Writing The Perfect Resumé
Updated: Apr 2, 2024
Written by: Eric Gershey, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Congratulations! You did it. After sleepless nights and figuratively pulling out your hair, you know what type of job you are after. Your eyes are like laser beams on the Nine2Five Job Search platform, carefully browsing through job listings and selecting the ones that match your hopes and dreams. When applying for jobs however, the resumé and other portfolio pieces you send to the hiring manager seriously matter, and more than likely, it’s your only shot at getting your foot in the door. While there isn’t a one-size-fits all model for resumés, there are a few tips that you can follow, no matter what industry that you are applying.
1. Create Unique Resumés
Most people know this, however most people skip over the step of creating individual resumés for which job they are applying. We recommend listing your previous job responsibilities on your resumé in a way that strengthens the required skill set the employer has listed on the job posting. It’s important to elaborate on those previous job responsibilities you have listed on your resumé and give tangible examples on how your position correlated to a positive outcome for the previous business.
2. Formatting
People often forget that there is a human on the other side of the computer screen. Formatting your resumé so it rests easy on the eyes is a simple step you can take to help you write the perfect resumé. Leave even margins around the edges of your resumé and ensure that each section aligns nicely using the same alignment. For example, if you are listing the dates of employment from previous positions, make sure that all of the dates align in the same column. Use the same font face for your resumé and use the same point size consistently; yes, it’s OK to make your name and contact info more prominent which we will delve into next.
3. Make Your Contact Info Prominent and Easy to Find!
When creating the perfect resumé for yourself, make it extremely easy for the hiring manager to find your contact information. We recommend using a bold font or adding in some color to your name – literally making it stand out from the rest of your resumé. While the rule of thumb is sticking to one page for your resumé, sometimes you simply need a page two; when this occurs remember to add your name, email, and page number to the footer or header in case page two detaches from page one. Lastly, when sending your resumé to the hiring team, make sure you put your full name and the job title you’re applying for in the subject line.
4. Use The Right Buzz Words
While it’s important for your resumé to look the part, it’s also important for it to walk the walk – meaning your resumé needs to include jargon from the industry you are applying. By utilizing buzz words in your industry, you are exemplifying your knowledge to the hiring manager without saying it. Think about this: If you were applying for a content writing position, which sentence gives off a stronger vibe when reading it:
“Wrote blogs for Nine2Five Job Search.”
“Curated content to strengthen the Nine2Five Job Search brand.”
In the above example, we gave you a lackluster first sentence and then we gave you a better second sentence. Sentence 2 explains a piece of our job function while using keywords pertaining to the industry. To help jog your creative juices, you can also utilize your LinkedIn research to find people in similar roles and see how they summarize their job responsibilities.
If writing isn’t your strong suit or you simply want an expert’s opinion on your resumé, please visit the Nine2Five Prep™ page for interview services such as interview preparation, and personalized resumé writing services.
Eric Gershey, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
CEO and Founder of Nine2Five Job Search and Nine2Five Custom Ads. Featured article in Yahoo!Finance, NJBIZ, Thrive Global, Small Business Trends and 65 other publications. Co-Host of Award Winning Podcast called Nine2Five Job Search Podcast (iTunes Top 50 Education Podcast). Eric graduated with a B.A. in 2012 from Montclair State University and has a background in career services, sales, marketing and management.
