment, career changes, or limited experience. Hybrid resumes combine elements of both chronological and functional resumes, emphasizing both your skills and your work history. This format is flexible and adaptable, and can work for candidates who want to showcase their best qualities.
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I recommend that job seekers stick with a chronological resume. It really is the clearest format and easiest for the reader to digest. If you have earlier career experience that you are looking to emphasize, be sure to share that in your executive summary (vs moving to a functional format).
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Consider the key information that employers in your field typically look for and adjust your resume layout accordingly. For example, if your work experience is highly valued in your industry, prioritize a reverse chronological layout that showcases your most recent and relevant positions. If your skills or certifications are more important, opt for a functional or skills-based layout that highlights these qualifications.
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3 Pick a design
Once you have chosen a format, you need to pick a design that matches your content and your personality. Your resume should be clear, consistent, and professional, but also reflect your style and brand. You can find a design that suits your needs through online templates such as Canva or Zety, or create your own from scratch. When designing your resume, use legible fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica; font size between 10 and 12 points; neutral or muted colors such as black, gray, or navy; bullet points, headings, and subheadings to organize your information; graphics, icons, or charts to illustrate your skills; and a PDF format to save and send it. Make sure all these elements are relevant, simple, and consistent with your design.
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Keep it simple. Recruiters want to identify you are qualified quickly and not see that you have a strong command of Canva (unless that's the job, of course). Recruiters look at hundreds of resumes per week minimum...they want to see information in predictable spots. Be creative outlining your achievements within the confines of the function of a resume. Consider where the eyes of recruiters will go when they read it (I recruited for 13 years...so I know this is important). I see too many job seekers choose fancy layouts that essentially kill of the functionality of their resume. A good designer of anything needs to always factor in how the creation will be used to be effective--otherwise it is just a pretty useless thing.
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Clean and clear is best. I love Canva, but I wouldn't use it for a resume template. Anytime that you add an extra feature (like columns or pictures), you are increasing your chances of your resume format being off when it is downloaded. In most cases, your resume is not being graded for visual creativity. Take the time that you would have used for a fancy template and put it through showing your value through quantified results.
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4 Customize your resume
To customize your resume for each job application, you should tailor your content, layout, and design to the specific position and company you are applying for. Incorporate keywords and phrases from the job description and company website into your resume, and highlight your most relevant skills, achievements, and experiences for the role. Additionally, adjust your layout and design to fit the page limit, industry standards, and employer expectations. Don't forget to proofread your resume for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors; it's also a good idea to get someone else to review it. By following these tips, you can create a resume that showcases your value and potential so that you can land your dream job. Remember: Your resume is not a one-size-fits-all document; rather, it is a dynamic and flexible tool that you can use to market yourself.
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A great resume needs 5-10 minutes of tailoring. Here's what I tailor: The summary. Answer specific questions from the job description. In most job descriptions, you will find a paragraph summary of the job. Be sure you "retell" how you are the right candidate for that role in your summary.The skills or core competencies. Add skills to your resume that are directly mentioned or required in the job announcement. ChatGPT is great at helping you derive those. I add the job description and ask for resume keywords. Saves tons of time. Accomplishments related to the job requirements. If a job description asks for experience documenting business requirements, share an example in your recent experience of how you contributed to this.
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5 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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Take it from a former recruiter with over 20 years of experience. White Space is your Friend! White space, or the empty areas on your resume, is crucial for visual balance and readability. Avoid cramming too much information onto one page. Instead, use strategic spacing to create clear sections and make it easier for recruiters to navigate your resume. Adequate white space also helps draw attention to key points and improves overall aesthetics.
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It's OK to use tables. I would steer clear of text boxes. One way to see how ATS will look at your resume is to save it as a text file.
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