10 Best Practices for a Kickass Resume in 2024

“Your resume is not just a piece of paper; it’s a marketing document that sells your skills and experience.”

In today’s competitive job market, it’s more important than ever to have a resume that stands out from the crowd. A well-written resume can help you get noticed by recruiters and land the job you want. Here are 10 best practices to help you create a resume that will get you noticed in 2024:

Choose the Right Resume Template

The first step in creating a great resume is to choose the right template. There are many different resume templates available online, so take some time to browse and find one that suits your style and needs. Consider factors such as the industry you’re applying to, the level of experience you have, and the type of job you’re seeking. A professional resume builder like ResumeGemini offers a wide range of templates to choose from, so you can find the perfect one to showcase your skills and experience.

Tailor Your Resume to Each Job

Don’t make the mistake of sending the same resume to every job you apply for. Take the time to tailor your resume to each individual job description. Highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position you’re applying for, and use keywords from the job description in your resume.

Use Strong Action Verbs

When describing your work experience, use strong action verbs that convey your skills and accomplishments. Avoid using passive language or generic terms. For example, instead of saying “I was responsible for managing a team of sales representatives,” say “I managed a team of sales representatives and increased sales by 20%.”

Quantify Your Accomplishments

Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments to give recruiters a concrete sense of your impact. For example, instead of saying “I managed a team of customer service representatives,” say “I managed a team of customer service representatives and reduced customer complaints by 15%.”

Proofread Carefully

Before you submit your resume, proofread it carefully for any errors. Check for typos, grammar mistakes, and formatting issues. A sloppy resume will make a bad impression on recruiters, so take the time to make sure your resume is error-free.

Get Feedback from Others

Once you’ve written your resume, ask a friend, family member, or career counselor to review it. They can provide you with valuable feedback on the content, style, and formatting of your resume.

Use a Professional Font

When choosing a font for your resume, opt for a professional font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts, as they can be difficult to read and may not be appropriate for all industries.

Keep it Concise

Recruiters are busy people, so they don’t have time to read long resumes. Keep your resume concise and to the point, focusing on your most relevant skills and experience. A good rule of thumb is to keep your resume to one page if you have less than five years of experience, and two pages if you have more than five years of experience.

Highlight Your Skills and Experience

Make sure to highlight your skills and experience in a clear and concise way. Use bullet points to list your skills, and provide specific examples of how you’ve used your skills to achieve results. For example, you could say “Managed a team of customer service representatives and reduced customer complaints by 15%” or “Developed and implemented a marketing campaign that increased sales by 20%.”

Match the Keywords to the Job Description

When you’re writing your resume, be sure to match the keywords in the job description. This will help your resume get noticed by recruiters and make it more likely that you’ll be called for an interview. To find the keywords, read the job description carefully and identify the skills and experience that the employer is looking for. Then, make sure to include those keywords in your resume.

By following these best practices, you can create a resume that will get you noticed in 2024. So what are you waiting for? Start updating your resume today!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the most important things to include on a resume?

Your resume should include the following:

Contact information: Your name, address, phone number, and email address.
Summary: A brief overview of your skills, experience, and career goals.
Work experience: A list of your previous jobs, including your job title, company name, dates of employment, and a description of your responsibilities.
Education: A list of your educational qualifications, including the name of your school, your degree, and your graduation date.
Skills: A list of your skills, both hard and soft.
Awards and honors: A list of any awards or honors you have received.

How long should a resume be?

Your resume should be one page long for most entry-level positions or if you have less than 10 years of relevant experience. If you have a lot of experience, you may need a two-page resume, but be mindful that recruiters and Hiring managers spend an average of 7 to 10 seconds on each resume. Consider using an executive summary towards the top of your resume to highlight your most critical experiences and qualifications.

What is the best font to use on a resume?

You should use a professional font that is easy to read, such as Arial, Calibri, Cambria, Georgia, or Times New Roman. Avoid using fancy or decorative fonts. The font size should be 11 or 12 points.

Should I include a photo on my resume?

Including a photo on your resume is generally not required. In fact, in some countries, it is considered unprofessional. However, if you are in a creative field, such as design or acting, or if you are applying for a job in a country where it is customary to include a photo on your resume, then you may want to include one.

What are some common mistakes to avoid on a resume?

Some common mistakes to avoid on a resume include:

Typos and grammatical errors: Make sure to proofread your resume carefully before submitting it.
Vague or generic language: Use specific and quantifiable examples to describe your skills and experience.
Too much information: Keep your resume concise and to the point. Only include the most relevant information.
Unprofessional design: Use a professional resume template and avoid using excessive colors or graphics.

How can I make my resume stand out?

There are a few things you can do to make your resume stand out:

Use keywords from the job description: This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATSs).
Quantify your accomplishments: Use numbers to show the impact of your work.
Highlight your unique skills and experience: What sets you apart from other candidates?
Use a professional resume template: A well-designed resume template will make your resume look more polished and professional.
Get feedback from others: Ask a friend, family member, or career counselor to review your resume and provide feedback.

What is the best way to tailor my resume to a specific job?

To tailor your resume to a specific job, you need to:

Read the job description carefully: Identify the key requirements of the job and highlight the skills and experience that you have that match those requirements.
Use keywords from the job description: This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATSs).
Quantify your accomplishments: Use numbers to show the impact of your work.
Highlight your relevant skills and experience: Only include the skills and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
Customize your resume for each job you apply for: Don’t just send out the same resume for every job you apply for. Take the time to tailor your resume to each specific job.

How can I highlight my skills and experience on my resume?

To highlight your skills and experience on your resume, you should:

Use action verbs: Start your bullet points with action verbs that describe your accomplishments. For example, instead of “Managed a team of 10 engineers,” write “Led a team of 10 engineers to develop and launch a new product.”
Quantify your accomplishments: Use numbers to show the impact of your work. For example, instead of “Increased sales by 15%,” write “Increased sales by 15%, resulting in an additional $1 million in revenue.”
Use keywords from the job description: This will help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATSs).
Highlight your relevant skills and experience: Only include the skills and experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Next Step:

Now that you know the best practices for writing a kickass resume, it’s time to put them into action! Head over to ResumeGemini to create a resume that will get you noticed and land you the job you want.

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