At Red Kite, our mission is for students to be able to afford college, but we’re also here to help prepare you for your dream career, too. When you sit across that desk from someone that might potentially be your new boss (or you see your Zoom interview pop up), a superstar resume can be the key that unlocks your ideal future!
Luckily, ya girl Jane is back with a few expert tips on how to craft a strong, professional resume – or even just refine your existing one. We’re looking to demonstrate your skills, experience and potential in a clear and compelling way.
Fun fact: my dad used to print his resume on a sheet of off-white (beige) paper, so it would stand out among the pile of resumes on an employer’s desk. Little details like that can help you not only stand out, but impress with your outside-the-box thinking skills!
The first and most important thing to keep in mind while writing your resume is…
1. Tailor Your Resume to the Job
Not all jobs are one-size-fits-all. In fact, some jobs may have very specific requirements for their applicants’ resume, so be sure to double-check what is expected of you.
And even if your resume requirement is open-ended, you should approach each submission with targeted strategies. Customize your resume for each position by highlighting the most relevant skills and experience.
Think of the job description as a guide to align your qualifications with what your potential employer is looking for. Built-in cheat code!
2. Use a Clear and Professional Format
I totally get the urge to want to spice things up with a little graphic design slay. But this is a resume, not an art project! Besides, finding the sweet spot between “unique” and “professional” can be an art form in itself.
Keeping your resume clean and organized is the first step. From there, you can play around with different combinations of professional fonts, bullet points, and sections that help keep the flow. You’ll want to use a simple layout with clear section headings and enough white space to make scanning easy for recruiters.
But don’t just stick to the ole “Times New Roman”! Do something a little different, so that you can stand out. The trick is not being too over-to-the-top, to the point where your resume looks more like a wedding invitation than a professional application.
Also, be sure to save your resume as a PDF, unless instructed otherwise. There’s nothing worse than losing all that beautiful formatting!
3. Start with a Strong Summary
A brief summary at the top of your resume should highlight everything that’s about to come. That way, employers get a quick snapshot of what you’re bringing to the table, without having to read through the entire resume first.
This summary should be very brief – one or two sentences, at most. After that, you’ll move on to a summative list of your key skills, experience, and career goals:
4. Highlight Your Key Skills
Include a dedicated skills section to showcase your most relevant abilities. Use keywords from the job description to help your resume get past applicant tracking systems (ATS).
And for my Kitelings that speak more than one language, this is the perfect section to mention that you’re multilingual!
5. Showcase Your Achievements
Rather than just listing your duties at past jobs, focus on your accomplishments. This is your time to really sell the idea of yourself!
Structure your work experience to reflect career growth and increasing responsibility over time. Action words are eye-grabbing, so start bullet points with strong action verbs like “developed,” “led,” “implemented,” and “achieved” to make your contributions sound more impactful.
6. Keep It Concise
Your resume should be no longer than one or two pages. Don’t get me wrong – I care that your dog won first place in that local frisbee competition. I really do. But for your resume, you’ll want to prioritize your most important and recent experiences, which means removing outdated or irrelevant information.
And unless you’re applying for a highly technical role, you’ll want to balance technical terms with clear descriptions that any recruiter can understand. No word salad!
7. Be Honest
I know, I know… the temptation to exaggerate your resume can be super powerful, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience. But trust me, honesty is always the best policy!
You may remember that in my own college essay, I lowkey overshared about my life in order to make a compelling argument for my case: me! The same principle applies here.
So… never lie about (or even exaggerate!) your experience or qualifications. Besides, employers can verify information, and dishonesty can cost you the job entirely.
8. Use Numbers and Data Where Possible
Quantify your accomplishments with statistics, percentages, and specific numbers to demonstrate your impact. For example: “Increased sales by 20%” or “Managed a team of 10.”
If applicable, you can also add links to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or personal website to provide more context about your work and skills. You can use tinyurl.com to shorten any larger links, but if you’re submitting an electronic copy of your resume, it’s possible for employers to simply click on your hyperlinks.
9. Keep It Updated
This is the hardest part! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down to update my resume and been like, “wait… what did I do this past year?”
It can be difficult to keep track of your accomplishments and evolution. That’s why you should always regularly update your resume with new skills, achievements, and experiences to reflect your most current qualifications.
And of course, you’ll want to keep your contact information updated, too. Make sure that your phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile are current so employers can easily reach you.
On a serious note, y’all, ceating an effective resume is the key that can open doors to new opportunities. You can keep these tips while crafting a document that helps you stand out in the job market.
A well-crafted resume is the foundation of your job search, giving employers a clear picture of what you’re bringing to the table. All it takes is a little TLC on your resume to significantly improve your chances of landing your ideal role!
Red Kite know how important it is to present yourself in the best light. Whether you’re new to the job market or looking to advance your career, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Be sure to check out our Career Center to get matched to your dream job today!
Visit www.myredkite.com for more career tips, resume-building resources, and expert advice to help you soar to new professional heights!