A Crafting Success: The Art of Resume Writing
As search consultants, we read hundreds of resumes- some great and some that need some work. So we decided to share our collective knowledge on how you can make a great resume that showcases your abilities and that recruiters are guaranteed to love.
Your resume is very often the first impression you make when applying for a job, and an improper resume may cost you opportunities even if you are the perfect fit.
While there are a number of things to keep in mind with a resume, let’s start with the basics. Take a look at this hypothetical resume below, how would you rate it?
Do you know how talent perceivees your brand? Audit it now.
Table of Contents
Here are a few issues with this particular CV-
- Readability: The font and the alignment make it quite difficult to read. While it may be a design choice, the person reviewing your resume could have a hard time. Stick to a professional font, and keep the layout of the document consistent and readable. Right-aligned text tends to be the clearest.
- Content: The content is generic. What does this resume tell you? John is a marketing manager with 5 years of experience, but there is no indication of his impact or strengths.
- Grammatical errors: Make sure to double-check your resume for grammatical errors! Make sure you spell check, and ensure that your document is in a consistent tense.
- Design: Having too many colours on your resume can draw attention away from what is important. Stick to subtle and professional colours to ensure that your resume is not too busy.
Below is an example of what an optimised CV should look like. The CV below is readable and gives us more context about who John is as a professional. The font and alignment are clear, and John’s skills, interests, and accomplishments are highlighted.
It reads much better, right? Your CV should provide a succinct yet detailed summary of who you are as a professional; it is meant to go beyond just listing what you do at your job.
Additionally, make sure to add the following:
Technology: Include information on the kinds of tools and platforms you are well versed in. When possible, illustrate your experience by pointing out how you used these tools in your previous roles.
Include relevant hobbies: Adding hobbies and passions to your resume can help humanise your application, but it’s essential to be selective about which you include. Choose activities that are relevant and can contribute positively to your professional image. Additionally, consider the company culture and industry norms when deciding what to include.
Keeping these general points in mind will help you build a great starting point for your CV.
How do I build a CV for a startup?
Crafting a CV targeted for startup companies necessitates a deliberate strategy that emphasises not only your skills and experiences but also your adaptability, passion, and entrepreneurial approach. Startups often place a strong emphasis on a passion for their mission and industry, valuing candidates who show genuine enthusiasm and alignment with the company’s vision. Here’s a complete guide to creating an interesting resume for startup roles:
- First and foremost, research the company: Do an in-depth search of the startup you are applying to before you begin writing your CV. Recognize their target market, mission, values, offerings, and any new information or developments. This will assist you in modifying your resume to fit the requirements and culture of the company. This information will also come in handy later on during the interview process.
- Make your resume unique to each startup you apply to by emphasizing experiences and talents that meet the requirements and values of the organization. When you have substantial experience in the field or position you’re seeking, a resume summary works best. Think of it as your ‘elevator pitch’ to potential employers—a succinct summary of your accomplishments, professional experience, and applicable talents.
- Highlight Startup Experience: If your previous positions involved startups or independently run businesses, consider listing them on your CV. This might demonstrate to potential employers that you have diversified job experience and are capable of excelling in that company structure. Having startup exposure at least once in your career can boost the opportunity, as startups tend to favour candidates who have experience in similar environments.
If you don’t have previous experience in a startup, an alternative would be highlighting projects where you worked as an individual contributor or examples where you had to be resourceful during a project. - Include a Cover Letter: Consider including a brief cover letter explaining why you’re interested in the startup and how your abilities and expertise qualify you for the position.
How do I know what specific keywords to add to my CV?
Here are some tips for conducting keyword research specifically for your CV:
- Review job postings for positions you’re interested in applying for. Look for keywords and phrases that are frequently mentioned in the job descriptions, particularly those related to skills, qualifications, and specific job requirements.
- Highlight the core competencies, skills, and qualifications that are most commonly sought after in your field. These are the keywords you’ll want to prioritize in your CV to align with the expectations of employers.
- Examine the LinkedIn profiles of professionals in your industry or role, particularly those who share similar responsibilities. Take note of the terms they utilize to characterize their abilities, backgrounds, and accomplishments.
- It is important to quantify your accomplishments using specific numbers, percentages, or metrics. This not only increases the credibility of your CV but also adds more keywords related to your accomplishments.
How often should I update my resume?
It’s a good idea to update your resume regularly, even if you’re not actively job hunting. Here’s a general guideline:
- Every 6-12 months: Take some time to review your resume and update it with any new skills, experiences, or achievements you’ve gained since the last update.
- After significant accomplishments: Whenever you achieve something noteworthy in your career, such as completing a major project, receiving an award, or taking on new responsibilities, it’s a good idea to update your resume to reflect these accomplishments.
- When changing jobs: Whenever you start a new job or take on a significant role within your current organization, make sure to update your resume with your new job title, responsibilities, and accomplishments.
- Before applying for a new job: Whenever you’re considering applying for a new job, take the time to tailor your resume to the specific requirements of the job posting. This might involve highlighting certain skills or experiences that are particularly relevant to the position.
A few more would be any new educational accomplishments, acquiring new skills or expertise through training, workshops, or self-study, or if your phone number, email address, or other contact information has changed, update it on your resume so that potential employers can easily reach you.
Are there any resume rules I can break?
Like most other rules, there are some exceptions:
- Keeping your resume to one page: You may have heard you need to keep your resume to one page, although as you become more experienced, this may be difficult. We suggest expanding on your most relevant experiences and adjusting the information to the position you’re applying for. Based on the importance of the position and how well it aligns with your present professional objectives, change the number of lines allotted to each job.
- Avoiding colour: Adding some colour to your resume can help your resume stand out, but there are some caveats. Firstly, stick to using 3 colours or less, as using more can affect where the reader’s attention is drawn. Make sure the pallet is cohesive and that colours are used to highlight important information, like section headings.
- Avoid Abbreviations: This advice is generally given to ensure your resume is clear and understandable, but if they are commonly used in your industry, feel free to use them.
- Keep it Chronological: If you are switching careers or fresh out of college with little to no experience, consider creating a functional resume. A functional resume emphasises your skills rather than your work experience. This is done by creating a skill summary, which is strengthened by data.
How do I create resumes for different kinds of roles?
Apart from tailoring the content of your resume to the role you are applying for, there are other ways to further customise your resume depending on the role-
- Be creative: If you have a creative role you can consider breaking away from a traditional resume format and making it more creative, although you must keep the industry and company culture in mind while doing so. Additionally, while it can be tempting to add a lot of design elements, it’s important to keep the design simple and have the main focus be your experience.
- Show your work– Consider linking your portfolio to provide a sample of your skills. If you are a designer link your Behance and if you are a tech person, link your GitHub.
Crafting a compelling resume is an art that requires attention to detail and a focus on presenting your skills and experiences in the best possible light. Your resume is not just a list of job duties; it’s a reflection of who you are as a professional and what you can bring to a potential employer. By ensuring readability, crafting tailored content, avoiding common pitfalls, and staying true to your unique story, you can create a resume that stands out and helps you land your dream job. Remember, your resume is your personal marketing tool—make it count!
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