When it comes to making a resume, there are plenty of advices, which fall into one’s ears. “Do this”, “don’t do that”, it never really ends. Does it? However, do any of these well-wishers actually have an idea of what a resume should look like? Are they so confident even when they are making their own resumes? Surely they must be. However, you cannot be too sure. Not always at least. So why take a chance with your resume. Chuck the amateur opinions and trust yourself with the experts who bring you the best and the simplest formal resume for the corporate world. After all, a resume can make or break your career. You may sometimes feel the need to go creative but creativity doesn’t necessarily mean too much color and gloss. Presenting regular information in a crisper and smarter way is creativity as well. And this is not only appreciated but also sought after in the corporate. After all, it’s organization that matters!
Making A Resume
Formal Resume Template
A formal resume template follows a simple and efficient approach. It states the data in a form that makes your details not only crisp but eye-catching. Following the given instructions can help you a great deal in deciding the placement of relevant information in your resume.
Be Specific
Zero down on the industry and profile of your choice. Even if you do not have any industry in mind then understand the profile that you are applying for before you start making a resume.
Legally Un-Blonde
Elle in Legally Blonde may have gotten away with decorative stationary for a resume but for a serious corporate job, you’ll have to be duller than that. Stick with the basic white sheet of a rather heavier variety for a professional finish.
Introduction First
Make sure that the heading of your resume is not “Resume”. Instead, it should be your name in the centre of the page, right on the top. Following it should be your mailing address in the top-left corner, your contact number and then email ID. Do not use IDs like [email protected]. Make a professional ID using your name.
Photograph
A passport size picture is required only in media related jobs unless otherwise mentioned. If a photograph is required then you have to stick it on the top-right corner, under your name, right across from the address and contact details on the left corner.
Niceties
Always start with writing 2-3 lines about you and your overall positive character traits. Write an introduction keeping in mind the job that you are applying for.
Internship/Work Experience
If you have done, some training somewhere then mention it with work experience or else internship undertaken by you should precede your academics. Mention your entire experience with job-title, company name, duration, and a job description of 3-4 bullet points. Mention these in a reverse chronological order.
Academic Qualification
List your educational qualifications also in a reverse chronology. Mention your grades if you want, otherwise just mention the qualification and the year of completing it. However, grades are important only to fresher.
Achievements
List all your job-related achievements followed by academic achievements under this heading. Provide separate sub headings for both. Do not include sports in this.
Extra Curricular Activities
Here you should write your extra-curricular activities of non-voluntary nature like youth groups etc or even sports achievements in a reverse chronology.
Skills
Mention all your technical skills here. Even language skills are to be placed here.
Strengths
List your positive traits and special talents under this heading.
References
Use your teachers’ or HOD’s name as reference. Your references should be people who know you personally and not necessarily, the important ones like the principal.
Personal Details
Other personal details like date of birth, nationality, gender and marital status etc are generally required by overseas recruiters but you can add them if you want towards the end of your resume.
Length
While the length of a fresher’s resume must never be more than one page, the resume of experienced professionals can run into as many pages as required to cover the experience and job description of the individuals.
Salary Details
Never mention your salary details in your resume unless explicitly asked for. Mentioning this detail limits your negotiating power.
Never mention your salary details in your resume unless explicitly asked for. Mentioning this detail limits your negotiating power.