writing a killer resume

How to write a killer Software Engineering résumé

An in-depth analysis of the résumé that got me interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and more.

This résumé got me interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple.

I obtained these interviews by sending my résumé to the résumé black hole , also known as applying online.

Applying online is the most common way people go about applying for a job and therefore the least effective way to land an interview due to competition. Yet that is exactly how I obtained all my interviews.

How did I accomplish this?

In this article, I will go through a line-by-line analysis of my résumé for the following purposes:

• explaining the choices that I made in creating my résumé
• why I believe this résumé worked to help me land those interviews, and
• how you can create an even better résumé!

I decided to write this article because I struggled a lot with landing interviews when I first started looking for a job. It would have been extremely helpful for me to have a real-life example résumé to look at.

This article is organized into the following sections:

• The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview - a short anecdote of my frustrations when I first started applying for jobs
• Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward - a reflection on different strategies to improve the odds of landing interviews
• Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé By Example - the step-by-step analysis of my résumé with each of the following sections corresponding to my résumé:

The Essentials from a Glance

• Who Are You
• Contact Information
• Personal Projects

The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview

Applying online.

You probably know the link that every company provides for online applications. It’s the classic career site that shows you a bunch of job titles which you think you are totally qualified for until you open the job description and read the minimum requirements.

A job description with a bunch of words that you have never heard of, may have heard of, or hoped you had heard of. And it has an innocent-looking “ Apply” button .

Despite the uncertainty you may feel about your qualifications, you apply anyway because you want a job.

So you fill out the application form, press submit — and wait and hope for a positive response.

Your results will be varied:

• Phone Interview ? (yay, a chance at employment!!!)
• Immediate Rejection ? (darn, back to the drawing board)
• No reply  ? (ugh, at least give me the courtesy of having some closure)

Repeat Until Success… Right?

Sadly, this is the typical process that many people go through when looking for a job/internship.

Apply to a couple of companies. Get a couple of rejections or no replies. Apply to a couple more companies. Get a couple more rejections or no replies. Over, and over, and over again.

Why do we do this to ourselves? We spend all this time doing the same repetitive task to obtain the same, disappointing results.

Because this is what everyone does to get an interview, right? Because at least we’re working towards the right direction and have a glimmer of hope, right? How else are you supposed to get an interview?

Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward

“Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” - Dale Carnegie, (author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”)

We can think of approaching the problem of not getting interviews in two ways:

• Putting your application/ résumé under the microscope
• Questioning the process in which you go about obtaining an interview

This article focuses on the former, because no matter what avenue you end up taking to get an interview, essentially every company utilizes your résumé as a basis for evaluation . Therefore, we will examine my résumé under a microscope and focus on learning how to write a remarkable résumé.

Getting an interview via online application is extremely challenging because your résumé has to pass numerous stages before it gets into the hands of the hiring manager.

It has to bypass online keyword filters , stand out to a recruiter who reviews it for about 6 seconds and meet the expectations of the hiring manager who decides whether you are worth interviewing.

Yet, despite all those hurdles, I obtained all my interviews by applying online. How? Trial and error . I’ve applied to hundreds of different software engineering positions since my sophomore year of college.

When I first started applying, I faced a staggering number of rejections, but over time I learned how to adapt. By the time I was a senior, I was extremely successful in landing interviews from almost every company I applied to.

The résumé that landed me all those interviews is the exact one in this article.

It took me four years of iteration and real-life testing to get to this point. From this experience, I have come up with a list of résumé writing principles to help you write an even better software résumé. These are principles that have helped me land my dream job and are principles that can help you land yours.

While it took me four years of college to figure this all out, you don’t have to go through all the leaps and bounds because you can learn all of it right here, right now.

My goal is to be the one-stop hub for all your questions on how to obtain a software engineering interview. That way, you don’t have to waste countless hours cross-referencing Google search results to find the best answer on how to write a software engineering résumé that gets interviews.

Your valuable time could be better spent on writing your killer résumé.

So start here and now with this article. Reap the benefits from my past experiences and let’s begin the step-by-step walkthrough of my résumé!

Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé — By Example

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s take another look at this résumé:

One-page résumé

Recruiters do not have all day to read your résumé. On average they view it for less than 6 seconds. Keep it short and concise .

Sections (Header, Education, Employment, Software Projects, Skills)

Place sections in order of importance from top to bottom. The ‘ Personal Projects ’ section is a unique, must-have for people looking for a software engineering position.

Consistent layout + font per section

Make sure each section contains a uniform look. Consistent style is important as it enhances the readability. Readability is essential.

So why does this résumé work? Let’s explore the numbered bullet points.

Who Are You (1)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé

Starting off real easy. Your name. Place your name at the top of your résumé in a large legible font.

No need to be all fancy about it with extravagant colors or fancy fonts. Plain and simple does the trick. You want the recruiter to see this easily from a mile away because you want them to know who you are. A recruiter who has to do minimum work is a happy recruiter. A happy recruiter is one who is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Make it ridiculously easy for the recruiter to read and find your name.

Contact Information (2)

Your contact info should be as easy as identifying your name. This is so important. Of all the things in the world, please do not mess this one up because how else on earth will the recruiter contact you?

Recap: Put in the correct contact information or you’ll never be contacted.

Education (3)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé with a degree

If you are attending or attended college, this should be the first section of your résumé, because going to college is a huge accomplishment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only “66.7 percent of 2017 high school graduates age 16 to 24 enrolled in colleges or universities”. So be proud of it and include it!

Right off the bat, this tells the recruiter that you are invested in education and learning, which is crucial because technology is continuously changing. Furthermore, this information serves as an indicator of your successes, so be sure to put it down.

Recap: Put down where you got educated.

Be sure to include relevant coursework corresponding to the position that you are applying for. While a course on the History of Italian Gastronomy sounds exceptionally appetizing, it doesn’t have a place in a résumé that is trying to get you a job in computer science.

This will significantly improve the ability of the recruiter and the hiring manager looking at your résumé in deciding whether you are a good fit for the position. And as previously mentioned, a happy recruiter is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Only include relevant coursework.

Okay. GPA. Before we talk about this, let’s remind ourselves of the main purpose of a résumé.

The main purpose of a résumé is to highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments succinctly. You want to include things on your résumé that you are proud of, but also things that will impress. You want to paint a picture of yourself in the best light possible so that recruiters and hiring managers want to interview you.

Now back to your GPA. It should be fairly obvious whether or not your GPA is impressive. If your GPA is below a 3.0, don’t put it on your résumé. There’s nothing wrong with excluding your GPA from your résumé if it only harms your chances.

If you have a GPA between 3.0–3.2, this is a judgment call. From personal experience, I have talked to some companies that require a minimum GPA of 3.2, but these were primarily financial or quantitative companies. Most software companies have little regard for your GPA. If you have anything above a 3.2, I would place it on your résumé.

If you have a low GPA, fear not, as this gives you the opportunity to be creative! My overall GPA was a 3.2 due to poor grades from my freshman engineering prerequisites and humanities classes. But once I finished and started taking courses within my major, my in-major GPA (GPA calculated from courses in my major) was a 3.44, which was significantly higher. So that’s what I put down (but make sure to qualify it as a departmental GPA).

There are many ways of going about presenting yourself in the best light possible, even when it may seem like the odds are stacked against you. I only provided one example of accomplishing this, but there are many more ways waiting to be discovered by you. Fully embrace your failures and accomplishments because they make up who are you. Be honest and truthful, and always focus on highlighting the best parts about yourself.

Recap: Your GPA does not define you. The purpose of your résumé is to present yourself in the best light. Never forget that! Be creative when going about this and DON’T LIE.

Employment (4)

Target Audience: Students with software engineering work experience

If you are a college student without any experience, don’t be afraid! This was my senior year résumé when I was applying for a full-time job. I was fortunate enough to have accumulated relevant work experience from summer internships, but this isn’t absolutely necessary to get an interview. If you find that you don’t have much to put in section, jump down to the ‘ Personal Projects ’ section.

While it is great to have past work experience, not all work experience is treated equally when it comes to looking for a job in software engineering. Focus only on including work experience that has relevance to the job that you are applying for. For instance, if you have experience working as a cashier in retail or a waiter in the food industry, don’t include it! Unfortunately, your abilities to handle money or serve food did not provide any indication that you will succeed as a software engineer.

A recruiter’s goal is to match candidates with jobs that fit the candidates’ skill sets. Therefore it is essential only to include past work experience that has some relation to the position that you are currently applying to, on your résumé.

Part of accomplishing this means creating a collection of various résumés, each tailored specifically for the different job that you are interested in. This is analogous to the college application process, where you had to write separate essays for each university that you applied to. Each college has its own values, culture, and vision, making it nearly impossible to write a generic, one-size-fits-all college essay. Therefore, tailor your résumé to the job that you are applying for.

Lastly, a note on dates. Order your experiences in descending order starting with your most recent experiences. For undergraduates, this means being mindful of including experiences that are both recent and relevant. Sadly, no one cares about whatever accomplishments you had in middle school or high school. If the experience is outdated, leave it out.

Recap: Have various versions of your résumé tailored for each job you are applying for. There is no one-size-fits-all résumé.

The hardest part about résumé writing is having descriptions that fully encapsulate your accomplishments from past work experiences in a meaningful and impressive way.

What does it mean for your descriptions to be meaningful and impressive? It means getting the recruiter to think: “This is someone that has the skill sets we are looking for. This is someone that has made a significant impact in their past jobs. This is someone we would like to interview and potentially hire.”

The primary objective of the Employment section is to show the impact and value that you had while working at an established institution. Your goal is to show recruiters that you are a candidate that can get things done and do them well.

To best showcase my accomplishments in my résumé, I adopted the following powerful formula, created by the Former SVP of People Operations at Google, Laszlo Bock:

“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” — Laszlo Bock

You can see this very clearly in the very first bullet point of this section on my résumé.

Improved device’s battery lifespan by 8% by integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

Let’s break it down:

Accomplished [X]- Improved device’s battery lifespan

Measured by [Y]- by 8%

By Doing [Z]- integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

I leveraged this formula in some shape or form in almost every sentence in my résumé.

To help you along this process, below is a word bank of excellent verbs you can and should use:

Here are some examples of fill-in the blank sentences that I have come up with for you to get started:

• Reduced _____ by _____ by _____.
• Redesigned _____ for _____.
• Implemented _____ for _____ by _____.
• Improved _____ by _____ through _____.
• Utilized _____ to _____ for _____.
• Increased _____ by _____ through _____.
• Integrated _____ by _____ for _____.
• Incorporated _____ for _____ by _____.

Recap: Use the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula. It’s the most effective and most apparent way of showing recruiters/managers your impact.

Lastly, I end each work experience with a leveraged knowledge bullet point. The utility behind this last bit is it enables the reader to really get a sense of the technology I am familiar with by explicitly stating the technologies that I used for the project.

This also allows me to have a concise, but clean ‘Skills’ section located at the bottom of my résumé. Recruiters can then look at the bottom to immediately obtain a sense of my capabilities by seeing which computer languages I am familiar with. If they are looking to see if I have specific knowledge in a particular tool, framework, or library, then they can find this out by looking at my projects.

Recap: Including technologies that you used in your descriptions will help you bypass online keyword filters when applying online. This will also give recruiters a clearer idea of your experiences and knowledge.

Personal Projects (5)

Target Audience: Students looking for software engineering internships/full-time positions + Unique section for software engineering applicants

Maybe if I say it enough times, you will understand the importance of this section, especially for those that do not have work experience .

Personal projects are integral to piquing recruiters and hiring managers interest as it shows you are passionate about programming.

A personal project can be anything programming related, whether it be a Python script, Java program, web page, mobile application, etc. These projects show that you are genuinely interested in computer science and you have strong desires to work as a software engineer because you are willing to go beyond your schoolwork and create something on your own.

Taking the initiative to build something on your own is extremely impressive. It shows that you are dedicated to expanding your knowledge of computer science and that you are not afraid of putting in the extra work to do so. Ultimately, it is a fantastic way to demonstrate self-initiative and genuine interest in this field.

The other benefit of doing personal projects is that you inevitably gain the skills that apply to work in the real world. Things that you don’t usually do at school, but you will do at work such as using standard frameworks/libraries, understanding full-stack web development, creating mobile applications, setting up a development environment, or programming efficiently with Vim.

Tip: Create a personal website that showcases and documents all of your personal projects. This is a little hack that ‘virtually extends’ your résumé beyond the one-page limit.

To reiterate one last time, personal projects show your passion and dedication towards developing the necessary skills needed for a job that you don’t yet have. This is a must-have on any software engineering resume.

“Build some iPhone apps, web apps, whatever! Honestly it doesn’t matter that much what you’re building as long as you’re building something. You can build a fairly meaty project in one weekend. This means that with about 3–4 weekends of work, you can make your résumé go from so-so to fantastic. Seriously — I’ve seen lots of people do this.” - Gayle McDowell, former Google Engineer and Author of Cracking the Coding Interview

If there is a specific company that you really want to work at, one of the best ways to stand out is doing a personal project that is directly related to the job that you are applying for.

I got my internship at Autodesk by taking a free online interactive computer graphics course on Udacity. The course taught me to use a JavaScript library called three.js , and it just so happened that there was a software engineering internship opening at Autodesk looking for someone with full-stack website and knowledge in three.js (aka ME).

A word of caution on this technique. This strategy is not perfect. This only really works for companies like Autodesk which do not have generalized software engineering internships like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. When starting off early in your career, it is better to generalize and figure out the different disciplines of computer science. Nonetheless, this is an excellent method worth trying if there is a specific company you want.

Recap: Personal projects are imperative. If you haven’t already, start NOW! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Target Audience: Anyone looking for a software engineering job

The title explains it all. Keep this section dumb, simple, and clean. List all the relevant skills that you want the recruiter to know you have. The more skills you have listed here that match key technical words in the qualification section of the job description, the better your chances!

This will allow you to bypass the online keyword scanner easily. However, this is not a fool-proof method of circumventing the scanner. Ultimately it is a recruiter who gets their hands on your résumé that decides, but they will also be more inclined to give you an interview if they see you as a good fit for the job!

A thing to note about the skills section is to NOT simply list all the keywords on the job description just for the sake of showing you’re a good fit. It will come back to bite you as you will be questioned on the skills you claim to know.

Part of giving yourself some leeway in this is including an indication of your proficiency level. Since you are probably not practicing every language you’ve ever encountered on a day to day basis, including a proficiency level can help the recruiter know your strongest languages at a moment in time and other languages that you are familiar with.

I’ve opted to use two tiers:

• Proficient - Languages that I am very familiar with, feel very comfortable using, and can interview with right now.
• Familiar - Languages that I have utilized in the past but may not be as knowledgeable in currently, but can pick back up given time.

Other valid options include:

• Intermediate
• Working Knowledge
• Basic Knowledge

Recap: When applying for a specific job online, cross-reference the job description and add essential technical keywords on your résumé to increase your chance of getting an interview.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your name and contact information is correct and legible
• Be sure to include your education. If your GPA is low, leave it out or be creative!
• Utilize the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula to effectively show the impact that you had in your past employment
• Do personal projects — especially if you do not have past experience working in tech

Final Thoughts

While this résumé got me interviews at numerous software engineering companies, there is no guarantee that following all the principles and techniques I have explained here will yield the same results for you.

This was my senior year résumé in 2017. It is a showcase of my journey and interest in software engineering. Copying it will do you no good, as technology is constantly evolving and the talent search is an ever-changing process. Instead, use this as a reference.

Use my résumé and this article as a resource to become a better résumé writer and a more effective communicator. Focus on learning how to best convey your skills and achievements to others. This in itself is an invaluable, lifelong skill that you will need wherever you go.

As you write your résumé, please remember — be yourself!

Your résumé is a list of your own accomplishments, achievements, and interests. Your goal is to craft the most polished version of yourself. Lastly, have fun and enjoy the process!

For anyone interested in using this resume template, I obtained it from CareerCup which was founded by Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of Cracking The Coding Interview .

From personal experience, what’s most important is the content. The resume writing principles discussed above can be applied to any template!

Also, check out my new website, memlayout.com , which helps students learn programming through visualizing their python code line-by-line.

software engineer @tesla. consider donating to https://oeop.mit.edu/. visualize python code line-by-line with https://memlayout.com/

If this article was helpful, share it .

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How to Write a Killer Resume To Help You Land More Interviews (2019 Update)

In the 2019 job market, knowing how to write a killer, high quality resume could be the difference between you landing an interview for your dream job or not. In this brief piece, we talk about how to write a killer resume that will help you land more interviews in the coming year. There is a fine line between success and failure, and as you know, life is too short to work in a job you don’t enjoy.

Nobody knows your career history better than you do. Therefore, it’s important to plan out the direction and content of your resume before you draft the first version. Before you start, it’s important to understand exactly what your killer resume needs to accomplish. To do that, follow our guide on how to write a killer resume in 2019.

What is a Killer Resume?

A killer resume is a professional document that showcases all of your relevant professional and academic attributes. Essentially, it is a marketing tool to explain why you’re the best fit for a job. Everyone’s background is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all resume that works for everyone. Understanding how to write a killer resume that showcases your best attributes is an important skill that can be practiced.

Before you begin putting words on a page, it is important to decide which resume format to use to best display your unique educational history and professional experience.

Killer Resume Formats

There are three ways to best format your resume: Chronological, Functional, and Hybrid. Every format has benefits, and understanding the most effective way to showcase your work history is pivotal to building a high quality killer resume. Not sure how to write a resume that showcases your career history in the best light? First, think about the last five years of your career. Have you stayed at one company? Have you moved every year? Decisions like these will help tailor the direction and format of your resume, making it a lot easier later to see how to write a killer resume that showcases you in the best light.

Chronological

A killer resume formatted chronologically is best for job seekers that have great tenure, accomplishments for every position they have held, or want to showcase a strong vertical career progression.

Functional resumes are designed for individuals who are just beginning their careers and want to highlight their education and skills without attaching them to career accomplishments. They are great for those who have gaps in their employment history or are making a significant career change.

Hybrid resumes are the most rare in the industry. They are typically used by experts in their fields. Hybrid resume formatting allows the individual to showcase an acquired skillset obtained during a certain position during their career.

What information should I include on a killer resume?

There is no cookie-cutter template that will be effective for your individual career history and goals, so it can be difficult to determine what information is best to include on a killer resume without getting to know you first.

That said, contact information such as your name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address are great things to include at the top of your killer resume. This will give hiring managers an opportunity to contact you directly if they come across your resume. Understanding how to make sure your contact information is formatted correct is important too! Do your utmost not to use text boxes or other devices that can hinder a computer reading your contact information.

You will also want to highlight any and all academic accomplishments you have obtained. Do you have a Bachelors degree or a Masters? Those are great to include on a killer resume, as hiring managers will check for educational fit before looking at any other information.

Finally, you’ll want to include your work history, including the dates of employment at each company, and highlighting all of your significant accomplishments or contributions. Your killer resume is your opportunity to brag about yourself, so use it!

Desired Outcome Of Having A Killer Resume

Having a killer resume could be the difference between landing an interview or not. Because of this, making the investment in a professionally written killer resume is always a good idea. Just think of the potential return on investment (ROI) if you pay $300 for a professionally written resume and cover letter that helps you land a job that pays $5,000 to $10,000 more than your current salary. The economics of investing in a killer resume make sense!

Do I Need Professional Resume Help?

The easy answer is probably, yes! Certified Professional Resume Writers (CPRWs) are skilled at honing in on the attributes that really bring value to your killer resume, showcasing the accomplishments that will make you a top candidate for your dream role. CPRWs know how to write a resume that does the work for you!

Since resumes are personal documents, it is important that tone and style are accurate and align with your career goals. CPRWs have written hundreds of resumes, and know exactly how to write a killer resume that will make you shine!

With over 15 years in the career services industry, Employment BOOST by JMJ Phillip Group has the expertise and industry knowledge to make the transition into your next role as easy and effective as possible. With an in-house team of certified professional resume writers and access to researchers and recruiters, Employment BOOST is your one-stop shop for killer resume and career services.

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Your Guide To Writing A Killer Resume And Cover Letter

• Posted by by Rashi Maheshwari
• Updated September 27, 2023

A resume and a cover letter are like your personal cheerleaders during your job search. They are the reflection of your professional accomplishments, skills, and experience. But, if not crafted wisely, you can end up as just another face on the campus. And, if you make them stand out, you can be the star player ready to score your dream job during  campus placement —on the first try. So, read on and think about what you’ll prefer.

As someone who has been through the job-hunting process several times, I know firsthand how overwhelming it is. The endless search for the perfect designation, the awkward anxiety right before an interview, and the constant pressure to stand out from a sea of applicants—It’s too much to handle. 

But there is a scenario where you might feel different. 

This is the scenario where you get employers awestruck with your first impression, aka your resume and cover letter.

No job seeker would disagree that having a good resume or portfolio can make or break your chances of an interview. Yet, 

54% of our fellow job seekers often miss out on the perfect job role because they didn’t tailor their resume and portfolio. Moreover, 84% of these aspiring job seekers overlook the personal touch and get rejected for the perfect fit role.

Does knowing these stats give you a weird sense of relatability? Well, even if that’s not the case, you need to save these tips so that you don’t miss out on potential job opportunities today or tomorrow. 

First, let’s learn more about resumes and understand how they are crucial to the job hunt.

What is a resume with examples?

A resume is official and all-inclusive documentation of your professional qualifications, featuring your essential work experience, relevant skills, educational background, and remarkable achievements. Often accompanied by a cover letter, a resume enables you to present a compelling argument of your competence and suitability as a candidate to potential employers. 

Its primary objective is to highlight your competencies, exhibit your capabilities, and present a coherent overview of your career progression. Creating a well-crafted resume is critical in demonstrating your professionalism, aptitude, and potential in a fiercely competitive job market.

And trust me, having a top-notch resume can make all the difference in landing your dream job.

Also, look at: Elevate Your Resume Game With These Job-Winning Resume Samples. 

And, remember,

Don’t settle for mediocrity when you have what it takes to shine. 

Alright now! It’s time to discuss the must-have components of a killer resume.

What are the essential steps in writing a resume?

Creating an effective resume is the initial stride toward securing a job. Therefore, it is imperative to comprehend the indispensable elements that constitute this crucial document to initiate your career search on the right trajectory. So, let’s explore the essential steps to creating an effective resume.

1. Headline and summary statement

Think of a resume as a billboard for your skills and experience. But, like a billboard, you have limited space to grab the reader’s attention. That’s where the headline comes in; it needs to be short, catchy, and summarise what you bring.

Summary Statements—they’re like the background music of a movie. They don’t steal the show but provide context, give a little more detail, and set the right tone for the rest of your resume. 

2. Relevant work experience and education

Start by emphasizing the most relevant work experience and education you have. Highlight your college degrees, qualifications, and the positions you’ve held that are related to the job you’re applying for. Make sure to include any leadership roles or special recognition you’ve earned.

3. Skills and achievements

To showcase your skills and achievements, ensure they’re interesting and informative. Support them with instances like, 

If you’ve worked in customer service, you could talk about how you had a hand in helping hundreds of customers find the perfect product or solve their issues. 

4. Relevant certifications and awards

Writing about certifications and awards in a resume does not have to be a mundane task. Instead, you can make it fun using creative and descriptive language to emphasise your accomplishments. 

For example, suppose you were awarded a Certificate of Excellence for a specific project. In that case, you could write something like this:

Ecstatic to have been awarded the ‘Certificate of Excellence’ for my innovative project [name], which showcased my exceptional skills and dedication.

Remember to be honest and focus on presenting the accomplishments you have earned and don’t exaggerate or make false claims.

5. Use keywords related to the job posting

Listen up, people! The secret weapon to making your resume noticed by a potential employer is to have the right keywords in it.

Here’s why it’s important:

• Hiring managers often use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes and filter out unqualified candidates. By including relevant keywords, you increase your chances of getting past the ATS and into the hands of an actual human!
• Using keywords shows that you took the time to carefully read the job posting and understand the position’s responsibilities. This attention to detail can set you apart from other candidates and make a positive impression on the hiring manager.

6. Customize each resume for every job you apply to

It’s time to level up your job search game! Customizing your resume for each job you apply to shows you understand the position and the company’s needs. It shows that you’re a good match for the job and that you’re not just blasting out generic resumes to anyone who will listen.

You now have all the tips and tricks you need to create a resume that will make hiring managers do a double-take. 

Now, let’s talk about the Cover letter and understand the art of writing a creative cover letter. And, yes, you must send one.

How to write a cover letter for job applications?

A cover letter is another secret weapon on your job hunt journey! 

It’s your chance to let your personality shine, show off your skills, and convince a hiring manager that you’re the superhero they’ve been searching for. Think of it as a handshake through the screen, introducing yourself and why you’re the perfect fit for the job. 

Regrettably,

Approximately 45% of job applicants need to pay more attention to the significance of including a cover letter with their resume.

But I get it! Preparing a cover letter can be a mundane task but trust me; it’s worth the effort. I once applied for a job and thought my resume would speak for itself. Boy, was I wrong! When I got called in for an interview, the hiring manager pulled out my cover letter and said, 

“I was particularly intrigued by your reference to your love of 90s sitcoms in your cover letter. It displayed a genuine and authentic aspect of your personality and demonstrated your effort in crafting a standout application.” 

And that’s how I landed my dream job. So, put on your thinking cap, let your creativity run wild, and give that cover letter some love – you never know where it might take you!

To move forward, let’s discuss the must-have components of your cover letter.

1. Introduction of yourself

While a cover letter is an introduction to a resume, it should not be a copy of your resume. 

But wait! 41% of cover letters commit that mistake.

Well, you don’t have to do that. Instead, craft an introduction that sets you apart and grabs the hiring manager’s attention. Think of it as the opening act – make it memorable and leave the audience wanting more. 

2. Explanation of your interest in the position and company

By demonstrating your understanding of the role and the company’s mission, you show that you are not just any job applicant but a truly invested and motivated candidate. 

3. Address the letter to a specific person if possible

Put on your detective hat and dig to find out to whom you should address your CV. It shows that you have taken the time to research the company and make a more personal connection with the hiring manager. Using their name, you demonstrate a genuine interest in the role and the company and make a solid first impression. 

4. Tailor each cover letter to the specific job and company

Customizing your cover letter sets you apart from the crowd and shows that you are genuinely invested in the opportunity. So, don’t be a one-size-fits-all candidate; tailor your cover letter to each job and company for maximum impact.

5. Use a professional tone and avoid cliches

Your CV is like a business card – it should make a great impression and accurately reflect who you are. So avoid overused phrases and aim for clear, concise language that accurately highlights your skills and achievements.

6. Closing and follow-up information

A strong closing reiterates your interest in the opportunity and thanks the hiring manager for their time. In addition, providing follow-up information, such as your contact details and availability, shows you are proactive and eager to move forward.

And there you have it! The secret to crafting a resume and cover letter that will have hiring managers itching to meet you in person. 

A little bit of personality, and a lot of professionalism go a long way in making your application stand out. 

Now that recruiters are moving towards digitizing their hiring process, ATS is parsing resumes at lightning speed. It’s time to upskill yourself and grab the best opportunity on the first try.

So, put on your creative cap and prepare to land your dream job. It’s time to say goodbye to dull, generic resumes and hello to a world of limitless possibilities. 

Get hired, get inspired—and never settle for anything less than your best!

Rashi Maheshwari

Rashi started her journey with Axis Bank as an Assistant Manager and soon realized it was not her calling. She was adamant about changing her profession but had many doubts. Writing, debating, and journaling landed her first content writing job; the graph has been incredibly thrilling since then. She is currently working at Superset and climbing the ladder to enhance her journey with more freshly brewed ideas.

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• 9 Tips to Writing a Killer Resume
• November 19, 2015
• skypersonnel
• Blog , job seekers , resumes , writing

The market for a good job is always competitive, and writing a killer resume can be the difference between getting the face-to-face interview, and getting discarded in the recycling bin.  Skyline Personnel has compiled a list of 9 items that we use to help our candidates answer that question, “How do I write an amazing resume?”, and win that precious interview.

1. Don’t Begin Where You Think

Many people begin this process with where they have always been taught to begin; writing their resume.  They compile a list of their educational experiences, job history, and any other factoids that they can possibly come up with. Stop! Don’t do this yet! One of the most important factors that hiring managers take into consideration is job ‘relevance’.   They are not necessarily looking for an exact fit for their job opening, but they are looking for relevant background and/or relevant capacity.  Writing a killer resume does not actually begin with writing, but it begins with research.  Identify the specific job you want first.  Then, and only then, begin framing your resume information in a way that speaks specifically to that position, company, or market.  

2.  Begin by Writing an Objective / Summary

Okay, you’ve done your research and identified a specific job, or at least a specific type of job, you would like to get. Now it’s time to start writing your killer resume!  Where do we begin? We start off with the ‘Object’ or ‘Summary’ (they are both basically the same thing).  This is a SHORT essay as to why you want the job and why you would be a good fit for the job.  Avoid long, generic claims (that your mother would agree with) which anyone could make (e.g., “A highly motivated goal-oriented team-player with strong interpersonal skills and excellent communication abilities.”) These opinions of yourself are worthless because who would not say this?  Be specific (e.g.,  “A qualified project manager with a proven track record in delivering major projects on time and within budget.”)

3.  What Makes You Unique

The next step in writing a killer resume is clearly identifying the skills and elements that make you stand out from the crowd.  You want to list transferrable skills that relate to the job opening that you are applying for as best as possible.  That does not mean that you leave skills out that in your mind are not immediately relevant, because you can’t fully know exactly what the hiring manager is looking for, but do your best to keep it meaningful to the opening.  Once again try to avoid ‘value’ statements and wherever possible list explicit expertise.  What are the skills you have acquired that employers are looking for?  What are the keywords that recruiters will put into search engines when looking for someone for the kind of position you desire?  Instead of saying ‘Strong IT skills’ list the particular programming languages or applications that you know best. Display these skills as bullets directly underneath the objective.

4.   Job History & Achievements

Okay, so you’ve outlined your objective, you’ve identified your key skills, and garnered at least a little bit of interest from the hiring manager. Now is the time to really win them over with your amazing resume.  In this section you outline what most people think about when it comes to a resume. This contains a brief summary of your most recent work experiences.  List the organizations, your job title, your key responsibilities and achievements.  Do not include long explanations for why you left one job to go to another, or why you were laid off.  Keep it concise and factual.  In general it is only the last 10 to 15 years that are relevant so do not include a complete career history if it goes back further than this.  If you are older than 50, do not indicate your age, as some employers may be prejudiced against older candidates.  

Make sure in this section to have a select list of your three or four proudest achievements.  What results did you deliver for the organizations where you worked?  Do not be bashful. Blow your own trumpet with facts, figures, and names of companies.  “As Sales Manager at XYZ I grew sales revenue from $12m to $19m in two years.”  “At ABC I led the team which won Citibank as a major new account.”

5.  Educational & Professional Details

In this section you want to list your educational experience (you do not need to go back beyond high school, and for some positions not even that far).  If you are newly out of school you will want to bump this section up above your job history if it is more impressive.   Also add any relevant professional qualifications that may have some relevance to the position(s) you are seeking.  

6. Personal Details

So you are getting close to wrapping up your killer resume.  In this section you can highlight your volunteer experience and you can add some personal interests and hobbies, but keep them to a minimum.  Make it short, but you can use this section to give yourself a little personality.  

7. Reference (yes, singular, not plural)

Many people will tell you to put “references available on request”.  While there is a small argument here not to annoy your references, the flip side of it is; some hiring managers will tell you that it adds one more hurdle in the process, and you want to be in the business of removing hurdles. How do you compromise?  Include one, trustworthy reference that you know is in it for you and doesn’t mind taking a few calls.  You then can include the statement “additional references available upon request.” This way the hiring manager has at least one person to check with, but they know they can always get more!

8. Contact Details

Please do not forget these! We have actually seen some resumes where these have been forgotten.  You can have a killer resume, but if they have no means to contact you, it doesn’t matter how good it is.  Side note, make sure that your Linkedin profile mirrors your resume! And, if you don’t have one, create one!

9. Personalize your cover letter

Finally, you are done with your killer resume! Whenever you apply for a position, send a cover letter or email with your resume and tailor the letter to the exact wording and needs expressed in the advert.  Explain precisely and briefly why you are a good candidate for the position and how your skills and experience are relevant.

We hope you find these items helpful and a great launching pad for the next stage in your career! Feel free to contact Skyline Personnel to find any job opportunities we may have to put these steps into practice!

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How to Write a Killer Entry-Level Resume [Example + Tips for Beginners]

You'll learn:

What to Put on an Entry-Level Resume

How to format a resume for an entry-level job, tips on how to write an entry-level resume, extra tips for writing resumes for 10+ entry-level jobs, entry-level resume example & template.

For a starter job seeker, the lack of previous work experiences might pose a difficulty in landing an ideal job. Luckily, there are certain ways to showcase your capabilities in the resume even with almost no previous working experiences. 

An entry-level resume or beginner resume is a perfect go-to resume style for beginners or those who are looking for an entry-level position since it will highlight more on their skills and relevance to the job.

💡 Reminder: A resume for an entry-level job is slightly different from a first job resume. An entry-level resume aims to secure an entry-level job position, while a first job resume or resume with no work experience is tailored for fresh job seekers with no work experience.

Since there are a lot of competitions out there, it is vital to submit a well-written entry-level resume to secure the recruiter’s attention and to convince them that you are the perfect candidate for the entry-level position. It is also important to adjust your entry-level resume specifically to certain positions. 

This article will cover the key points as well as some entry-level resume examples to aid you in drafting a killer beginner resume.

A detailed and organized entry-level resume is the first essential to give a professional touch to your resume with no work experience. 

A well-qualified beginner resume should include:

• Resume Header (Personal & Contact Information)
• Resume Title
• Resume Summary
• Resume Objective

Work Experience

• Additional information (Projects, Certifications, Awards, etc.)

1. Resume Header (Personal & Contact Information)

The resume header is the first section where the recruiter could attain basic information about the applicant; therefore, it is essential to provide clear personal and contact information in this section, in case the recruiters are interested in having a follow-up meeting with applicants. 

You should include these:

• Professional title
• Email address
• Phone number
• LinkedIn (optional)
• Personal website (optional)

You should not include these:

• Age/ Date of Birth
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Current salary
• Nationality
• National identification number

2. Resume Title

A resume title is one short sentence that represents the whole resume. Crafting a catchy and creative resume title is very important and takes a little practice and creativity. 

The sentence of the resume title for an entry-level job should include:

• The applicant’s strength and most notable achievement.
• Avoid generic terms and go for more creative and catchy phrases.
• Put it in the most visible place of the resume, usually right after the resume header.

3. Resume Summary

A resume summary for an entry-level resume is a deciding matter for the recruiter on whether the applicant has what it takes for the job position. Most recruiters will look at the brief 2 to 3 paragraphs of the applicant’s description before deciding to take a closer look at the entire entry-level resume. Hence, writing an exceptional resume summary will make your beginner resume look more compelling.

Tips on writing a killer entry-level resume summary:

• Tailor it according to the job description.
• Only include relevant skills, experiences, and qualification.

4. Resume Objective

The resume objective is no other than the goal and purpose, and what they want to achieve or accomplish in that specific job.

A successful entry-level resume objective should:

• Incorporate experience that is relevant to the job description.
• Include personal goals and what you expect to achieve.
• Mention the corporate name in the sentence.
• Use personalized traits to describe yourself with.

The skills section is just as important as the other section. This is the section where the applicants could show the hirer that they are more suitable than other applicants for this opportunity. They could showcase the hard skills they have learned as well as the soft skills they are attributed with.

However, less is more when it comes to resumes’ skills section. you should only include relevant skills that could make yourself shine for this position. The secret is to read through the job description and include specific skills they are looking for. 

6. Work Experience

With the same rules applied, applicants could include working experiences that are related to the job opening. It is to give the recruiter an idea of what they have been doing and achieved in the previous field, and how suitable they are for the current position.

The "Work Experience" section on a resume should include: 

• Company’s name and location
• Applicant’s position, working duration, roles & responsibilities, and achievements

7. Education

The education section is a great way for you to shine, especially for a beginner resume with no experience.

A well-crafted education for an entry-level resume should cover:

• Duration of study
• The name of the institution or university
• Achievements and honor (if there is any)

8. Additional information (Projects, Certifications, Awards, etc.)

Feel free to include additional information such as projects, certifications, and awards to show your previous outstanding performance. It could also help you to stand out and land a job if the information is highly relevant to the job.

How to write an entry-level resume and what entry-level resume format should be used?

There are three main resume formats to adopt as your beginner resume format:

• Reverse-Chronological
• Combination

1. Reverse-Chronological

The reverse-chronological resume format is a format where people list out their previous experience from the latest to the oldest. Known as the most common and preferred resume format by the recruiters and the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), it also comes with some disadvantages.

✅   Pros:  Highlights your experiences, which is one of the most important things that employers look for during recruitment.

❌   Cons:  Since it listed your previous experience chronologically, it will become very obvious if you have gap years or irregular career progression.

💡   This resume format is suitable if you have relevant experience to the job you are applying for, and want to highlight those experiences to increase your chances of getting hired.

2. Functional

Contrary to the reverse-chronological format, the functional resume format puts more emphasis on the applicant’s skills, especially on the applicable or transferable skills from the previous job. Applicants can decide whether to use this for the entry-level resume format if they have more applicable skills than progressive working histories.

✅  Pros:  Highlights your skills as the selling point of your resume.

• Not an ATS-friendly format.
• The skills should be quite relevant to the current position.
• Questionable previous working history.

💡   This specific resume format would be suitable if you have long gaps in your career history, or if you lack relevant experience for the new job and want to use your skills to appeal to potential employers.

3. Combination

As the name goes, it combines skill sets with bullet points that list out the relevant working experiences. This format could show that applicants have enormous working experience. 

✅  Pros:  Highlights both your experiences and skills.

• Space-consuming
• Not an ATS-compliant format
• Repetitive working experience

💡   The combination resume format suits experienced career changes who has a solid working history, as it highlights longer work history and more personal achievements.

Cake provides the best entry-level resume templates & examples for talents to demonstrate your qualifications. Let us help you land the dream with a strong beginner resume (free download)!

Create Resume

After getting to know how to make an entry-level resume, there are several valuable tips to make your entry-level resume more complete.

These tips are also relevant on how to write an entry-level resume with no experience.

1. Include only relevant experiences and skills.

Since beginners lack notable working experiences to be put into their beginner resume, they need to focus instead on applicable skills and the relevance to the position they are applying for. 

It is good to let the recruiter know that regardless of the lack of experience, you have got the skills and potential for that position. 

💡 Reminder:  Don't use the same resume for different positions because each job position demands different qualifications and skills.

2. Create an eye-catching resume design.

You could include interesting designs to make your beginner resume more beautiful and stand out from the rest.

You could refer to some beginner resume templates or entry-level resume templates on the internet as references. 

Several things to note in mind:

• Pay attention to the spacing. Allow some room to breathe or else the content will strain the eyes
• Keep the formatting consistent
• Try not to use more than three different colors in one resume
• Use a consistent choice of font (e.g. Helvetica, Roboto, etc.)

3. Use action words.

Use action words, especially in the accomplishment sections. It provides clear ideas on what the applicant has accomplished in the past. Action words are also believed to deliver more impact on the readers and show positive vibes of the applicant.

4. Exchange “Work Experience” section with non-work experiences.

Beginner resume with no experience could opt to switch their “Work Experience” section into: 

• Extracurricular activities: Some recruiters love applicants that have participated in some extracurricular activities. The applicants could sell themselves as having the ability to work in some organizations, or the leadership capability while working in a team.
• Volunteer/Social work experience: Volunteer/ social work experience could also show how active the applicants were. Some volunteer/ social work experience could also provide amazing relevant skills or experiences which will bring the first job resume to another level.

5. Include other sections:

As a plus point, if the applicants have completed certain projects or acquired specific certifications that are relevant or could be useful for the position they are applying for, they could include those achievements into the entry-level resume. Remember to include the notable achievement details of the project. 

Including hobbies & interests into your first job resume could also let the hirers understand your personality better. It could exhibit certain skills and the possible learning direction of the applicants. 

There are several different elements and formats depending on the entry-level resume’s field of application.

This section will provide several writing tips to create terrific entry-level resumes, including:

Entry-Level Engineering Resume

Entry-level software engineer resume, entry-level finance resume, entry-level data analyst/scientist resume , entry-level customer service resume, entry-level project manager resume, entry-level nurse resume, entry-level human resources resume, entry-level administrative assistant resume, entry-level marketing resume.

• Tailor the entry-level engineering resume as relevant as possible to the job specification
• Play around skills and work experience with a combination resume format
• Attach cover letter that includes your personal touch on your strength and motivation
• Consider using reverse-chronological resume format
• Include professional skill sets and certifications if there are any. Certain skills and certifications are in high demand among software engineers
• Light up the entry-level resume by adding hobby, interest, and foreign language proficiency
• Include certification and credibility
• Write an eye-catching professional summary
• Mention education background and relevant coursework
• Create a reverse-chronological entry-level data analyst resume
• Support the lack of working experiences with university projects and achievements
• Integrate GitHub or Kaggle profile in the personal information section
• Utilize functional resume format
• Include skills and language ability
• Be clear on your capability and what you have got to offer
• Highlight educational background 
• Include any previous experiences in the organization
• Emphasize the ability to work as a team
• Use a functional resume format
• Include previous work experiences or internships
• Increase credibility with education background, certification, and license
• Feature applicable and transferable skills
• Take advantage of ATS by including relevant keywords
• Follow the PAR (Problem, action, result) rules in the achievement section
• Use combination resume format by emphasizing skills supported with work experience
• Include both hard skills and soft skills, certifications if there are any
• Craft a well-written education section with relevant notable courses and projects
• Use a reverse-chronological resume format
• Incorporate social media account, especially if you have a great social presence
• Make the best out of the education section

John Montana

Goal-Oriented Business Management Graduate Skilled in Event Planning

185 Cameron Road Buffalo, NY 14216 Cell: (212) 111-1111  [email protected]

Professional Summary

Innovative business specialist seeking to apply skills in data analysis, customer service, and events planning. Organized University International Food Event with 30% revenue and more than 1,000 participants from all over the globe.

Michigan State University | Michigan, MI Administrative Assistant  January 2018 - December 2020

• Organized 2020 international student summer camp.
• Translated program’s book into Spanish and Italian.

Pueblo Spanish Restaurant | Michigan, MI Part-Time Waiter July 2015 - December 2017

• Handled 10 VIP guests from Mexico.
• Arranged more than 25 event settings for birthday party.

Michigan State University Bachelor of Business Administration  2017 - 2021

Hard skills

• Project management
• SEO marketing
• Database management
• Public relation

Soft skills

• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving
• Enthusiastic
• 2020 Michigan State University International Student Summer Camp
• Go-green Social Media Campaign with Michigan State Governor

Certification

Project Management Professional

2018 Distinguished Student Award

--- Originally written by Fedrik Hansen ---

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Resume Examples & Samples

5 steps to a killer resume summary [with examples].

Dayana Aleksandrova

Create a Resume in Minutes & Get More Job Interviews

Table of Contents

Resume summary basics, where does the summary go, aim for 3 to 6 sentences, perfect your elevator pitch, what is the difference between a resume objective and summary.

• Step by Step Guide to Creating a Killer Resume Summary

Scan the job post carefully

List your accomplishments, use key words, throw in your title, use brand name association.

Your resume summary can be the single reason you get the job or have your resume thrown in the shredder. Recruiters give your average resume only a glance of 6 seconds - and the first thing they see is your summary.

Think of a resume summary as that first impression. A great one can help you stand out from the competition. While it is no easy task to boil down your passion, dreams, and experiences to one short paragraph, there are ways to create a great resume summary.

Find out how to write a killer resume summary in just 5 steps. We'll have a look at the goal of the resume summary as well as what it is that recruiters specifically look for.

Don't have a resume to work with yet? Check out these resume templates .

#resume-summary-basics

What is a resume summary? The resume summary is a short paragraph explaining your professional experience and goals. Your resume summary should answer two simple questions:

1. What is your experience?

2. What do you care about?

You have to clearly state what your experience is focused on. For example, if you’ve worked in hospitality for the past five years, this can be mentioned in your summary as “extensive experience in the hospitality industry.”

This is the place for you to showcase your best achievements and strongest interests. It is also a fantastic opportunity to mention your core values. Do your research on the company beforehand. Find out what their mission statement and values are. Make sure yours align with theirs and place them at the beginning of your resume summary.

• I have experience in hospitality which I’d like to advance and develop at your company.
• Concierge with 4+ years of experience in luxury hotels. Highly sociable, detail-oriented and patient, I am proficient at fostering lasting relationships with guests, working with Amadeus, and have a BA in Hospitality.

Now let’s break down what does and what doesn’t work. In the first example, there isn’t enough information. We don’t know how many years this person has been in the industry and whether they hold a degree in it. Moreover, it makes it seem like the applicant is saying...

The second example, on the other hand, is complete with detailed information. We know that this candidate is an established figure with 4+ years of experience in the field.

He tells us what his strongest suits are, which are specifically tailored to the job. We see that his values are to “foster lasting relationships with guests,” which again, is tailored to the hotel he is applying to. Finally, we see that this candidate holds a degree in the specific field.

Overall, the second summary tells us 90% of what we need to know about the applicant in just a few clear sentences. This is what our goal is.

In your resume summary, you may mention a quick detail about your hobbies and interests provided that it's relevant to the company mission and the job description. You may mention any noteworthy accomplishments as well.

#where-does-the-summary-go

The summary goes at the very top of the page. This makes perfect sense, as it is the first place the recruiter looks at. Having to search the entire document for this tiny fraction does not make sense.

It should be neatly formatted and easy to read. Remember, you are trying to sell your skills to the hiring manager.

As any good salesman would tell you, you have to show your value right away.

Need help? Check out our resume builder .

#aim-for-3-to-6-sentences

You want to keep it short, yet mention all of the important information. The golden number of sentences is about three.

Anywhere from three to six is acceptable.

This, of course, will vary based on how many years of experience you have and whether you have some noteworthy accomplishments you need to mention.

If you use social media, think of your summary as a well-crafted Tweet. It has to:

• Peak interest quickly
• Include numerical values (e.g. years of experience, monetary goals fulfilled)
• Explain your values briefly
• Include a connection to the company (which can be your values)
• Mention your education (unless you’re an industry veteran with over 10 years of experience)
• Be clear - there is no room for ambiguous wording or spelling mistakes

Your resume summary is the first impression of you the hiring manager will get. Not having one or having it badly written can be a disaster.

A great one, on the other hand, will quickly let the recruiter know who you are and why you are a great fit for the job. For some extra inspiration, have a look at these resume templates .

#perfect-your-elevator-pitch

While it is not obligatory to have a resume summary, it is necessary to include one if you really want the job. Not having a summary to the hiring manager means that they will have to go through your experiences one by one.

This takes time which they do not have. Make the recruiter’s life easier by explaining who you are.

Note: elevator pitch doesn’t literally mean pitching an elevator.

If you do not have a great summary, however, the extra work they will have to put in to review the resume will diminish your chances. The resume summary is not necessary for everyone. Those who can benefit the most are:

• Professionals with over a decade of experience
• Those looking to advance their career in the same sphere
• People without long gaps in their career history

What if you’ve had job history gaps or are changing industries? Not to worry. You will benefit from crafting a resume objective .

#what-is-the-difference-between-a-resume-objective-and-summary

The resume objective aims to tell the recruiter two things:

• Who you are
• Why you want the job

It does not need to be as detailed as the summary, as it focuses on what you want to achieve as opposed to what you already have.

example of resume objective

Italian food lover, cheese whisperer, and pizza tossing champion. Dedicated, funny and perpetually hungry, James is seeking to leverage his 8+ years of cooking experience to bring you pasta so good, it will put Mario Batali to shame. Has an MA in wine tasting and has won the pesto-making contest for three years in a row .

In this case, the resume objective gives broader information and focuses heavily on what the candidate aims to accomplish. The resume objective is a good solution for those who:

• Are still in school
• Have work history gaps
• Are looking to change industries
• Have less than 2 years of work experience

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CREATING A KILLER RESUME SUMMARY

#step-by-step-guide-to-creating-a-killer-resume-summary, #scan-the-job-post-carefully.

Let’s think about this for a second: perhaps you know that you are the best fit for a social media company, but the hiring manager doesn’t yet. What do you do? You give them what they want.

Does this company need a results-oriented worker who pays a great deal of attention to detail and can work under pressure? Tailor your profile to the needs of the company.

The job post is hands-down the easiest way to see exactly what they need from you. Applying for jobs is no guessing game. This is why ads exist.

Let's look at this example.

Hotel Blossom is 5-star boutique hotel which strives to offer its guests a unique travel experience. We want to pamper our guests at our state of the art spa and healthy restaurant.

We are looking for a Front Desk Receptionist who represents these values. This is a Full-Time position beginning in May.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Welcome guests and give tour of the hotel
• Give sightseeing recommendations
• Plan a trip route if desired
• Perform concierge duties - making restaurant reservations
• Offer Blossom's signature excursions to guests
• It is crucial to be on time and to be dressed elegantly

QUALIFICATIONS:

• BA in Hospitality or 3 years of related experience
• Extensive knowledge of boutique hotels
• Easy-going, friendly and with a great attention to detail
• Willing to make an extra effort and leave a great impression
• Previous concierge experience
• Sales experience is a plus

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Be able to lift 25lb boxes
• Have the stamina to stand up for eight hours a day when needed

As you can see, the Front Desk Receptionist needs to be able to plan trips, be on time and act as a concierge. Make sure to mention these aspects in your resume summary, along with your attention to detail and sales experience.

A great summary in this case will read:

Leverage your most relevant skills

Concierge with 3 years of experience in boutique hotels. Easy-going and detail oriented, I always do my best to leave a great impression with guests and help ensure that they have a unique experience. BA in Hospitality and prior sales experience.

#list-your-accomplishments

They say that being humble makes life better, but your resume is not the place to be humble. If you have accomplishments, talk about them. After all, this is the best way to demonstrate confidence and value. Recruiters like those who go out there and get things done.

Being passionate and hard working is great, but not as great as having run 5K races for your company and won for years in a row, or managed to get promoted in a week. How do you know what your biggest accomplishments are.

Think back to the toughest problems you solved, how you got your promotions, why you were elected to lead and why your colleagues came to you for advice. These are all distinguished skills.

Sometimes it can be harder to see your own biggest achievements, so you can go ahead and ask your friends and family as well. Seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes can bring a great new perspective. Include numerical values in this section. More often than not, great accomplishments can be quantified.

We know you're a rockstar. Now show it to the recruiter. Learn How to Mention Accomplishments on Your Resume (10+ Examples)

Successfully lead a team in order to achieve monthly quota

Is not the same as saying:

Successfully lead a team of five in order to reach a $200K sales quota

Numbers are your friends. Use them. Besides, imagine that you are the recruiter, staring at words all day. Processing numbers is quicker and easier. Do them a favor.

#use-key-words

Scanning through the job description is a great way to pick out the keywords. After all, it's most likely that the recruiter wrote it.

Make sure to:

• Use strong verbs - spearheaded, executed, founded, resolved, etc.
• Choose descriptive adjectives - motivated, loyal, organized, patient, etc.
• Pay attention to the tasks they need you to perform
• See any additional requirements

If it comes to physical requirements (e.g. be at least 5’10” tall, lift 25+ lbs), mention that you are capable of performing the tasks without a problem.

Try to mirror the language of the job description. If it says that one of the requirements is to “provide personalized care and attention to guests,” you can directly borrow that line.

In your resume say: “Provided personalized attention to guests at Hotel X.” This will make the recruiter instantly relate to your profile because you are giving them what they need.

#throw-in-your-title

There is a reason we all have titles. Their aim is yes, to make us look important. This is why it’s imperative that you mention yours. While some successful people will simply say “I write” or “I’m a frequent traveler,” you have to actually explain what it is that you do.

Saying “I write” for someone like J.K. Rowling is perfectly nonchalant, but unless you are very well-known in your industry, you should say that you are the “Executive Writer for show X” and have been recognized by the TV Writers’ Guild. Make sure that your title on the resume grabs attention.

Make it bold and place it at the very beginning of your work experience section and in your summary. Your title will be the gateway into your professional chronology. The worst thing you can do is to leave the recruiter wondering what you do.

Your position has to be clear and straightforward. Including all of your titles from previous experiences. It will show the hiring manager your progression in the industry.

#use-brand-name-association

I bet you’ve heard the old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This applies in the professional sphere still as strongly today as it did in the past.

Having a big name on your resume can open doors. It’s not the same to say that you’ve worked at a luxury hotel and to mention that you’ve been a Housekeeping Manager for The Four Seasons.

Make your references more concrete. Recruiters like to see who you’ve worked with and if they recognize the name, this can tip the scale to your advantage. The truth is that recruiters aren’t always right about hires and they know that.

No one is infallible, so having the affirmation that a big brand has already trusted you makes hiring managers’ lives easier.

How do you mention brand names in the

resume summary?

Something to bear in mind here is to be casual about it. For example, you can say: "Manage outsourced sales teams for multinational companies including Nike, Asics, and Adidas."

Now let’s take a look at how to leverage your personal connections in the job hunting process.

THE TRUST FACTOR

People are more likely to favor those who have already been deemed appropriate by an acquaintance.

I’ll give you a basic example. If I went to the shoe store to get sneakers, I’d see 20 different pairs. Instead of having to choose, I’d rather ask a runner friend of mine which is best from his experiences and buy based on trust.

Connections can:

• Get you interviews
• Help you get ahead of the competition thanks to the “tried & true” element
• Give you an insight of what skills you should leverage
• Make you seem more important and valuable to the recruiter

How do you find connections?

Some people get intimidated by the idea of seeking connections. There’s nothing scary or awkward about it. You don’t have to sell your soul for a good word. Just go on LinkedIn .

Based on your industry and connections, you will see “suggested contacts.” You can add them, mentioning that you both know "John Smith" or that you both share an interest in virtual reality.

How to start a conversation

First off, choose to write a personalized message when you send a friend request. The sample LinkedIn invite message reads:

I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.”

This gets 0/10 points for originality. If you’ve ever worked in cold calling or sales, you know that people get dozens of random invites like this daily. You have to peak their interest right off the bat.

Do a quick research on the person. The fastest ways to do that are through:

• LinkedIn history and shared content
• Their Tweets
• Their personal website/ blog

See what you have in common. Did you both read The 4 Hour Work Week ? Do you both like to sail? Instead of the random invite say this:

For example:

I see that both you and I share an interest in photography. I’m a fan of Canon myself. I see from your blog that you just got the new Mark IV model. What are your thoughts on it so far? Would love to connect and get your insight.”

This message is highly personalized. It shows that you:

• Did your research
• Took the time to read their blog content
• Indeed share the same interest and know what you’re talking about
• Believe that their opinion is expert and want to hear more of it

This will make the person feel important and let’s be honest; everyone likes to feel important.

Another strategy you can utilize with LinkedIn is to ask your contacts to introduce you to the hiring manager. If you see that you went to college with someone who works at Lonely Planet, for example, drop them a message casually saying:

How’s everything going? I thought of you as I’m applying for a position at Lonely Planet’s sales division and was wondering whether you could introduce me to John Smith at HR. It would be much appreciated.”

The trick here is not to seem too selfish. Ask your friend how things are going so that it’s not all about you and the favor you want. Use your Emotional Intelligence.

Don't skip the resume summary. It is a vital element of your profile and having one can increase your chances of landing the job.

Make sure to be specific about your past experience. Use strong verbs and elements from the job description. List any brand names that could add value to your candidacy.

Ease the recruiter's job by clearly defining your title and industry . They have to be able to tell what you do within a second of seeing your resume.

Remember that it's not about you, it's all about the business , so demonstrate clearly the value that you will bring to them. Show that you care and do your research.

When you think about it, businesses want to invest in employees who care . Would you want to train someone and pay them so that they can use you to advance their skills only for their own benefit and not the company's? That's right; you wouldn't.

Your resume summary should explain why and how you want to help the company advance.

Finally, don't be shy when it comes to using contacts. Reaching out to a common connection and asking for an introduction can be a great way to establish a conversation with the hiring manager.

Be genuine in your outreach and don't hold back on bragging about your past accomplishments . Incorporate this advice into your resume summary and be confident that you will do well.

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23 Things You Should Include To Make A Killer Résumé

Put yourself in a recruiter’s shoes.

If you were faced with a stack of résumés what would you want? The ability to download all the info into your brain, the way that Neo from Th e Matrix gets plugged in and learns Kung Fu in about ten seconds?

Unfortunately it doesn’t really work like that. In fact, research shows that recruiters take only six seconds to make their initial judgement on a résumé. If your résumé is screened by a computer first, it may not even get that far.

So, your job, when creating a killer résumé, is to make it really easy for the recruiter to spot the most important benefits you offer the employer.

Do the work, so they don’t have to. Here’s how:

1. Make sure your résumé is tailored to the job you are applying for

Generic résumés may be quick to submit, but far less effective. Better one excellent job application than three shoddy ones.

Researching the cultural norms of the organization is worthwhile. For example, within one industry some will value experience but not care much about education, while others care about your qualifications.

2. Only apply if you meet the job criteria

Don’t waste your time or the recruiter’s applying for jobs if you don’t meet their criteria. If you still want that job, go and expand your skill set before trying again in future.

3. Don’t lie

Even if you get through the first screening, lying about or exaggerating your accomplishments is likely to come back to bite you. Recovering from the loss of trust is hard.

4. Add keywords

After writing the résumé, check it for keywords from the job description.

Keywords are gifts to you from the employer. Add them into the existing text so they flow naturally. This will help your résumé get past screening software, and recruiters who are accustomed to searching quickly for these keywords.

5. Structure your résumé carefully

It is easiest for the recruiter if your key skills and background are summarised at the top. Make sure your current and most recent previous role are on the first page.

Your education and qualifications are generally less important than your professional experience, so put these later.

6. Show how your most recent two jobs are relevant

Recruiters will spend 80% of their time on your name, the company, job title, start and end dates for your current and previous companies, and finally your education.

If you are changing direction in your career, you will need to work even harder to draw out the skills and networks you are bringing from these last two jobs.

7. Keep the résumé short

Remember the recruiter will scan your résumé in seconds. Including your school paper round or even lengthy details of your first job out of college is not something a recruiter will thank you for (unless, of course, you are applying for your second job out of college).

8. Demonstrate progress

Show the recruiter that your career makes sense. Tell a story which shows promotions and additional responsibilities as you delivered value to your employer.

9. Use CAR as a guide

CAR stands for Context, Action, Results. Use them as a mental checklist. Keep the context short: just long enough for the recruiter to know what your job was. Spend longest what you actually achieved as a result of the actions that you took.

10. Provide proof

Qualify your results wherever possible. Beating your targets, raising finance, cutting costs, making great sales all provide convincing and easily digested data which demonstrate your achievements. Social proof such as promotions and customer feedback are also worthwhile.

11. Show you are a rounded person

Include personal projects, sports or voluntary work that you participate in, but be aware if they are activities which might stereotype you or turn an employer off.

12. Include links to other sites and social media

Keep your résumé short while demonstrating your talents by providing links to articles, photos, or websites you’ve designed, or a portfolio. Also, provide the url for your LinkedIn profile and Twitter feed it those reflect your professional abilities.

Clearly, you want to avoid a Facebook page with photos of your drunken exploits. Better still, don’t post these on social media in the first place.

13. Give a good reason for leaving an employer

Recruiters will especially be looking at the reasons you want to leave your current employer and how long you were with them. If you’ve had a series of short-lived positions you’ll need a convincing explanation of why a recruiter should take a risk on you.

14. Explain gaps in your employment history

Leaving a gap on your résumé leaves the recruiter wondering. If you’ve taken time out for parenting or starting your own business, tell them. If you’ve been traveling, show how it has enriched you as a candidate.

15. Exclude irrelevant information

Don’t reveal your age, race, gender, marital status, or whether you have kids. Research shows that even the most self-aware recruiters have unconscious biases.

16. Show your eligibility to work

Make it easy for a recruiter to be confident that you are eligible to work without having to apply for work permits.

17. Make it easy for the recruiter to contact you

Include contact details with your email and one phone number (don’t make the recruiter have to guess which number to use). Don’t bother with your home address.

18. Format for clarity

Make sure your formatting goes hand in hand with the résumé structure to ensure recruiters can spot the key information easily.

Create clear sections with easy-to-read, consistent headlines. Use an attractive font, which is also easy to read. Don’t use Word templates. If your design skills are truly terrible get someone else to do the formatting for you.

19. Stick to a familiar format

In this case, boring is good. Unless you are specifically applying for a graphic design or creative role and want to demonstrate your talent, avoid unusual formats. Remember, the recruiter doesn’t want to be distracted as they scan the page.

Cut anything that seems clever but reduces clarity, including pictures. If you do use something different, make sure it is effective and suits the employer’s own style before you submit it.

20. Submit your résumé in pdf format

Unless you are asked otherwise, send your résumé as a pdf. This will ensure your formatting remains consistent on any device.

21. Spell-check and grammar-check

Obvious, perhaps, but surprisingly often spelling and grammar mistakes are what leads to a résumé being put in the reject pile. Use the past tense and third person, not first person consistently throughout your résumé.

Don’t rely on your computer’s spelling and grammar checkers. They are often wrong. Edit it yourself and then get another person to read your résumé with fresh eyes.

22. Check before you include a cover letter

Most cover letters are a waste of time. Either don’t bother, or, if the recruiter specifically requests one, make sure it says something meaningful.

Cover letters can be used as headlines, picking out the most relevant parts of a résumé. They can deal with issues the recruiter may be concerned about, such as a change of career direction. They can remind a recruiter about an occasion that gave them cause to trust or care about you.

23. Don’t write to the CEO

Unless you are applying to a tiny company, or you know the CEO personally, it is not the CEO who will be doing the initial screening. Don’t waste their time.

Featured photo credit: typing on laptop, picture about education via shutterstock.com

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How To Write A Killer Resume Objective (With 2024 Relevant Examples)

In 2021, work applications must be well-thought-out, tailored, and personal. As a result, resume goals are becoming more popular in the worlds of career hunters and recruiters. 

These days, one must demonstrate to prospective employers that they are the best choice by combining their job aspirations, expertise, and the goals of the job they are working for in a succinct factual argument that will pique the hiring manager’s interest.

This post will go through what one will need to know to write a successful resume objective. It doesn’t matter whether someone is applying for an entry-level career with an advertising firm or a role as a market turnaround specialist. It shouldn’t matter whether someone is applying for an entry-level career with an advertising firm or a role as a market turnaround specialist. 

Resume Objective: What is It?

A resume objective is located at the top of the resume. It is not supposed to be more than three sentences long and includes a proposal about how you will provide value to the job. The Resume objective illustrates your greatest achievements, displays your insight, and outlines your career.

 The objective statement demonstrates what you want to do with your profession, as well as your talents and skills, and expertise. This demonstrates to employers how you can contribute to their growth as well as your own. 

A resume target, rather than a traditional resume overview that summarizes your entire career experience, reflects on your long-term aspirations. 

You can also address your short-term career aspirations and how they relate to the position you’re applying for. Employers want to know why you’re eligible for the position you’re interviewing for and that it matches your qualifications. 

By finding the right balance between your skills and career aspirations, you’ll signal to the interviewer that you’re a great fit, increasing your possibility of success in the first interview.

Importance of Resume Objective

If you’re at a job crossroads or plan to change paths, the resume objective is essential.

Therefore, in the first words of each resume, a line that outlines the current path of movement and transferable talents and qualities becomes extremely important to explain. 

It isn’t necessarily enough to have a career goal. If you have a strong marketing manager background and intend to stay in the industry, there’s no point in spending valuable resume space detailing your ambitions and career path.

Keep in mind that a recruiting manager will only invest 6 seconds on average reading your resume. As a result, every section on your resume should clearly state that you are deserving of an interview. 

Since the resume objective would be the first thing that the person reading the resume can see, it’s best to leave it out if it’s basic or vague.

For more specifics, a resume objective can be used if:

• You’ve decided to change careers. You’ll have to quickly explain why you’re making the move and why you’re eligible to do so. 
• You’re on the lookout for your first role. So, whether you’re a student or an entry-level candidate, speak about your qualifications and why you want to work in this area.
• You’ll take some time to develop a convincing, customized resume objective for every role you apply for.

Including an objective statement on your application allows recruiters to quickly understand why you’re applying, what motivates you , and what skills you have. You must integrate the personal objectives to align them with the requirements of the boss. 

A well-written resume goal can spark recruiters’ attention and encourage them to read the whole resume. Your odds of being called in for an interview would be better if the objectives are closely related to what the organization is seeking to do and there is a shared desire to help both sides. 

What Is The Best Way To Write A Resume Objective?

In any way, a positive resume objective can portray you as the prime fit. Make sure your resume is appropriate to the position and business before submitting your application. Often, ensure to be clear and to the point. 

Make a Specific Statement

The more specific you are, the more likely you are to be accepted for the role. Writing a new resume objective for every position you apply for is a smart idea. 

[ Note: You should concentrate on specific skills and activities that are closely relevant to the work when writing your resume objective.] 

Make use of keywords

Incorporate keywords from the job description into the resume target for another successful approach. Not only will this boost the likelihood of your resume being picked up by an employer’s candidate monitoring scheme, but it will also highlight how your credentials match the job description. 

Make a Link

You can only state job objectives that are realistic for the organization. If you want to be an executive editor at a magazine in the future, but you’re applying for a position at a publication, don’t mention it. Concentrate on how you’d like to progress in the organization.

Concentrate on how you would add value

One of the risks of a resume target is that you can concentrate too much on your career goals and not enough on how you can bring value to the organization. Whereas your resume objective should provide specifics about the profession you seek, you must also clarify why you are a better candidate for the role. 

Include any material that illustrates your background, such as years in the industry, specific skill sets, and any other credentials, briefly. Include suggestions of how you could bring value to the enterprise or even boost it. 

For example, state that you have ten years of good budget reduction experience and that you plan to add these experiences to the organization’s budget.

Make a list of all applicable permits, certifications, or degrees

Although your educational background will be specified somewhere on your resume, having any relevant certifications or degrees in your resume purpose will help you stand out to employers right away. When you’re new to the work market or changing professions or occupations, this is particularly crucial to add.

Examples regarding Resume Objective

• A qualified project analyst with extensive experience in project management and diagramming applications. The ability to manage efficient programs and procedures, as well as analyze dynamic applications, has been shown. Capable of using SCRUM to approach all tasks to ensure value optimization. 
• Advertising specialist who used a creative launch strategy and good leadership capabilities to sell $200K in SnaP merchandise. Seeking a sales management role where I can use my experience inspiring and educating teams to help the organization grow. 
• Interior designer with 5 years of volunteer and freelance experience. I completed 20 commercial and residential interiors, receiving a 9.4/10 rating overall. Adobe Suite and Sketch are two of my strongest skills. With over 200 000 views on my posts in Architectural Digest, I’m a frequent contributor. 
• A recent C.S. graduate and co-founder of the SavelT student aid management service, who is currently interning at SAP’s tech department, is excited to join an ABC production team as a software engineer.
• College graduate with previous sales and customer service experience. Leadership and listening abilities. With a Business Administration degree and sufficient managerial experience. I’m looking for a job as an assistant store manager at Macy’s.
• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1022974232557
• https://www.pxu.org/cms/lib/AZ01001825/Centricity/Domain/6038/Guidelines%20for%20What%20to%20Include%20in%20a%20Resume.pdf

I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️

Sandeep Bhandari is the founder of PrepMyCareer.com website.

I am a full-time professional blogger, a digital marketer, and a trainer. I love anything related to the Web, and I try to learn new technologies every day.

All the team management, content creation, and monetization tasks are handled by me. Together with the team at PrepMyCareer, the aim is to provide useful and engaging content to our readers.

Readers who read this also read:

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How to Write a Killer Resume for Creative Professions

There are some key principles to good resume writing that everyone should follow but creative professionals have some special challenges and opportunities.

In this article, I’ll explain what they are and provide 5 tips for developing a really effective resume – one that recruiters can’t resist.

Creative Resume Tip #1: Remember it’s a Business

Yes, it’s important that you have great creative talents and that people love your work, but you’re there to help the organization succeed. If you’re a graphic designer, your designs are supposed to drive revenue or profit gains. If you’re a music producer, your audio is supposed to do the same.

No matter what your creative profession, you are using your creativity towards an end goal. And you must keep that end goal in mind when you write your resume. Show employers that you know how to harness your creativity to help the organization succeed.

(This is why it’s important to try to find out the results of your work if people don’t usually share it with you. Keep a record so that when you have to write a resume, it’s easy to do).

Creative Resume Tip #2: You can be a Little Different

Don’t be stuffy or too formal with your resume design and layout. Being in a creative field gives you a little more leeway than someone who works as an accountant.

Use colors. Add a personal logo if you have one. If you’re a graphic designer, think about ways you can demonstrate that skill. If you are an illustrator, consider using one of your drawings in the resume. A fashion designer might include a design sketch. And no matter what profession, include a link to an online portfolio of your work.

Creative Resume Tip #3: Don’t be Too Different

You must strike a delicate balance with your resume. A little creativity is good, but too much can obscure your message. When thinking about how you can spice up your resume, keep your value proposition and strategy top of mind. The key is to use creativity to enhance your message not obscure it.

Also, be aware of constraints if you will be emailing your resume. You must send a MS Word version because PDFs are not readable by applicant tracking systems (meaning your resume won’t be found months from now when the company scans its resume database looking for a designer). And when you email Word documents, your documents can lose their formatting if you don’t use common system fonts.

I work on a Mac but many of my clients are on a PC. Fonts I have found to travel well include Arial, Times New Roman, Georgia, Tahoma and Trebuchet.

Creative Resume Tip #4: Put Yourself in the Manager’s Shoes

This isn’t really a tip just for creatives , it applies to everyone. When writing your resume, forget about yourself and what you want and start thinking about the hiring manager and what he wants.

As he looks for a sound engineer or interior designer or architect, what will be his primary concerns? What will he want to find? What will he want to avoid? If you’re not sure, ask people you know who hire for positions like yours. And read lots of job postings looking for the common themes. When applying to a specific company, you can also research their products and their current situation to look for hints about what will matter most to them.

Creative Resume Tip #5: Make the Introduction Count!

Once you know what the hiring manager wants, show him that you have it right upfront.

Start your resume with a strong profile that summarizes exactly what you have to offer and why you would be the best person for the job. I can’t tell you what should be in here – that will depend on what the manager’s primary concerns are. But you can review our resume samples to get some ideas.

In the end my advice boils down to this: your resume should show that you are the perfect creative professional to meet the target employer’s needs. If you use these tips to make sure your resume does that, you will get more calls.

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How To Write A Resume Objective Statement (Examples Included)

Mike Simpson 0 Comments

By Mike Simpson

UPDATED 5/18/2022

Resumes. We all know what they are. We all know how important having a good one is…and how much a bad one can hurt your ability to get your dream job. That’s why reviewing different resume objective examples is essential, ensuring you can create well-crafted, carefully targeted resumes for hiring managers.

So, how do you make sure your resume objective – and entire application – stands out? We’ll tell you. Come with us as we explore some resume objective statement examples, as well as tips on how to ensure yours shines.

What is a Resume Objective?

“My objective? Well, that’s easy. My objective is to get the job.”

Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. But an objective on your resume is so much more than just writing, “Hey, hire me. I’m super awesome.”

So, what is an objective for a resume?

Well, according to the Marquette University College of Business Administration , “an objective statement is a concise, position-centered statement describing the value you can add and the needs you can fulfill.”

Our friends over at Indeed.com take it a step further, saying: “A well-written resume objective statement can be customized for the job you’re applying for and add value to your resume that sets it apart from other applicants.”

Essentially, a resume objective is a targeted snippet that clearly outlines your career direction while simultaneously positioning you as someone who fits what the employer is looking for exactly.

Sounds pretty ingenious, right? So why don’t more people have them on their resumes?

Resume objectives can be a bit controversial. Some people think they can make you look amateurish…which, if you don’t do it correctly, is absolutely true. But that can be said for any section of your resume.

Other schools of thought think that the objectives should be taken out entirely and replaced with the more popular “ resume summary statement .”

You may be wondering, “What if I use a resume objective and the hiring manager looks at it and laughs? Are they going to throw out my resume…or worse, put it on the wall of shame?”

Now, nobody is going to laugh at your resume objective as long as you use the right approach. Additionally, if your career is moving in certain directions, using a resume objective makes more sense than the alternatives.

When Should You Use a Resume Objective?

Are you relatively new to the job search market or lack work experience?

Are you changing industries?

Are you targeting a specific job or position?

If you answered “YES” to any of these above questions, then the resume objective is potentially perfect. If you answered “NO” to all of the above questions, you might be better off with a “Resume Summary Statement.”

For those of you in the middle of a career change or who might just be starting out, a resume objective statement allows you to define your goal to a potential employer…something that your work history might not otherwise be able to do for you.

Imagine how confused a hiring manager would be if they were looking for candidates to fill an office coordinator position and you sent in a resume with ten years of experience in marketing. Without an objective statement, the hiring manager might just assume your resume has been accidentally sent to them and simply discard it.

With an objective statement, you can not only let the hiring manager know that your resume IS in the right spot but also explain that you’re making the switch and show that your skill set does align with this new career path.

If you’re targeting a specific job or position, a resume objective statement can help reinforce that idea that you know EXACTLY what you’re after. That can work in your favor, too.

Overall, and most importantly, the biggest reason to put an objective on your resume is…it’s better than having nothing. Remember, your goal is to catch the hiring manager’s eye and stand out from the rest of the paper in that pile.

Common Mistakes

There are several common mistakes job seekers can make when writing their statement with the number one being using the same objective for every job application.

1) Using the Same Objective For Every Job Application

To obtain a job within my chosen field that will challenge me and allow me to use my education, skills and past experiences in a way that is mutually beneficial to both myself and my employer and allow for future growth and advancement.

Your goal is to be the ideal candidate and that means making sure you’re exactly what the hiring manager is looking for…and unless you’re applying to a cookie cutter factory in a cookie cutter job town where every job every employer is listing is exactly the same then I guarantee you 100% that your statement will NOT be a “one size fits all” statement.

2) Making It All About You

This is a trap that many job seekers fall into, as they can’t resist to use the objective to list off all of the things that they want to get out of the position.

Hi, I’m Joe Jobseeker and I really want a job in a company where I make a ton of money doing as little as possible. Oh, and a corner office. A company car would be nice too. While we’re at it, let’s talk benefits, retirement…and the company vacation policy.

Yes, we’re being over the top with this one, but we need you to look at this and laugh…because even a slightly toned down one where you list only what YOU want is going to come off just as ridiculous to the hiring manager as the one we’ve blown out of proportion.

3) Being Too Vague

Mistake number three is being vague. Like we said, this isn’t a one size fits all so by being ambiguous in the hopes of somewhat fitting what they’re looking for is going to get your resume sent directly to the circular file. (In case you don’t know, the circular file is the trash can. It just sounds fancier but the end result is the same…no job.)

Looking for a long term full time job where I can apply my extensive skills and knowledge to the position for which I am hired.

Blah. Who is this person? All we know by reading this statement is that they have skills and knowledge…but other than that, not much else. What skills do they have? Do they really apply to the job? And what knowledge can they draw from that will benefit the company? See what we mean? It’s so generic you could literally fit anything into those blanks…it’s like Resume Mad Libs!

4) Going On… And On… And On… And On… and zzzzzzzzzzzzz….

Mistake number four is being too long. This isn’t a novel. It’s a quick little blurb to catch their attention so they can bring you in for an interview…then you can get into more detail!

Not going to put one here. Why? Because the example we were going to do was going to be so long and ridiculous that you and everyone else reading this post would just get bored and move onto another article. Just remember, it’s all about short and sweet. Anything over a sentence or two is TOO LONG. Remember that.

5) Adding Absolutely No Value

Mistake number five is probably the worst…and the easiest to fall into (outside of mistake number two, the “all about me” statement.) Mistake number five is writing a statement that basically fills space but doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about the value you bring to the table. This can also be confused with the too vague statement…

To obtain a position within my chosen field where I can utilize my skills as a hard-working, well-educated employee in exchange for a steady market-fair paycheck.

Congratulations. You’re educated and you’re hard working and you want to make money. So what? So are 90% of the people you’re going up against. Why are YOU the ideal candidate? What makes the hiring manager want to bring YOU in over everyone else? See what we mean?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

How are you going to fulfill the needs of the company?

When writing your resume objective, you should always have the intention of answering this question.

How To Write An Effective Resume Objective

So how do you write a GOOD resume objective?

One thing every one of these bad examples has in common is the fact that not a single one of them is tailored to the position you’re looking for. Any hiring manager who looks at a resume with objectives like those is going to immediately move on to the next candidate.

Because whoever those potential hires are, they’re not ideal candidates. You need to not only catch the hiring manager’s eye; you must make sure that they look at your statement and say, “Here’s the perfect fit!”

So, how do you make it happen? Well, a really good place to start is by looking at the job description. According to Indeed.com , “…when you include an objective that’s specific to the job role, the recruiter is more likely to dig deeper and learn more details about your professional experience.”

After that, make sure it’s tailored to not only the position but the company as well. By incorporating a few tidbits that speak to the company’s mission and values, you can take that quick statement up a notch.

Nice, right?

Additionally, focus on how you’re a benefit to the company, not how the company can benefit you. Showcase value, ensuring you point out what you bring to the table.

Keep it short and sweet, too. Skip overblown adjectives in favor of action verbs, which will help “raise the energy levels” of your objective and ensure that it is more dynamic and interesting.

If you’re someone who is changing careers, demonstrate how your past experiences relate to your future tasks. The same goes for those who are just starting out or who are relatively inexperienced.

Resume Objective Examples

In some cases, nothing makes the points above clearer quite like a few resume objective examples. Here are a handful of samples, each targeting different situations.

New to Workforce, No High School Diploma

“Diligent, dedicated individual looking to apply communication and collaboration skills in a fast-paced customer service role. A self-motivated team player with an outgoing personality who’s ready to learn the ins and outs of a new industry and provide ample value to a retail employer.”

New to Workforce, No College

“Well-organized high school honor graduate with exceptional problem-solving and collaboration skills seeking opportunities in the office administration field where strong communication, time management, and research skills can provide excellent value to an employer.”

College Student, Aspiring Intern

“Current accounting student with an emphasis on accounts payable and accounts receivable seeking developmental opportunities with a local firm. Diligent, focused, and tech-savvy, looking to provide value to a skilled team.”

Recent College Graduate

“Hard-working business administration graduate with proven leadership and organizational skills. Looking to leverage knowledge or operational processes, emerging commercial trends, and supply machine management to increase efficiency and support broader productivity goals.”

Recent College Graduate with Internship Experience

“Honor graduate with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources and one year of experience at a leading staffing firm looking to leverage a deep understanding of leading ATS solutions, modern interview techniques, and conflict resolution strategies to support the goals of an enterprise-level HR department.”

Career Change

“Ambitious professional looking to leverage 5+ years of customer service experience and exceptional communication skills in the fast-paced field of real estate. Proven ability to build lasting, long-term relationships, understand client needs, and find solutions designed to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Career Change with New Education

“Experienced accounting professional and recent college graduate with a Bachelor’s in IT looking to leverage mathematical and analytical capabilities in a data analyst role with an enterprise-level employer. Impeccable attention to detail and organizational skills, as well as strong desire to learn and grow on the job.”

Targeting Specific Role

“Skilled software developer with 7+ years of experience with Java, Python, and C++ seeking out opportunities in team-oriented environments that prioritize Agile methodologies, Lean strategies, and DevOps principles to accelerate timelines and achieve challenging goals.”

Speaking of specific roles, we thought that it might be prudent to dig deeper into a couple careers that we get the most questions about (in terms of resume objectives). Here are our deep-dive articles into Teacher Resume Objectives , Customer Service Resume Objectives and Nursing Resume Objectives . Enjoy!

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it. We’ve covered what a resume objective statement is, who should use one, and how to properly execute it. Plus, there are some handy resume objective examples that can serve as inspiration.

While some people might claim that the objective statement for a resume is outdated, if done properly, it can make a difference. Use all of the information above to your advantage. That way, you’ll be one step closer to your dream job.

FREE : Resume Objective PDF Cheat Sheet

Ok the next thing you should do is get our handy Resume Objective Cheat Sheet PDF .

In it you'll get word-for-word sample resume objectives covering a variety of scenarios you can use right away .

CLICK HERE TO GET THE RESUME OBJECTIVE CHEAT SHEET

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

About The Author

Mike simpson.

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com. His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes , Entrepreneur , CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan , Penn State , Northeastern and others. Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page .

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How to Write a Killer Resume: Avoid 6 Common Mistakes

• Women Empowerment

Although it often feels like you are overlooked for job opportunities, in many situations the truth may be that you haven’t yet learned how to write a killer resume . By avoiding some common mistakes and writing an error-free resume, you give a potential employer no excuse for turning you away when your qualifications meet or exceed their requirements.

Having spoken with a large amount of hiring managers and from looking at a significant number of resumes myself, I’ve seen many mistakes that could immediately eliminate you from the applicant pool. Fortunately, many of these mistakes are easily remedied.

Common Resume Blunders:

• Spelling and Grammatical Errors—Whether you are applying for an administrative job or a high paying executive position, employers want to know that you take the time to hand over quality work. Think of your resume as your very first work product. Your computer’s spell-check function won’t always catch improper word usage (to, too, two) or capitalization mistakes. Read through the resume from beginning to end several times to ensure you catch these little errors that can make a big difference in whether or not you hear back from a company.
• Putting Oldest Job First—Never put your oldest job at the top of your employment history. Employers want to see your most recent or present job first. Remember, the resume is supposed to impress them, and your most recent job likely required a higher skill level and more experience than your first. This is also meant to make it easier to find your most recent experience at a glance.
• Task Listing Rather Than Achievement Listing—Sure, your new boss will want to know that you managed inventory, but they also want to know that you were able to reduce the inventory by 5% by improving certain processes. Anytime you can list an achievement rather than a task that you performed—do it. Keep in mind that you are trying to sell the value add that you bring to the table. Anyone can be in charge of customer service, but only you can increase customer retention (by 25% every year for the past 4 years in a row).
• Highlighting The Wrong Experiences—Getting college credits is a good way to further show you value education and are interested in expanding your knowledge and your potential for career advancement; but highlighting that you received credits at a junior college and didn’t quite get that associate’s degree you were after, however, might not be a wise choice for your resume. In this case, you may be better off listing classes you completed that are specifically related to the job for which you are applying. No reason to highlight where you went or how many total credits you earned, unless you received a degree.

Focus on the important stuff: those things you completed, pertinent experience, and skills that have a direct bearing on the job you are seeking. Missing Information—It’s crucial that you always keep your resume updated. If you’re promoted, add that as soon as possible. Change your address on the header if you move and always keep your best references handy. You never know when the next opportunity will arise and you want to be prepared. For additional tips on keeping your resume up to date with all of the pertinent information, check out this post from ResumeEdge .

• Cramming It All On One Page—You may have been able to fit all of your experience on a single page back when you were fresh out of college, but as you advance in your career and your life, your experience will expand so it is okay to add an additional page to your resume. Don’t try to fit all of your information in a single page, as your resume will end up looking uninviting to the reader.

Perhaps the final tip in creating a solid resume is: Have at least one other person read over your resume . Choose someone whose professionalism and career you respect, someone who would likely know some things about great resume writing. Reviewing a resume takes very little time and can be done over coffee. Remember, this resume is your first impression; make it impeccable.

This article was originally published on Mamiverse. 

If you are looking for a job or to advance in your career your resume represents you. That means, it is your one chance to get your foot in the door. So when it’s filled with errors or difficult to read, you can bet the person reviewing it will quickly toss it out. Although it […]

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How to write a killer Software Engineering résumé

An in-depth analysis of the résumé that got me interviews at google, facebook, amazon, microsoft, apple, and more..

Terrence Kuo

We’ve moved to freeCodeCamp.org/news

This résumé got me interviews at Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple.

I obtained these interviews by sending my résumé to the résumé black hole , also known as applying online.

Applying online is the most common way people go about applying for a job and therefore the least effective way to land an interview due to competition. Yet that is exactly how I obtained all my interviews.

How did I accomplish this?

In this article, I will go through a line-by-line analysis of my résumé for the following purposes:

• explaining the choices that I made in creating my résumé
• why I believe this résumé worked to help me land those interviews, and
• how you can create an even better résumé!

I decided to write this article because I struggled a lot with landing interviews when I first started looking for a job. It would have been extremely helpful for me to have a real-life example résumé to look at.

This article is organized into the following sections:

• The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview - a short anecdote of my frustrations when I first started applying for jobs
• Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward - a reflection on different strategies to improve the odds of landing interviews
• Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé By Example - the step-by-step analysis of my résumé with each of the following sections corresponding to my résumé:

The Essentials from a Glance

• Who Are You
• Contact Information
• Personal Projects

The All Too Familiar Way of Not Landing an Interview

Applying online.

You probably know the link that every company provides for online applications. It’s the classic career site that shows you a bunch of job titles which you think you are totally qualified for until you open the job description and read the minimum requirements.

A job description with a bunch of words that you have never heard of, may have heard of, or hoped you had heard of. And it has an innocent-looking “ Apply” button .

Despite the uncertainty you may feel about your qualifications, you apply anyway because you want a job.

So you fill out the application form, press submit — and wait and hope for a positive response.

Your results will be varied:

• Phone Interview 🎉 (yay, a chance at employment!!!)
• Immediate Rejection 😢 (darn, back to the drawing board)
• No reply 😞 (gosh, at least give me the courtesy of having some closure)

Repeat Until Success… Right?

Sadly, this is the typical process that many people go through when looking for a job/internship.

Apply to a couple of companies. Get a couple of rejections or no replies. Apply to a couple more companies. Get a couple more rejections or no replies. Over, and over, and over again.

Why do we do this to ourselves? We spend all this time doing the same repetitive task to obtain the same, disappointing results.

Because this is what everyone does to get an interview, right? Because at least we’re working towards the right direction and have a glimmer of hope, right? How else are you supposed to get an interview?

Evaluating the Options: Moving Forward

“Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” - Dale Carnegie, (author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”)

We can think of approaching the problem of not getting interviews in two ways:

• Putting your application/ résumé under the microscope
• Questioning the process in which you go about obtaining an interview

This article focuses on the former, because no matter what avenue you end up taking to get an interview, essentially every company utilizes your résumé as a basis for evaluation . Therefore, we will examine my résumé under a microscope and focus on learning how to write a remarkable résumé.

Getting an interview via online application is extremely challenging because your résumé has to pass numerous stages before it gets into the hands of the hiring manager.

It has to bypass online keyword filters , stand out to a recruiter who reviews it for about 6 seconds and meet the expectations of the hiring manager who decides whether you are worth interviewing.

Yet, despite all those hurdles, I obtained all my interviews by applying online. How? Trial and error . I’ve applied to hundreds of different software engineering positions since my sophomore year of college.

When I first started applying, I faced a staggering number of rejections, but over time I learned how to adapt. By the time I was a senior, I was extremely successful in landing interviews from almost every company I applied to.

The résumé that landed me all those interviews is the exact one in this article.

It took me four years of iteration and real-life testing to get to this point. From this experience, I have come up with a list of résumé writing principles to help you write an even better software résumé. These are principles that have helped me land my dream job and are principles that can help you land yours.

While it took me four years of college to figure this all out, you don’t have to go through all the leaps and bounds because you can learn all of it right here, right now.

My goal is to be the one-stop hub for all your questions on how to obtain a software engineering interview. That way, you don’t have to waste countless hours cross-referencing Google search results to find the best answer on how to write a software engineering résumé that gets interviews.

Your valuable time could be better spent on writing your killer résumé.

So start here and now with this article. Reap the benefits from my past experiences and let’s begin the step-by-step walkthrough of my résumé!

Learning How to Write a Killer Résumé — By Example

“As to methods there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The man who grasps principles can successfully select his own methods. The man who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let’s take another look at this résumé:

One-page résumé

Recruiters do not have all day to read your résumé. On average they view it for less than 6 seconds. Keep it short and concise .

Sections (Header, Education, Employment, Software Projects, Skills)

Place sections in order of importance from top to bottom. The ‘ Personal Projects ’ section is a unique, must-have for people looking for a software engineering position.

Consistent layout + font per section

Make sure each section contains a uniform look. Consistent style is important as it enhances the readability. Readability is essential.

So why does this résumé work? Let’s explore the numbered bullet points.

Who Are You (1)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé

Starting off real easy. Your name. Place your name at the top of your résumé in a large legible font.

No need to be all fancy about it with extravagant colors or fancy fonts. Plain and simple does the trick. You want the recruiter to see this easily from a mile away because you want them to know who you are. A recruiter who has to do minimum work is a happy recruiter. A happy recruiter is one who is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Make it ridiculously easy for the recruiter to read and find your name.

Contact Information (2)

Your contact info should be as easy as identifying your name. This is so important. Of all the things in the world, please do not mess this one up because how else on earth will the recruiter contact you?

Recap: Put in the correct contact information or you’ll never be contacted.

Education (3)

Target Audience: Anyone writing a résumé with a degree

If you are attending or attended college, this should be the first section of your résumé, because going to college is a huge accomplishment. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only “66.7 percent of 2017 high school graduates age 16 to 24 enrolled in colleges or universities”. So be proud of it and include it!

Right off the bat, this tells the recruiter that you are invested in education and learning, which is crucial because technology is continuously changing. Furthermore, this information serves as an indicator of your successes, so be sure to put it down.

Recap: Put down where you got educated.

Be sure to include relevant coursework corresponding to the position that you are applying for. While a course on the History of Italian Gastronomy sounds exceptionally appetizing, it doesn’t have a place in a résumé that is trying to get you a job in computer science.

This will significantly improve the ability of the recruiter and the hiring manager looking at your résumé in deciding whether you are a good fit for the position. And as previously mentioned, a happy recruiter is more likely to give you an interview.

Recap: Only include relevant coursework.

Okay. GPA. Before we talk about this, let’s remind ourselves of the main purpose of a résumé.

The main purpose of a résumé is to highlight your knowledge, skills, and accomplishments succinctly. You want to include things on your résumé that you are proud of, but also things that will impress. You want to paint a picture of yourself in the best light possible so that recruiters and hiring managers want to interview you.

Now back to your GPA. It should be fairly obvious whether or not your GPA is impressive. If your GPA is below a 3.0, don’t put it on your résumé. There’s nothing wrong with excluding your GPA from your résumé if it only harms your chances.

If you have a GPA between 3.0–3.2, this is a judgment call. From personal experience, I have talked to some companies that require a minimum GPA of 3.2, but these were primarily financial or quantitative companies. Most software companies have little regard for your GPA. If you have anything above a 3.2, I would place it on your résumé.

If you have a low GPA, fear not, as this gives you the opportunity to be creative! My overall GPA was a 3.2 due to poor grades from my freshman engineering prerequisites and humanities classes. But once I finished and started taking courses within my major, my in-major GPA (GPA calculated from courses in my major) was a 3.44, which was significantly higher. So that’s what I put down (but make sure to qualify it as a departmental GPA).

There are many ways of going about presenting yourself in the best light possible, even when it may seem like the odds are stacked against you. I only provided one example of accomplishing this, but there are many more ways waiting to be discovered by you. Fully embrace your failures and accomplishments because they make up who are you. Be honest and truthful, and always focus on highlighting the best parts about yourself.

Recap: Your GPA does not define you. The purpose of your résumé is to present yourself in the best light. Never forget that! Be creative when going about this and DON’T LIE.

Employment (4)

Target Audience: Students with software engineering work experience

If you are a college student without any experience, don’t be afraid! This was my senior year résumé when I was applying for a full-time job. I was fortunate enough to have accumulated relevant work experience from summer internships, but this isn’t absolutely necessary to get an interview. If you find that you don’t have much to put in section, jump down to the ‘ Personal Projects ’ section.

While it is great to have past work experience, not all work experience is treated equally when it comes to looking for a job in software engineering. Focus only on including work experience that has relevance to the job that you are applying for. For instance, if you have experience working as a cashier in retail or a waiter in the food industry, don’t include it! Unfortunately, your abilities to handle money or serve food did not provide any indication that you will succeed as a software engineer.

A recruiter’s goal is to match candidates with jobs that fit the candidates’ skill sets. Therefore it is essential only to include past work experience that has some relation to the position that you are currently applying to, on your résumé.

Part of accomplishing this means creating a collection of various résumés, each tailored specifically for the different job that you are interested in. This is analogous to the college application process, where you had to write separate essays for each university that you applied to. Each college has its own values, culture, and vision, making it nearly impossible to write a generic, one-size-fits-all college essay. Therefore, tailor your résumé to the job that you are applying for.

Lastly, a note on dates. Order your experiences in descending order starting with your most recent experiences. For undergraduates, this means being mindful of including experiences that are both recent and relevant. Sadly, no one cares about whatever accomplishments you had in middle school or high school. If the experience is outdated, leave it out.

Recap: Have various versions of your résumé tailored for each job you are applying for. There is no one-size-fits-all résumé.

The hardest part about résumé writing is having descriptions that fully encapsulate your accomplishments from past work experiences in a meaningful and impressive way.

What does it mean for your descriptions to be meaningful and impressive? It means getting the recruiter to think: “This is someone that has the skill sets we are looking for. This is someone that has made a significant impact in their past jobs. This is someone we would like to interview and potentially hire.”

The primary objective of the Employment section is to show the impact and value that you had while working at an established institution. Your goal is to show recruiters that you are a candidate that can get things done and do them well.

To best showcase my accomplishments in my résumé, I adopted the following powerful formula, created by the Former SVP of People Operations at Google, Laszlo Bock:

“Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” — Laszlo Bock

You can see this very clearly in the very first bullet point of this section on my résumé.

Improved device’s battery lifespan by 8% by integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

Let’s break it down:

Accomplished [X]- Improved device’s battery lifespan

Measured by [Y]- by 8%

By Doing [Z]- integrating a fuel gauge sensor and establishing a battery saving state

I leveraged this formula in some shape or form in almost every sentence in my résumé.

To help you along this process, below is a word bank of excellent verbs you can and should use:

Here are some examples of fill-in the blank sentences that I have come up with for you to get started:

• Reduced _____ by _____ by _____.
• Redesigned _____ for _____.
• Implemented _____ for _____ by _____.
• Improved _____ by _____ through _____.
• Utilized _____ to _____ for _____.
• Increased _____ by _____ through _____.
• Integrated _____ by _____ for _____.
• Incorporated _____ for _____ by _____.

Recap: Use the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula. It’s the most effective and most apparent way of showing recruiters/managers your impact.

Lastly, I end each work experience with a leveraged knowledge bullet point. The utility behind this last bit is it enables the reader to really get a sense of the technology I am familiar with by explicitly stating the technologies that I used for the project.

This also allows me to have a concise, but clean ‘Skills’ section located at the bottom of my résumé. Recruiters can then look at the bottom to immediately obtain a sense of my capabilities by seeing which computer languages I am familiar with. If they are looking to see if I have specific knowledge in a particular tool, framework, or library, then they can find this out by looking at my projects.

Recap: Including technologies that you used in your descriptions will help you bypass online keyword filters when applying online. This will also give recruiters a clearer idea of your experiences and knowledge.

Personal Projects (5)

Target Audience: Students looking for software engineering internships/full-time positions + Unique section for software engineering applicants

Maybe if I say it enough times, you will understand the importance of this section, especially for those that do not have work experience .

Personal projects are integral to piquing recruiters and hiring managers interest as it shows you are passionate about programming.

A personal project can be anything programming related, whether it be a Python script, Java program, web page, mobile application, etc. These projects show that you are genuinely interested in computer science and you have strong desires to work as a software engineer because you are willing to go beyond your schoolwork and create something on your own.

Taking the initiative to build something on your own is extremely impressive. It shows that you are dedicated to expanding your knowledge of computer science and that you are not afraid of putting in the extra work to do so. Ultimately, it is a fantastic way to demonstrate self-initiative and genuine interest in this field.

The other benefit of doing personal projects is that you inevitably gain the skills that apply to work in the real world. Things that you don’t usually do at school, but you will do at work such as using standard frameworks/libraries, understanding full-stack web development, creating mobile applications, setting up a development environment, or programming efficiently with Vim.

Tip: Create a personal website that showcases and documents all of your personal projects. This is a little hack that ‘virtually extends’ your résumé beyond the one-page limit.

To reiterate one last time, personal projects show your passion and dedication towards developing the necessary skills need for a job that you don’t yet have. This is a must-have on any software engineering resume.

“Build some iPhone apps, web apps, whatever! Honestly it doesn’t matter that much what you’re building as long as you’re building something. You can build a fairly meaty project in one weekend. This means that with about 3–4 weekends of work, you can make your résumé go from so-so to fantastic. Seriously — I’ve seen lots of people do this.” - Gayle McDowell, former Google Engineer and Author of Cracking the Coding Interview

If there is a specific company that you really want to work at, one of the best ways to stand out is doing a personal project that is directly related to the job that you are applying for.

I got my internship at Autodesk by taking a free online interactive computer graphics course on Udacity. The course taught me to use a JavaScript library called three.js , and it just so happened that there was a software engineering internship opening at Autodesk looking for someone with full-stack website and knowledge in three.js (aka ME).

A word of caution on this technique. This strategy is not perfect. This only really works for companies like Autodesk which do not have generalized software engineering internships like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. When starting off early in your career, it is better to generalize and figure out the different disciplines of computer science. Nonetheless, this is an excellent method worth trying if there is a specific company you want.

Recap: Personal projects are imperative. If you haven’t already, start NOW! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Target Audience: Anyone looking for a software engineering job

The title explains it all. Keep this section dumb, simple, and clean. List all the relevant skills that you want the recruiter to know you have. The more skills you have listed here that match key technical words in the qualification section of the job description, the better your chances!

This will allow you to bypass the online keyword scanner easily. However, this is not a fool-proof method of circumventing the scanner. Ultimately it is a recruiter who gets their hands on your résumé that decides, but they will also be more inclined to give you an interview if they see you as a good fit for the job!

A thing to note about the skills section is to NOT simply list all the keywords on the job description just for the sake of showing you’re a good fit. It will come back to bite you as you will be questioned on the skills you claim to know.

Part of giving yourself some leeway in this is including an indication of your proficiency level. Since you are probably not practicing every language you’ve ever encountered on a day to day basis, including a proficiency level can help the recruiter know your strongest languages at a moment in time and other languages that you are familiar with.

I’ve opted to use two tiers:

• Proficient - Languages that I am very familiar with, feel very comfortable using, and can interview with right now.
• Familiar - Languages that I have utilized in the past but may not be as knowledgeable in currently, but can pick back up given time.

Other valid options include:

• Intermediate
• Working Knowledge
• Basic Knowledge

Recap: When applying for a specific job online, cross-reference the job description and add essential technical keywords on your résumé to increase your chance of getting an interview.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure your name and contact information is correct and legible
• Be sure to include your education. If your GPA is low, leave it out or be creative!
• Utilize the “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]” formula to effectively show the impact that you had in your past employment
• Do personal projects — especially if you do not have past experience working in tech

Final Thoughts

While this résumé got me interviews at numerous software engineering companies, there is no guarantee that following all the principles and techniques I have explained here will yield the same results for you.

This was my senior year résumé in 2017. It is a showcase of my journey and interest in software engineering. Copying it will do you no good, as technology is constantly evolving and the talent search is an ever-changing process. Instead, use this as a reference.

Use my résumé and this article as a resource to become a better résumé writer and a more effective communicator. Focus on learning how to best convey your skills and achievements to others. This in itself is an invaluable, lifelong skill that you will need wherever you go.

As you write your résumé, please remember — be yourself!

Your résumé is a list of your own accomplishments, achievements, and interests. Your goal is to craft the most polished version of yourself. Lastly, have fun and enjoy the process!

For anyone interested in using this resume template, I obtained it from CareerCup which was founded by Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of Cracking The Coding Interview .

From personal experience, what’s most important is the content. The resume writing principles discussed above can be applied to any template!

10/01/2021: Are you practicing or learning python for coding interviews? If so, checkout this video about https://memlayout.com/ , a website that creates line-by-line visualizations of the python code that you write to help you better learn programming!

Written by Terrence Kuo

software engineer @tesla. consider donating to https://oeop.mit.edu/ . visualize python code with https://memlayout.com/

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10 expert-recommended online resume writing services to use in 2024.

In the mix of college assignments and perhaps your 9-to-5, piecing together an attractive resume for employers can be a difficult feat.

Not only is this one-pager the bread and butter of what will lead to a first-round interview (fingers crossed!), but it’s an excellent portrayal of your skillset, employment history and unique skills that help a company’s HR department gauge if you’re the right fit.

Let’s cut to the chase — more specifically, let’s answer the question, “ How can I make my application stand out? ” One of the most influential steps is, without a doubt, rendering your resume to tip-top shape. And fortunately, there are some of the best online resume services like TopResume and Resumble out there to help.

Best Overall: TopResume

Best budget: resume companion, best optimization for applicant tracking systems: resumeble.

• Best Customizable : Brand Resumes
• Best with Career Consulting: Top Stack Resumes
• Best for Quick Hiring : ZipJob
• Best One-on-One Collaboration : Upwork
• Best for Cover Letters : ResumeSpice
• Best Budget : Craft Resumes

Whether you’re a senior in college applying for your first full-time job or you’ve been in the biz for years and are looking to segue into a different role, we rounded up the top online resume writing services you can use to help get your application in tip-top shape. Plus, we’ve enlisted Shannon Conklin, director of career and leadership development at The College of New Jersey to help!

Hop to her picks below or check out our FAQ for more details on things to look for when picking the right resume builder for you.

• Packages with unlimited resume revisions
• Free resume review
• 60-day interview guarantee
• Several customers who wrote reviews on Trustpilot mention having poor communication with their resume writers

TopResume is a beloved favorite — and for a good reason. It has four different packages depending on your career goals, some of which include unlimited revisions, a LinkedIn makeover, a cover letter and two interview prep sessions.

“TopResume continues to be a solid option,” Conklin shared. “It has strong descriptions, where the website and interface are easy to navigate to understand its process, its three packages, as well as testimonials.”

She also loves TopResume’s FAQ section, coupled with the various packages, that make its process clear and timeline. “There is also plenty of mention about AI and ATS technology,” she added. “If you need a resume quickly, one that accounts for technology, and a budget of only about $150, it looks like this service would be one to strongly consider.”

With TopResume, you’ll also get a 60-day interview guarantee. If you don’t get twice as many interviews, the platform will rewrite your resume for free. It’s pretty top tier, to say the least, and is a minimal investment for those hoping to find free resume-writing services.

• Self-directed service
• Template-based
• Must renew a subscription to edit resume in the future

“Resume Companion is a clean website with a clear message — build a resume quickly!” Conklin highlighted. “It offers templates, examples and advice on how to craft a resume, as well as a cover letter, as a self-directed service within about 15-minutes.”

What’s more, the service also makes it clear it offers a variety of templates based on industries and functions. “This can really help if you are trying to transition to a new field or your resume needs to be updated to reflect the latest in your industry,” she added.

With Resume Companion, you’ll be able to build your resume step by step, from selecting a professional template to answering a few simple questions to have your experience and skills added directly to your digital file. Namely, if you’re not much of a writer, you’ll appreciate its pre-written work experience bullet points to craft your resume in minutes and then apply away.

Not to mention, it’s only $8 a month, so if you want a one-and-done service, this one’s your best bet. Keep in mind that you will have to renew your subscription to edit in the future, but it’s a great budget-friendly option to pursue if you don’t want to be completely in the dark.

• 4-day turnover on resume drafts
• Three free revisions with standard resume package
• Only the premium resume package includes a job guarantee

Resumeble is not only has a fun name, but it includes a resume and cover letter in its baseline package. If you’d like to upgrade, you can receive a LinkedIn write-up, a second resume version, thank you and follow-up notes and cold emails to recruiters.

“Have you applied to dozens of jobs, only to never get through?” Conklin questioned. “If this resonates because your resume is not optimized for ATS platforms, Resumeble might be the choice for you. Mention of ‘ATS,’ as well as their outcomes and ROI, are weaved throughout its site.”

Conklin told The Post that she’s seen many clients apply to dozens and dozens of companies, only to be vetted out due to ATS. “When that happens, I often advise networking to complement a revised, ATS-optimized resume.” she tipped off. “This brings me to one other noteworthy element to their various packages, they support your full professional profile; resume to LinkedIn to recruiter communication support.”

For those who want to spend less than $200 for online resume writing services, this all-in-one option is fairly priced, making it one of the best affordable resume writing services. If you’re only looking to refresh your LinkedIn, you’ll just pay a one-time $99 fee. For just your resume, it’s a one-time purchase of $129 for the service.

Best Customizable: BrandResumes

• Has a self pace job search course
• Helpful step by step resume building guide
• Some customers who reviewed the service on Trustpilot report time delays in receiving their resume

BrandResumes made the cut as one of our top choices for online resume services for a few reasons: it’s one of the platforms best for ATS keyword optimization and formatting for interviews, LinkedIn branding and a customizable interface. If you buy the deluxe package, you’ll have your resume distributed across the 60 top job boards (including industry-specific ones), so you’ll spend less time applying.

“Learning the fundamentals of resume writing is a skill that will carry you throughout your career, and BrandResumes offers courses and resources to accomplish just that,” Conklin highlighted. “Once you understand how to format a strong bullet point, or the style you find reflects your story and values, you can start crafting various resumes to appeal to different audiences and fields.”

BrandResumes also offers resources to launch your own resume writing business — a tool that can be valuable for career experts seeking professional resume writing services. “If you’re seeking to dig into how to revamp your resume, or you find yourself (like many in HR or career services) consistently asked to help a friend or family member with their materials, this service will align with your goals,” she added.

Best with Career Consulting: TopStack Resume

• Pay only after you’re satisfied with the resume
• According to TopStack Resume’s site, resume complete takes up to 2 weeks

TopStack Resume is a force to be reckoned with in the career development sphere. Notably, it’s one of the only services that provides career consulting. So, in addition to resume and cover letter formatting, you have the option to partake in one-on-one sessions with a career advisor.

“Five steps is all you need to follow for your resume review by TopStack,” Conklin put it simply. “The simplicity of this service and the range of offerings (from a resume for $139 to career consulting for its Premium Package ) can be valuable for any job seeker or career explorer.”

Moreover, if you find yourself in need of more career support, maybe you’re changing fields or returning to work after time off, this is a strong contender. “Be mindful of your budget and timeline, so you take full advantage of a career consultant; a solid service should focus on the process, as much as a strong career outcome,” she added.

Plus, TopStack Resume is unique in that it has a team of well-qualified writers to ensure your one-pager is the best it can be. At a fair price point, you can always upgrade to add on more benefits in the future.

Best for Quick Hiring: ZipJob

• Fairly priced for the quality and swiftness of deliverables
• Optimizes for ATS so you’ll have better odds of visibility before your resume lands in human hands
• May be more difficult to ask for revisions if need be, due to the service’s robust turnaround time and automation

While no resume writing service can guarantee you landing your dream job, ZipJob has a unique offering in one of its packages that makes it a standout from the rest.

Ideal for candidates who are rapidly seeking their next role in a flash, ZipJob combines expert resume writers with the exact same tech employers to optimize your one-pager. The kicker? Its most popular plan, Fast Track, includes a professionally written resume, ATS optimization and direct writer messaging — but that’s not all.

Impressively, the Fast Track package for $189 also includes a cover letter and a 60-day interview guarantee. That’s how confident ZipJob is that you’ll get hired, and get hired quickly.

For $299, its Premium package includes a LinkedIn profile update to help maximize your chances and expedited delivery for super speed. If you want swiftness but don’t wish to compromise the quality of your application, you won’t have to worry with ZipJob.

Best One-on-One Collaboration: Upwork

• Several projects to choose from with unique writing strengths you may desire
• Typically budget-friendly
• Some options will have your resume written in only one business day
• Price points vary and quality of work varies depending on which project provider you select, so take caution and read reviews before working with a given person

Individual-driven platforms like Upwork allow you to shop around for a resume writing service that matches your specific needs and budget. Similar to platforms like Skillshare where talented, qualified creators host a course offering or a service, Upwork allows you to select from a variety of different projects where you’ll have one-on-one attention. Consider it akin to being matched with an online counselor.

Generally budget-friendly, most of Upwork’s providers only take one business day to deliver. The majority of providers also have thousands of positive, near-five-star reviews, so it’s surely a service to consider.

The one downside to Upwork is that quality of work may differ slightly, though that’s a given with its platform structure. This differs from some other services like TopResume where the company at large has its own writing structure, so it’s just something to take note of. However, for its affordability and speed, it’s a great dip into the pool of resume writing and related services, without spending more on a professional-grade platform.

Best for Cover Letters: ResumeSpice

• The baseline package offers a lot more than competitors, including phone consult, optimized draft and two edits
• Cover and thank-you letters are added to packages at an additional charge

ResumeSpice is ready to add that much-needed spice to your resume. It doesn’t just provide three different package options, but it specifically tells you which one would work best for you. For example, if you have no more than two years in the workforce, you should select its baseline package ($449). This package includes a phone consultation, an eye-catching resume format, keyword optimization, a personalized draft, two rounds of revisions based on your feedback and finalized versions in both Microsoft Word and PDF formats.

“Solid service is evident across ResumeSpice, and its focus on Executive Resume stands out from others,” Conklin pinpointed. “If you find yourself wanting to get to that next level in your career, you really do need to consider an executive coach with an eye towards that goal for your materials.”

You might, for example, realize you have decades of experience and are unsure where to start to consolidate — Conklin offered. “This is one of the most frequent concerns when making this transition, and a third party like ResumeSpice can be an invaluable resource and sounding board,” she added. “Finally, its site is clear in terms of turnaround, which shows they value your time and manage expectations — a positive sign on what you can expect service-wise.”

ResumeSpice offers other à la carte services, too, including cover letter help, LinkedIn profile revamping, interview preparation and career coaching.

Best Budget: Craft Resumes

• Unlimited revisions
• 5 day delivery
• Some reviewers mention time delays

Craft Resumes has an engaging, user-friendly interface that makes resume-building a fun, less stressful process. With ATS keyword optimization and a dedicated writer on your resume, rest assured that it will be in a healthy state to pass along to recruiters and job posters.

“Craft Resumes cleary focus on the ‘craft’ and design of writing resumes, where a distinguishing factor that caught my eye is their unlimited evaluation ‘at any reason’ for four days,” Conklin said, recommending the service. “This is valuable for job or graduate school seekers and career explorers, as you’ll likely have questions once you find an opportunity of interest.”

Similar to other services here, there is a one-on-one aspect that can be quite valuable, especially if you have the time. “There are also a variety of services and prices, not just resume writing,” she noted. “This is helpful for you budget, and evolving needs. Often times once you get a resume underway you start to realize that you’ll want other materials to be updated and aligned with your personal brand.”

For its most popular package, The Basic, you’ll have access to a single writer and unlimited revisions (which is a score compared to some other services on this list), strong and optimized words, unique formatting and a cover letter to increase your chances of landing an interview. However, Craft Resumes has other great packages worth exploring.

Best Resume Writing: Let’s Eat, Grandma Resume Service

• Consultation included with every package
• Executive Concierge Service that includes 10 days of unlimited revisions
• Quality writers and customer service, based off reviews
• No academic CVs or federal resumes

Humorous name aside, resume service Let’s Eat, Grandma has a laser focus on punctuation (as you can tell because nobody intends to write that they’d like to eat their grandmother on a professional document) — as well as resume formatting. What’s great about this platform, specifically, is its vast packages, ranging from drafting your resume to offering cover letters and networking services to help boost your career trajectory.

“Let’s Eat, Grandma hones in immediately on its ‘custom-tailored’ approach,” Conklin said. “While every resume review should be tailored to account for your story (as mentioned above), it’s clear this is a value of this service. Client outcomes are also front and center, where a mix of employers and schools are listed; this is notable if continuing education is a goal of yours.”

With four packages available, and FAQs on the homepage highlighting its range (i.e. academic, federal government and more), Conklin appreciates how it’s clear that this service is distinguishing itself from others, especially given the range of specialty materials they can help you create. 

What’s more, you’ll be assisted by a team of highly skilled writers who create targeted documents to help boost your chances of getting an interview. They’ll also speak to your unique strengths — and, therefore, amplify them on your resume — to tie your entire professional portfolio of experience together. They also have a package tailored for executives, making the platform a solid option for those needing executive resume writing services.

Which resume service is best?

The golden question, right? This depends mostly on your career goals. A range of services are available, and many are now even offered through LinkedIn. 

“When considering a resume service, it is important to consider the extent of guidance you are seeking,” Conklin, who has 15 years of experience in higher education — told The Post.

“Are you overhauling your resume? Are you transitioning industries and need to consider a different format or approach? What are your financial resources to pay for one, or should you explore services offered from your alma mater or current institution if you are a current or graduate of higher education?,” she questioned.

You’ll also want to consider the resume services’ reputation, Conklin suggested: Are there reviews or endorsements of a service, especially if you are paying for one? What is the background, and is the resume service aligned with your industry of interest? 

Is it worth paying for a resume service?

“It depends on the service and one’s circumstances as to whether it is ‘worth’ paying for the service,” Conklin said. “There are very reputable services out there, especially for more experienced career seekers. If you’re transitioning to a new field, or you are seeking to move to a senior or executive level, it could definitely be worth the cost.”

As a preliminary step, Conklin advised to really make sure you are an informed consumer when considering a resume service, and if you should pay or if you have a network or connections you can leverage for advice first. 

How much does it cost to have someone write your resume?

“When an individual pays for a resume service, there may be a flat rate, or it is calculated on an hourly rate and requires at least two sessions,” Conklin explained. “For example, it could cost $150 for a single session.”

However, there are resume services that can significantly exceed that rate and are part of a package that might include a quick return and other support, from LinkedIn to interview coaching, that is over $600, she highlights.

What to include on your resume, according to an expert

“Your story is the focus of your resume, and it is critical to be honest and reflect on how you want to tell that, ultimately,” Conklin noted. “The order also depends on the stage of your career (early, mid, senior, executive) and the industry you are seeking.”

In academia, for example, you’ll see a curriculum vitae (CV) that is pages long to reflect one’s research, publications, and roles held. In financial services, you would have a one-page resume until you have significant work experience. Or, in the creative fields, you may have a one-page resume and then an online portfolio or website that exhibits your work to complement your resume, she explains.

“No matter the field you are pursuing, you always want to make sure you list your experiences in reverse chronological order, you include your education/training, think of the keywords and skills (and make sure those are prominently displayed and included), and also think of what is most relevant,” she listed. “The most relevant should be at the top.”

It is also key to consider Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), automated review systems that scan resumes as part of an organization’s vetting process. “The format could align or cause issues with an ATS system,” Conklin added. “This is why it’s important to do your research, leverage any connections you have to gain insights into a field and their preferred format and get advice on keywords, skills and experiences to include.”

“If you do your homework, you should find clues to answer the questions above and guide your resume writing approach,” Conklin shared.

How we chose resume services

At Post Wanted, here’s what we keep in mind when researching and hand-selecting resume services:

• Customization : The best online resume services offer tailored resumes with personalized resume writing, in contrast to generic templates you can find for free.
• Consultation : Some services offer a one-on-one consultation with your writer so they can scope out your specific attributes, career highlights and other aspects to your curriculum vitae you want to spotlight.
• Comprehensive Packages : In addition to resumes, some services offer cover letters, LinkedIn profile optimization and career coaching. To some, this is worth the investment, though it may come with a higher price tag.
• ATS Optimization : A great benefit to online resume services is the focus on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), as human recruiters typically use this software use these screening systems before it lands in their hands.
• Turnaround Time : For some, there’s no time to be wasted when it comes to hunting for a new job. Looking at flexibility and speed is important; some services offer rush options for individuals who need a complete and optimized resume quickly.

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4 Science-Based Strategies for Creating Killer Arguments

To persuade with your writing, where you put information trumps what you say..

Posted August 8, 2024 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

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• Headings prime readers to see content as consistent with the heading—even when content differs from its focus.
• Transitions and common wording between sentences enhance readers' perceptions of arguments as cohesive.
• Overview sentences enable skim reading and enhance recall of important content.

Writers who need to persuade an audience usually think about logos, ethos, and pathos. Or about what they need to say. But, ironically, where you put information can trump what you say. Moreover, readers perceive articles, proposals, and even emails as more tightly organized and argued when you rely on these four strategies:

1. Introduce paragraphs with overview sentences.

Readers read faster and recall content more accurately when writers provide explicit overview sentences at the beginning of paragraphs. Moreover, these sentences also prime readers to recall content as consistent with the overview . Ultimately, this structure also enables readers to skim content more effectively, as skim readers spend more time looking at the first few sentences of paragraphs. These overview sentences also prime readers to see details in paragraphs as supporting your argument.

2. Summarize your purpose with a single sentence at the end of your first paragraph or introduction paragraphs.

Situated in a spot that benefits from recency effects on recall, purpose statements powerfully frame readers’ expectations of content. Because reading is cognitively demanding, these single sentences speed the third and most challenging stage of reading, inference processing. As we read, we first identify the meaning of words in lexical processing, then the structure of sentences as the second stage, syntactic processing, before we reach the third stage: determining the meaning both within and across sentences.

Furthermore, purpose or thesis sentences enable readers to make accurate inferences about the meaning of sentences in documents—even if some words in the paragraph are unfamiliar to them. Additionally, by framing the key proposition in a document, thesis or purpose sentences also guide readers to focus on details essential to that framework, while ignoring less relevant details. This strategy works particularly well for readers with limited time but seemingly unlimited documents to read, including doctors, lawyers, and researchers.

The thesis statement offers several further crucial benefits: This single sentence promotes faster and more accurate reading, while it also enhances readers’ perceptions of the document as coherent. Moreover, in the contentious history of scoring writing, the thesis plays an outsized role. In one study of 300 papers, scored with a 1 for ineffective writing and a 9 for highly effective writing, 94 percent of papers received between seven and nine different scores of their effectiveness. Perhaps more bizarrely, no paper received fewer than five different scores from 53 subject matter experts. In contrast, two judges achieved 100 percent agreement on 1,000 essays that included thesis sentences. Put simply, your thesis powerfully shapes readers’ focus and recall alike to align with your argument.

3. Harness the power of headings.

Titles, subheadings, and email subject lines powerfully frame readers’ comprehension of content at both the paragraph and document levels. Researchers discovered readers displayed better recall of content that featured headings than content that just offered overview sentences.

Furthermore, headings make document structure visible, even with functional headings that only demarcate sections of the text. Headings and subheadings generate more accurate comprehension. Strikingly, readers display improved recall for text preceded by headings—at the expense of their recall of text with no headings. Ultimately, readers perceive paragraph text that occurs after a heading or subheading as consistent with the heading—even when the header’s content is at odds with the paragraph.

4. Connect sentences with transitions or common wording.

Psycholinguists often distinguish between coherence at the paragraph and document levels and continuity, which typically ties sentences together. However, both aspects facilitate the inference processing phase of reading by enabling readers to understand the connections between sentences, helping them to grasp the concepts at work in the paragraph. In fact, when sentences are linked by transitions that clarify relationships between ideas, readers perceive the argument as more coherent—and persuasive .

Contrast These Two Examples of the Same Content

Readers respond powerfully to the priming effects that stem from headings, overview statements, and thesis sentences, all features that influence readers’ comprehension and powerfully shape recall. For example, readers are unlikely to read most of the content in the “Before” email, which reads like a data dump of every security protocol this small firm observes. Moreover, this email fails to make these protocols easy to skim or recall. As a result, few employees will read and recall—let alone follow—the security steps in the email, despite their importance, occasioned by a data breach. In contrast, the "After" email helps ensure readers read, recall, and comply with its directives.

Re: Protecting Client Information All employees must use noise-canceling headphones when discussing client matters at their desks. Conference rooms are available for sensitive conversations; book them in advance. Never leave client documents unattended on your desk. Lock your computer screen when stepping away, even for a moment. Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and change them monthly. Enable two-factor authentication on all work-related platforms. Encrypt sensitive emails and attachments before sending. Don't access work accounts on public Wi-Fi networks. Be cautious of phishing attempts; verify sender identities before opening attachments. Shred all physical documents containing client information when no longer needed. Report any potential security breaches immediately to IT. Do not discuss client matters in public spaces or on social media . Use secure file-sharing methods when collaborating with colleagues or clients. Regularly update your computer's antivirus software. Be mindful of your surroundings when taking work-related phone calls outside the office.

Re: Updated Client Confidentiality and Data Security Protocols—Effective Immediately Our business depends on our maintaining client confidentiality in every aspect of our work. To protect yourself, our clients, and our organization, practice these essential steps. 1. Guard against information leaks. Discuss confidential or sensitive topics in a private office or in a conference room. You should also avoid leaving client documents unattended on your desk and always lock your computer screen, even when momentarily stepping away. Ultimately, ensure you shred all physical documents with client information after completing a case. 2. Safeguard all logins. Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts, change them monthly, and always enable two-factor authentication on all work-related platforms. 3. Maintain digital security. Avoid accessing work accounts on public WiFi networks and always encrypt sensitive email and attachments. In addition, always verify sender identities before opening attachments to avoid both phishing and viruses. Moreover, ensure you activate automatic updates for your computer’s antivirus software. Finally, use only our secure network and file-sharing for collaborating with others on projects. 4. Be vigilant. Report any potential security breaches immediately to both IT and your manager. By following these practices, you can contribute to a secure work environment, fostering client trust and protecting our reputation.

Lisa Solomon. How to Write Effective Argument Headings. CaseText. February 1, 2017.

Yellowlees Douglas, Ph.D. , is a consultant on writing and organizations. She is also the author, with Maria B. Grant, MD, of The Biomedical Writer: What You Need to Succeed in Academic Medicine .

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