I know, there are SO many articles/blogs/videos out there telling you what you should and shouldn’t have on your resume. Many of those are personal opinions or preferences, or they’re outdated, or they’re too “millennial” for some. At JSG, we’ve found that sticking with the basics contributes the most success when submitting your resume to potential employers. Trust me, if you live by these 4 things when crafting your resume, you simply cannot go wrong.
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Relevant Information
Most experts recommend that you keep your resume on one page, which limits the amount of space to tell your story!
Due to the limited space, only display relevant information to your skill set and the specific job you apply to. If you have to pick and choose what to include, always prioritize relevancy over recency.
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Quantifiable Numbers
However, you can quantify your achievements – do it. Numbers give the readers leverage to better understand and benchmarks your accomplishments. It also makes it easier to skim – numbers stand out quickly!
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Proper Formatting & Grammar
Formatting resumes can be such a pain, but it is SO important. Keep it consistent. Make sure that your fonts, styles, rows, and bullet points all match and line up properly. (Microsoft offers some great templates that can help make this super easy!) And of course, correct grammar is essential to be perceived as a professional. (If you haven’t tried Grammarly yet, now is a perfect time!)
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Contact Information
This seems like a no-brainer, but including concise contact information is often overlooked. Your name, phone number, and email should be all you need to leave a lasting impression and encourage a follow-up.
Moving forward in the job search, ensure your resume has these four essentials! If you want to expand on these basics, check out another one of our resume building blogs!
