If you’re just graduating from college, you might be nervous about writing your first resume. If so, we have some of the best resume writing tips for freshers that you can use to get started and build a great resume that will get you noticed by potential employers!
Use these tips to transform your experience into actionable accomplishments, tailor each resume to each position you apply to, and discover other useful advice about how to write a resume that will help you land your dream job.
5 Most Important Resume Tips
- Use a resume format that allows you to convey your qualifications in an organized manner. Don’t use a format that requires highlighting or underlining to emphasize key elements of your qualifications, as these processes can be unreliable and tend to fade over time. Many employers also shy away from resumes written in colored ink.
- Build your resume around bullet points, not prose: Focus on listing facts instead of writing lengthy descriptions. Three or four sentences should do it—longer is rarely better! The goal here is to give hiring managers a quick snapshot of who you are and what makes you stand out, not fill them in on every detail of your life story (they can read all about it later).
- Proofread twice, if possible. Even minor errors can make a big impact.
- Get feedback before sending your resume to any company. You have one chance to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a good one!
- Remember that resumes aren’t only used during job applications; they’re also used during internships, graduate school applications and even corporate promotions.
If you want to get hired by a company, you must first write a resume. The job market is tight and getting that first interview is an uphill battle, so it’s important to know how to build an impressive resume. First things first: you need to format your resume correctly.
Most companies use what’s called an industry-standard resume format. If you don’t adhere to that, then chances are your resume won’t even be looked at by human eyes in HR (at least not past the filtering step). Use a tool if you have no idea where to start! It will help you craft a resume based on how other people in your profession format their resumes.
If you still feel unsure after using one of these resume makers online, consider hiring a professional resume writer who can help take your resume from boring to bold and exciting. It could be just enough to land an interview! So keep on reading if you want some advice on improving both its design and content.
While formatting isn’t everything, and it may not even be something you notice when applying to a job, your resume should be formatted in easy-to-read bullet points. Instead of writing full sentences in bullet points, just keep it simple by listing out keywords that match your target job and what skills you possess.
It’s even better if you can highlight these bullets with bold or italic text. This can make a big difference, as most resumes are hundreds of pages long and people don’t have time to read all of them. Make yours stand out by using easy-to-read bullet points!
A resume maker for freshers will help you create one on your own. You will find a number of available options including premium templates to use on Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format along with dozens of different styles, designs and colors so you can pick one which is best suited for your needs. There are also some great design examples in case you need more inspiration.
First of all, lying on your resume can get you fired. People don’t like getting fired and they are more likely to seek revenge than they are to forgive and forget.
Lying can also cost you that job. The questions a hiring manager asks in an interview will often be related to your resume; it is important that you have answers ready because if you lie, and they figure it out, even if they do hire you, there will always be doubts in their mind about whether or not you lied about something else. You could end up being let go down the road because of these perceived shortcomings.
There is simply no reason to lie on your resume. In fact, when companies conduct background checks and find discrepancies between information given in interviews and what is written on resumes (which happens quite frequently), there is almost never any hesitation when it comes to choosing who to let go – they choose whoever lied first every time. You do not want that label attached to you early in your career!
The resume format you choose (chronological, functional, or combination) will largely depend on your career history and what skills you bring to a potential employer. As an entry-level professional, a functional resume is likely your best option.
This format highlights specific skills and achievements rather than work history; it’s a great choice if you’re new to the workforce or changing industries.
You can find templates online or make one using Word (there are plenty of resume-building tools that do all of the heavy lifting for you). No matter which format you choose, remember that resumes are just one part of building a strong job application; remember your cover letter!
Depending on your industry, a resume maker online might work best in reverse chronological order or functional format. Check with each employer you’re applying to to see which style they prefer.
Also, make sure your resume is formatted in a way that easily highlights your achievements and stands out from an applicant pool.
A great option is something like The One-Page Resume—it condenses all of your qualifications into one page and shows potential employers exactly why you’re great for the job.
Your resume needs to make an impact, as hiring managers typically get hundreds of resumes for each position advertised. By keeping it simple and informative, your resume will immediately stand out from the crowd.
