8 Tips for writing a winning resume

The first step of your job search is getting your resume up-to-date but the process can often feel overwhelming.  Here are 8 great tips to help you start writing a winning resume.

Purpose

Your resume should showcase your background, skills, and achievements with the goal of getting the interest of employers while aligning your skill set with those of potential opportunities for both you and hiring managers.

Personal Information

Include multiple ways for interested persons to contact you such as a phone number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn profile. Always check your spelling and make sure all the relevant contact information is included.

Technical Skills

You will want to highlight and list all your technical skills.  This section is very important if you work in a specialised field that requires specific knowledge of a subject matter or process.  Do not leave it out or cut it short.  Use this list to show potential employers your adaptability and the cross-functional possibilities.

Education and Certifications

This section of your resume describes your educational background and specific certifications you received.  People with very different educational backgrounds are successful at all levels of most organisations.  Do not let this portion intimidate you. If you completed some studies, but do not have a degree, list the degree you pursued, the field of study, and immediately thereafter, the number of hours you completed.

If you have no formal educational background other than high school and it is more than 10 years since you completed High School then select to skip this section all together and focus on your professional strengths.  This is where you shine.  Do list certifications and special courses you completed and where you studied.

Miscellaneous information

Many people include miscellaneous information in their resumes.  Personal information such as weight, height, age and family or marital status is not necessary.

Awards and Honours

Outstanding and significant awards and honours find their way on to resumes every day and at times rightfully so. If you are a recent college graduate or have won a professional award, congratulations, and feel free to include this information. However, be cautious not to over do it and list only pertinent and timely recognition. Of course, if you win a Pulitzer Prize, or some equivalent professional honour, you would likely always place this with your credentials; it would never "expire" in importance.

References

References are another item typically squeezed on a crowded resume. Forget it. Just add  "Referees available upon request" and have a separate page listing professional references ready when requested. Three professional references are all that is normally required.

Review and Refine

Always review your resume; one of the best ways to do this is to get someone independent to look at your resume when you have completed it. They may pick up mistakes, ask you to refine certain sections or add more detail to sell your skills. Be prepared to refine your resume a number of times before it is right.