5 Basic resume writing and formatting tips you should know!

I've been resume writing professionally for over ten years, and I've seen a lot of changes in expectations during that time. I'm constantly updating the format and design of my resumes to appeal to today's hiring managers and recruiters, and now that the new year has arrived, it seems like a good opportunity to share the ideal 2018 resume format with you.

Here are some basic resume format rules:

1.      Keep it concise.

If you have fewer than 5 years of experience, a one-page resume is ideal; otherwise, you will most likely require two pages – but no more! Recruiters will just ignore long or overly wordy resumes as their attention spans continue to dwindle. It's critical to maintain self-control. Shorten your sentences. To make the CV easy to read, provide plenty of white space on each page and utilise formatting to highlight crucial areas.

2.      Keep the format conservative (with a small c)

It's tempting to try to stand out by using a distinctive resume structure or format, but this is usually a bad idea. Recruiters want to swiftly scan your resume for the most important information; they can't do that if they're attempting to figure out where the essential points are. As a result, please refrain from resume writing a functional resume.

3.      Lead with your best stuff

Create a great resume opening that begins with a headline that states exactly who you are and what position you are chasing to ensure that your major selling qualities are highlighted right away. You might want to include a talent list in this portion of your introduction, as well as a couple of glowing testimonials from your LinkedIn page. Whatever you put in this introduction, have it scream "HIRE ME!"

4.      Focus on results and impact

Employers aren't interested in reading a lot of fluff about how terrific you are with people and how good a communicator you are; they'll judge for themselves when they meet you! They simply want to know if you have done a good job for previous companies at this point, and the easiest way to demonstrate this is to write action-packed accomplishment bullet points (see more about this here).

5.      Include web links

You should at the very least have a fully developed LinkedIn profile, with a link to it clearly shown on your CV. If you don't include this on your CV, recruiters will assume you're behind the times, which will decrease your chances of getting an interview. Include a link to your online portfolio if you have a professional presence on Twitter, Instagram, or any other social networking site — and if you are a creative professional, you must have a web portfolio link prominently on your resume. (Note: If you use Twitter or Instagram to post political polemics or images of your dog, don't include them on your CV.)

Want to learn more about the same? Get in touch with a professional resume builder today!