9 tips to build a boss resume
You’ve probably heard how important it is to have a good resume. A well-written resume can make your application stand out and land you your dream job. There are three important elements to a good resume: content, organization and design. Here are tips within each of those elements to have a boss resume. As a bonus, check out SheMade’s proven resume and cover letter template that will help you find your next job.
Content
Master resume
Start a document and write down all of your professional experiences. Make a list of your jobs (yes, even your summer jobs), internships, awards, certifications, etc. Even if you think it's not important, write it down. You will probably have many different versions of resumes for different positions you apply to, so it’s nice to have a master resume with all of your experiences that you can pull from. You might forget later everything you’ve done.
Action words
Each experience should have 2-4 bullet points. These bullet points should be full sentences that use an action word. Action words are things like: managed, led, collaborated, strategized, etc. SheMade’s Resume Template includes a list of over 500 action words.
For past experiences, be sure to keep the action words in past tense. If you’re talking about a job or experience you currently have, use present tense.
Numbers
Use numbers to back up your results and achievements. Did you lead a team? How many people were on it? Did you sell a product? How many did you sell? Did you grow a social media account? By how much? Be as specific as possible.
Organization
Subsections
People often put all of their work experiences under one big section unironically titled “Work experience.” Instead, break it up into specific skills within your industry. For example: leadership experience, marketing experience, coding experience, etc. If someone was just skimming your resume, they would already see that you have a diverse array of experiences and that you have multiple qualifications.
Other subsections you can add are a short bio, education, skills and achievements. These will vary depending on the job you are applying to. Not everyone needs all of them.
Reverse chronological order
Be sure to arrange your experiences (under each subsection) in reverse chronological order, or most recent first. This is the standard format for resumes and allows hiring managers to pay attention to your most recent experiences.
Resume length
Your resume that you submit to an application or send to someone should only be one or two pages long. They should be full pages, so if the second one is only half a page, add more to it or cut it down to a page. You should only have the most relevant experiences for the specific position you’re applying to. Leave out the filler content.
Design
Font
The font you use on your resume should be clear and easy to read. Fonts like Times New Roman, Arial and Helvetica work well. Do not use more than two different fonts to keep consistency and readability.
Be sure that the spacing and bullet points are consistent throughout the entire resume. All the bullet points should either end with a period or not, but be consistent.
Colors
It’s OK to have color in your resume if you want, but be careful. If you are applying to a more traditional and old-school workplace, it might be wise to avoid color altogether.
If you decide to add color to your resume, it should be subtle, professional and not distracting. Making your headers blue, for example, could work well. Make sure your resume is readable if it is printed in black and white.
Submitting your resume
When submitting your resume, whether you are emailing it or submitting it through an online portal, make sure to submit it as a PDF. Word documents and other formats often get corrupted or the organization gets messed up. Submitting your resume as a PDF ensures that it looks exactly how you intend when it arrives to the hiring manager.
BONUS
Check out SheMade’s Resume and Cover Letter Template. More than a template, it comes with action words and example statements as well as a proven design that is completely editable. The cover letter comes with a template and guides for what to write in each paragraph. Benefit from the additional tips and tricks for resumes and cover letters.
Header photo by ANTONI SHKRABA production
