So assuming that you are writing a resume for the first time, here are some tips for effective resume writing. Just imagine a resume layout sample based on the article!
Borders and Margins
This is the first thing that you need to take care of. Your resume should look neat and well structured. So when you make a resume on a computer, ensure that you keep a slight distance from the margins of the page.
In my opinion, a tabulated resume looks neat and well-compartmentalized. Hence you can prepare the initial outline of a resume with tables. Make 4 tables on the page: one big left sided table, the right side with two tables and one page-sized bottom table.
Fonts and Styles
Another thing you need to know about before starting your resume layout is how to use different font styles and where. Pick just one font and one font size and stick to it throughout your resume. Of course, there will be points which you would like to highlight, but you can use bold, underline and italics for those. Do not use capitals and larger fonts within the content as they look untidy.
Introduce Yourself
Now let’s move to the actual framing part. The first part of your resume includes your name and your contact details. Center align the name and keep the address, email id and phone number left aligned. You can keep your name in bold and the contact details in italics.
Resume Objective Statement
I’ve said so before and I’ll say it again, if the resume is your advertisement, the resume objective statement is the punchline! Hence, it has to be good and should have a strong impact. The resume objective statement talks about 3 things. Your career goals, your skills and what you intend to bring to the company which would employ you. Having said that, it has to be short, upto 3 sentences maximum, and not verbose, with long sentences. To good effect, you could start the career objective part with a nice, relevant quote by someone in the field you intend to work in.
Skills
Now let me assume that you have made two side-to-side tables on your resume. The left side table should include all the skills which you feel are relevant to the job you are applying to and which you actually possess! Some skills may also require substantiating proof. For example, if you’ve done a computer course in web designing, you ought to carry along a certificate of the same. Read on for skills to put on a resume.
On the contrary, if you’ve held a few jobs before, use the left side table for the professional experience and accomplishments.
Professional Experience
This part is relevant only if you HAVE professional experience. List out chronologically-with bullets-the jobs which you have held in the past and the achievements in the job. If you have had a long professional career, then you can keep this in the left side table. If you don’t then keep it in the right sided, lower table.
Academic Record
The table on the top-right side of the page is for your academic record. This is for your academic record, the schools which you went to and the marks which you obtained.
Extra Curriculars
And the last part of your resume is the long table at the bottom of the page. This one is for listing the extra-curricular activities, your achievements in your hobbies and other interests if any.