Introduction
A resume is like a ride in the professional world that takes you to your desired organizations. Your entrance into this world begins with resume writing, which leads you towards many opportunities. An attractive resume can drive you to your opportunities faster because it tells so much about your professional status in a clear and concise way. On the other hand, the ordinary one can be extremely slow, keeping you waiting in the middle of the way. The reason is that every resume should be created as per the industry.
Moreover, crafting a compelling resume always requires time and concentration. Most individuals prefer shortcut ways to make a resume to save time and energy quickly. However, what they need to realize is that this one-time investment in time and energy can be worth it for the rest of their professional life. The good resume writers always follow the standard resume writing process to craft a groundbreaking industry-specific resume, without thinking about their time.
If you design your resume following a step-by-step procedure and the industry-related keywords, it will turn out to open many doors of opportunities to your surprise. There are certain steps to follow while crafting a captivating resume according to industry standards that can compel your employers, and they will not resist calling you for an interview:
How to Structure and Design Your Resume According to Industry Standards
1. Opt Out A Suitable Resume Format: Chronological or Functional
A resume has different formats that you choose according to your career. Since the employer’s first glance notices your resume’s overall look, you must select a format to enter your data accordingly in an impressive way. There are three types of formats that you can choose according to your desired company and job description.
- Functional Resume Format: This type of resume format can be used before starting your career, as your skills are more emphasized than your work experience.
- Reverse Chronological Resume Format: This type of format is most commonly used. In a reverse chronological resume, your work experience is highlighted more than your skills, and your most recent experience is at the top.
- Combination Resume Format: A combination resume format focuses on both your skillset and experience, and this type of resume is an ideal choice if you have vast experience and an extraordinary skillset.
2. Write Your Contact Information
After choosing the right format, the first thing you need to add to your resume is your contact information so that the employers can quickly notice that in the beginning. Clearly mention your name, email address, and contact number, as these three are the main contact details that your employer needs to connect with you. You can further add your LinkedIn profile link, as it also reflects your professional journey. You can put all your contact details on the header so it quickly catches the hiring team’s eyes.
3. Make An Impressive Summary or Objective Statement
The employers spend a maximum of two or three minutes to skim your resume. Therefore, there should be a statement that gives them an idea about your aspirations and professional journey at the first glimpse. So, craft a creative headline that introduces you as a professional. This introduction should briefly tell about your overall experience, like how many years you have worked, your skills, and aspirations, in not more than two or three sentences. The more concise and straightforward it is, the more it will look creative.
4. Mention Your Work Experience
Here comes one of the most significant parts of your resume if you choose a chronological or combination format. In this section, the job title or position under which comes the organization’s name and its details, including a brief introduction and the city in which it is located. Also, mention the period of your employment in that specific company as MM/YYY. Afterward, add the bullet points of your accomplishments and the skills you learned during the employment journey.
5. Emphasise Your Educational Background
Your educational background has an essential role in your professional life, so it must be mentioned in your resume. Make a separate section for education and mention your program or degree name, for instance, BA or MA. Also, mention the university name from which you graduated or will graduate, and write the number of years you attended it. If you have an incredible CGPA, like above 3.5, you can mention that as well to give an astounding impression, otherwise do not mention if it is below 3.5.
Furthermore, you can add your academic achievements, certifications, or the kinds of phenomenal tasks you have done during your bachelor's or master's degree. You can make your education section the first one if you do not have any work experience yet.
6. Highlight Skillset
Your skillsets are one of those sections that catch an employer's gaze while skimming your resume, as they are the most demanded in a workplace. Add all your skills in bullet points, keeping soft and hard skills separated. Your hard skills are the measurable skills mostly linked to your degree or gained through hands-on, for instance, coding, copywriting, and marketing.
On the contrary, soft skills are those that you learn on your own through your experiences, like time management, communication, and creativity. You can mention as many skills as you have on your resume to make it astonishing.
7. Add Some Other Useful Details
Once you are done with the three major sections of experience, education, and skillset, make a couple of sections about your other accomplishments. These sections serve as a cherry on top of your resume, as they tell more about your remarkable qualities. These sections include certifications, interests, hobbies, and languages. These particular aspects will help enhance your resume and leave a lasting impression on your recruiters.
8. Design Your Resume Following Each Job Application
Always prioritize reading the job descriptions thoroughly and searching companies' profiles on LinkedIn and Google before applying for a job. It gives you an idea of what your employers would want to see in your resume. Use industry-specific keywords and highlight those of your skills and experiences that the job requires.
This way, the employer's sight will quickly catch these skills and it will elevate the chances of getting an interview call. The best thing about the current digital era is that you can also order online resume writing services for the completion of a brilliant industry and job-specific resume.
9. Maintain Formatting
Make sure to keep your resume aligned and well-maintained. Use a professional font style, preferably "Times New Roman", and keep the font size of headings, sub-headings, and details aligned. Your resume should give a sophisticated appearance to your employer to make a spectacular first impression on them. Also, keep your sentences concise and to the point. Employers do not prefer lengthy and unnecessary details. So, keep it as reader-friendly as you can through your exceptional formatting and conciseness.
10. Proofread and Edit the Resume
Last but the most mandatory steps: proofreading and editing. Proofread your resume as much as you can to avoid all the errors and extra details. Make corrections where needed and improve grammatical errors. Even a marvelous resume can lose its charm if it is not proofread or edited well.
Final Statement
Resume writing is a must even before starting your career so that you can open the doors to job opportunities. However, not every individual is brilliant at crafting an eye-catching resume, which is why they sometimes face rejections from their dream workplaces. So, make sure to choose the right format, include contact details, and add three crucial sections, including educational background, work experience, and skill set.
Additionally, mention details like languages, awards and certifications, interests, volunteer work, and hobbies. An eye-catching resume also needs information according to industry standards, which is why it should be updated every time you shift your job. Now, tailor your resume according to your industry standards, following all these 10 steps, and get ready to receive an interview call from your ideal organization.
