It can be a challenge for job seekers to know what to put on their resume, regardless of how many years they’ve been applying for jobs.
This difficulty occurs for several reasons. For starters, many employers prioritize different information over others. Some want to know more about your job experience in similar roles. In contrast, others want to know about your applicable skills, including that you’re computer literate enough to know how to convert PDF to Word and avoid accidentally “replying all” to emails.
Each time you sit down to apply for a new job, you will have to look at your resume and update it to reflect the requirements of the new job you’re applying for. That being said, some information should always be on your resumes, such as your contact information and other staples.
The following guide highlights eight essential elements that every resume should have. Use it to help tailor your job experience directly to the job and the business you are applying for to help you land your dream job.
Contact information
A well-written resume should have the following contact information on it:
- First and last name
- Current job title
- Email address
- Home or cell phone number (with country code for jobs outside of your country)
Shoot for providing this information in this order. Additionally, always add your contact information at the top of your resume for easy access. Recruiters don’t want to spend time searching for who you are and how to get a hold of you.
Your job title should apply to or be the same as the title you’re applying for to help your resume stand out and be reviewed.
It is also crucial to note that all of your contact information should look and sound professional. This image means using a professional email address. If you don’t already have an email address that is your first and last name only, you may want to make a new one for job applications.
If you have extra space in the contact portion of your resume, you could also include links to a professional portfolio, a personal website, or relevant social media profiles like LinkedIn.
Skills and certifications
When writing a resume, it is necessary to include your industry-specific skills. For example, a person applying for a customer service position may have various hard and soft skills such as organizational skills, project management, problem-solving, effective written and verbal communication, and knowledge of applicable software or computer programs like Microsoft Word.
While industry-specific skills are best, you should also include entries demonstrating your computer literacy. Even small skills can demonstrate to employers that you know what you’re doing regarding technology.
The best way to make sure your resume lands, particularly if the company is large, is to compare your resume’s skill section to the posted job description. Mention the skills the employer is looking for by name in your resume.
Resume objective or summary
After your name and contact information, you will want to include a resume objective or summary. This section is a two to three-sentence brief explaining who you are, why you are qualified for the position in question, and how this position will help you achieve your goals.
This brief description is a great way to highlight for recruiters what you know and the level of experience you would bring to the job. If you are a student or recent grad, consider adding a resume objective indicating your student status and what you hope to gain from the role.
Education
It’s always a good idea to include information about your degrees, certificates, or any other relevant education that helped prepare you for the job you’re applying for. For example, you should include:
- Name and location of your school(s)
- Name of the degree/certificate earned
- The year you graduated
Optionally, if you obtained a GPA of 3.4 or higher, you can include that information. You could also add any special honors you earned during school and list out specific courses, professional societies, or notable achievements you obtained.
Job history
The bulk of your resume should include a description of your previous employment history and the type of work you did. Here you should mention the jobs that are most relevant to the job you are applying for. Go back as far as five to ten years to paint a clear picture of who you are and what you are capable of.
This section is also a place to indicate how your work specifically helped the company or business thrive. To boost your credibility, use specific metrics and talk about the relevant skills and technologies used in that position.
Keep the items listed under each listed job in a bulleted list, and be sure to mention the name of the company, your job title there, and the dates you worked at that company.
Volunteer experience
Including any relevant volunteer experience or other community involvement on your resume is a great way to tell an employer more about your interests, especially if you are a student or recent grad.
Be sure to list the location, dates you volunteered, and the type of work you did.
Hobbies and interests
Another way to showcase more about you as a person is to include a brief interests section. These interests or listed hobbies should be relevant to the job you’re applying for, but they help show a more human side to you.
Professional memberships
If you belong to any special clubs or are a part of a relevant professional membership, listing this information on your resume is excellent. It helps employers know you are serious about the industry and want to improve yourself by participating.
Wrap up
Crafting a successful resume may feel like an overwhelming challenge, but it needn’t be impossible. You now know the appropriate information to include on your resume that showcases everything from your contact information to your relevant skills and interests. Good luck, and don’t forget to thank your interviewers.
