What Is a Resume?
Resumes are a snapshot of your career, qualifications, and accomplishments used to apply for employment and quickly communicate your potential value to an employer. We’ll outline a resume’s key components and provide professional examples and tips on resume customization.
Understanding the Purpose of a Resume
Job application tool
A resume helps employers assess your suitability for their openings and an interview.
Marketing document
When job searching, you market a product (yourself) to potential buyers (employers). Your resume is a print ad designed to give them a glimpse of how you can help resolve their issues and generate interest in talking with you.
First impression
Your resume is your first interaction with an employer, so make it positive. How you present yourself on paper communicates how you’ll perform on the job. Ensure the content is error-free, skimmable, and uncluttered. The different types of resumes featured here will help you accomplish this.
Key Components of a Resume
Contact information
At the top of your resume, list your name, phone number, email, city, state, and a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Example:
Your Name
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation Zip Code
LinkedIn
Summary or objective
Objectives and summaries are not the same. A summary section (aka profile) is where you highlight the most prominent reasons you’re a match for the position at hand. It consists of three to four sentences. Tailor it to each job you apply for.
By contrast, an objective reflects your goal for the resume, such as “to attain a position in operations management.” It doesn’t tell the employer anything about your value and wastes valuable resume space. Since the job search is all about showing an employer how you can help meet their needs, it is better to begin selling yourself immediately with a summary.
Summary example
Senior operations leader skilled at paring back costs, streamlining processes, and driving strategic growth in competitive markets. Strategic planner focused on finding new ways to recruit, train, and motivate successful staff members. Recent highlights include creating employee resources that helped raise new hire retention by 15%.
Objective example
Senior operations leader seeking executive-level position
Tips for writing your summary
Tailor it to the organization's needs. Read the job posting description carefully and make notes. Where do your background and skills match the employer’s desires? What do you do particularly well? Incorporate those items into your summary. Detail and prove your claims in the resume content.
Write from the third-person perspective. Avoid using personal pronouns (“I” and “my”) or complete sentences.
Work experience
List your experience in reverse chronological order, from most recent to least recent. Limit the listings to the past 10 to 15 years.
Take a strategic approach with the words you use. Use action verbs to communicate your duties and accomplishments instead of simply listing your responsibilities. These verbs show how you executed your tasks. Avoid using first-person language (e.g. “I was responsible for…”)
Show the scope of your job (people, money, projects managed) and achievements. Detail your contributions and quantify results when possible, using numbers and percentages. These include increases in customer satisfaction, sales, or efficiencies.
Education
List your educational achievements from most recent to least recent. If you’re a new graduate, include relevant coursework, honors, and awards. It can also be helpful to show relevant and recent continuing education courses.
Skills
Highlighting your applicable skills is crucial, as many employers will use keywords to find you in their applicant tracking system (ATS).
Additional sections
Other potentially valuable sections include certifications, volunteer work, foreign language proficiencies, and professional association memberships connected to your field.
Different Types of Resumes
Chronological resume
A chronological resume presents your job history, starting with your current position and working backward. It is experience-focused and demonstrates career growth and professional accomplishments. You should use this format if you’ve had a consistent work history.
Functional resume
A functional resume is a skills-based resume. It groups your crucial skill sets and allows you to elaborate on how you applied those skills in various work settings. This type of resume can be helpful for people with nontraditional work histories, who want to change careers, have had significant gaps in employment, or have limited experience.
Combination resume
A combination resume format has elements of both a chronological and a functional resume. It brings the skills section to the forefront and includes a condensed professional experience section. Use it when you want to emphasize skills and then list job history. It can be helpful if you are a recent graduate without a long work history or have had many jobs and want to condense your experience.
Targeted resume
A targeted resume format is a resume tailored for a specific job. It includes the same sections as a regular resume template, but the content is customized to the job opening. Always tweak your resume to show the match between the specific skills and qualifications outlined in the job posting and your background. This will improve your chances of getting an interview.
Tips for Writing an Effective Resume
Customization
Always tailor your chosen template to your job of interest. Read the posting for keywords and qualifications desired by the employer and adjust the location of sections, profile content, and skills listed to maximize your selling points. Your most relevant categories should be listed early in the document to make them easy to see.
Keywords
Most employers will store applicant resumes using ATS and search the database using keywords to find potential candidates. Position yourself to be “found” by listing important skill sets for your field. For instance, if you work in data analytics, show your proficiency with data visualization software.
Find the right keywords to use by reading the job posting. Use AI to search for relevant skills and jargon common to the job and specific industry.
Achievements over duties
Listing responsibilities for each experience is not enough to make you stand out. Potential employers want to know how you’ve positively impacted each organization 一 i.e. improving customer satisfaction, sales, and operations or decreasing costs and waste. If you’ve been promoted or assumed an informal leadership role, mention that.
Formatting and design
The appearance of your resume is just as essential as its content. An uncluttered, easy-to-read document contributes to a positive image. Use a professional template to ensure an organized look.
Proofreading and editing
The quality and presentation of your resume speak volumes about your professionalism. Proofread carefully for typos, grammatical mistakes, and punctuation errors. Next, use the Editor or Spelling / Grammar functions on your word processing software. Lastly, ask detail-oriented friends and colleagues for feedback.
Examples of Effective Resumes
Entry-level resume example
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
New York, NY 12345
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Ambitious, recent multi-disciplinary college graduate with degrees in business administration and computer science. Proven performer with experience as a junior software developer at Microsoft, with success in significantly lowering software bugs by 25%, and as a business administration intern at Johnson & Johnson, focused on lowering operational costs by 10%. Dedicated to continuous learning, networking, and professional development.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration, June 2022
Columbia University, New York, NY
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science, May 2020
University of Syracuse, Syracuse, NY
Certifications
- Certified Governance of Enterprise Information Technology (CGEIT), Information Systems Audit and Control Association, 2021
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2023
Key Skills
- Complex problem-solving
- Information systems
- Operational strategy
- Project management
- Software development, maintenance, and troubleshooting
- Technology auditing
Professional Experience
Junior Software Developer, Amazon, New York, NY
June 2021 – present
- Contributes to software development, maintenance, and troubleshooting tasks on client software applications
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary team to design user-friendly interfaces by applying the latest web development strategies
- Reduced bugs in software by 25% within the first few months of joining the team, resulting in a more seamless UX and improving customer satisfaction ratings by 32%
Business Administration Intern, Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, NJ
June 2019 – May 2020
- Assisted team leads in preparing quarterly business performance reviews and updating company databases, improving operational efficiency by 15%
- Actively participated in the corporate decision-making process, suggesting cost reduction strategies that helped save the company 10% in operational costs during nine months
- Managed scheduling for team meetings and events, improving interdepartmental communications
Mid-career professional resume example
Stephanie Adams
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Profile
A results-driven professional with significant experience in strategic planning, team management, and stakeholder engagement. Known for optimization of business plans and financial analysis demonstrated in past roles. Holder of multiple professional certifications including PMP, CBAP, and CMC, complementing a master’s degree in finance.
Key Skills
- Business strategy development
- Financial analysis
- Market research
- Project management
- Training
Professional Experience
Business Strategy Manager, PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, PA
March 2022 – present
- Develop strategic plans to expand the business portfolio which resulted in a 15% increase in annual revenue
- Supervise and provide training to a team of five business analysts, fostering a productive work environment
- Successfully managed relationships with key stakeholders leading to 50% increased customer satisfaction over 12 months
Senior Financial Analyst, Excel Financial, Philadelphia, PA
July 2019 – December 2021
- Conducted comprehensive financial analysis that guided the mergers and acquisitions team, resulting in a successful $50 million acquisition
- Collaborated in the project management of an organizational restructuring effort that reduced operating expenses by 10%
- Led market research initiatives that identified new potential markets for growth
Education
Master of Science in Finance
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA | 2021
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA | 2019
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2023
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2022
- Certified Management Consultant (CMC), Institute of Management Consultants USA), 2021
Senior-level executive resume example
Brian Chavez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
LinkedIn | Portfolio
City, State Abbreviation zip code
Profile
A strategic and result-oriented senior strategy consultant with extensive experience in key decision-making, leadership, team management, and stakeholder management for leading firms such as McKinsey & Company. Armed with an MBA, career highlights include driving growth, optimizing stakeholder relationships, and boosting productivity. Credentials as a PMP, CBAP, and SPHR holder display proficiency in financial management, market analysis, and strategic planning.
Key Skills
- Financial management
- Leadership and team management
- Market analysis
- Stakeholder relations
- Strategic planning
Professional Experience
Senior Strategy Consultant, McKinsey & Company, Boston, MA
January 2021 – present
- Drove the strategic planning process for key clients leading to an annual revenue increase of 20%
- Managed a diverse team of 10 consultants, fostering a positive work culture and encouraging professional growth, boosting team productivity by 30%
- Built and nurtured key stakeholder relationships, identifying areas for partnership and collaboration, resulting in improved service delivery
Business Analyst, Boston Financial Management, Boston, MA
December 2017 – December 2020
- Created detailed financial models and forecasts, informing decision-making processes that increased profitability by 15%
- Conducted comprehensive market analysis that identified emerging trends and informed strategic business initiatives
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align departmental objectives with the company’s broader business goals
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Boston College, Boston, MA | 2018
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Merrimack College, North Andover, MA | 2016
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, 2022
- Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP), International Institute of Business Analysis, 2021
Career change resume example
Alexis Kelly
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
City, State Abbreviation zip code
LinkedIn | Portfolio
Profile
Versatile project manager with a solid background in digital marketing. Leader who prioritizes collaboration with the local community. Known for managing substantial budgets and diverse teams to meet goals within the health care industry.
Key Skills
- Collaboration
- Budgeting
- Digital marketing
- Project management
- Team leadership
- Training and development
Professional Experience
Stay-at-Home Mom, Self-Employed, Durango, CO
April 2018 – present
- Provide early education support to three children from ages 5 through 10 years old
- Manage a monthly household budget of $4,000 for a five-person family
- Volunteered with school PTA, coordinating with teachers and communicating on behalf of parents to find solutions to issues and organize fundraisers
- Launched an online local parenting group that has grown to over 250 members from across the county
- Partnered with 12 local businesses to sponsor various parenting group events
Project Manager, Denver Health, Denver, CO
January 2014 – April 2018
- Developed comprehensive plans for 10 major projects to execute and guide operations
- Directed the deployment of a $500,000 electronic health record (EHR) system upgrade
- Led an interdisciplinary team of 12 medical providers to improve data processing times by 30% with the implementation of the new EHR system
- Upheld strict compliance with all federal and state health care regulations
- Conducted 10 training sessions each year to keep staff competency up-to-speed on the latest health care technologies adopted by the organization
Marketing Associate, PharmaCare Innovations, San Diego, CA
April 2011 – December 2013
- Collaborated with sales and product management team to align on marketing strategies
- Managed an annual marketing budget of $300,000, allocating funds to optimize audience reach and engagement
- Conducted a successful email marketing campaign for a new probiotic supplement, resulting in a 35% open rate and 15% click-through rate
- Designed marketing materials such as brochures, flyers, and e-books to educate customers on pharmaceutical product lines
- Increased web traffic by 40% through targeted social media marketing campaigns
Education
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Marketing, June 2017
University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Certifications
- Certified Associate in Project Management, Project Management Institute, 2016
- HubSpot Content Marketing Certification, HubSpot, 2010
Resources for Further Assistance
- How To List Volunteer Work Experience on a Resume
- How To Use Bullet Points on a Resume Effectively and How Many
- How To Write Your First Job Resume
Frequently Asked Questions About Resumes
It’s a personal letter introducing yourself and the reason for sending your resume. The letter should briefly highlight why you’re a good candidate for the position and make the recipient want to read the details on your resume.
Research has shown that employers typically view a resume for 15 seconds before deciding whether a candidate is suitable for their job.
Your age and a photograph of yourself, as these items may invite some form of discrimination. Also, references — their names and contact information should be in a separate document.
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