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Aim for what’s effective, timeless, and simple.

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Overview

A resume serves as your personal marketing document, designed to showcase your qualifications, skills, and achievements to potential employers. A well-crafted resume can make a powerful first impression, opening the door to interviews and career opportunities. This guide will help you create a resume that stands out in a competitive job market.

Regional Differences Between CVs and Resumes

Why a Good Resume is Important

1. First Impression: Your resume is often the first interaction you have with a potential employer. A polished resume reflects professionalism.
2. Highlights Fit: A well-tailored resume emphasizes how your skills and experiences align with the job requirements.
3. Increases Interview Chances: A clear, impactful resume helps recruiters quickly identify your value, increasing your odds that you move to the next step.
4. Saves Time for Employers: Employers spend mere seconds scanning a resume. A concise and organized format ensures key information is noticed.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create a Strong Resume

• 1. Start with a Clear Header
• 2. Write a Professional Summary
• 3. Detail Your Work Experience
• 4. Highlight Your Education
• 5. Include a Skills Section
• 6. Add Additional Sections
• 7. Personal Interests (Optional)
• 8. References (Optional)
• 9. Including Photos in a Resume

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Hyperlink your resume to your LinkedIn or personal website for up-to-date information.

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What Not to Include in a Resume

• 1. Personal Information
• 2. Irrelevant Experience
• 3. Outdated Information
• 4. Generic Statements
• 5. Typos and Grammatical Errors
• 6. Unprofessional Email Addresses
• 7. Salary Information

Formatting Tips

• Use a clean, professional layout with consistent fonts and spacing.
• Keep your resume to one page unless applying for academic or research roles.
• Save your resume as a PDF with a professional filename (e.g., "Jane_Doe_Resume.pdf").

Labelling your Resume

When labelling a document, it’s important to use a standardized format that keeps everything clear and organized. The label should follow this structure:

PersonalName.Company.Role.Date.PDF

For example:

JohnDoe.Auxilia.Recruiter.2025-01-13.PDF

This format ensures the document is easily identifiable by the recipient and helps maintain a professional presentation.

Key Takeaways

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A strong resume should:

• Tailor content to the job description.
• Highlight measurable achievements and skills.
• Be error-free, concise, and visually appealing.
• Avoid common pitfalls, such as typos, irrelevant information, or poor formatting. </aside>

Preferred File Type

Why PDF is the preferred file type:

• Professionalism: PDFs maintain formatting and appearance across devices and platforms, ensuring the document looks the same to everyone.
• Security: PDFs are less susceptible to carrying viruses compared to formats like .docx, which may contain macros or other vulnerabilities. This makes PDFs a safer choice for both the sender and receiver.
• Avoiding Spam Filters: Many email spam filters are stricter with .docx files as they may be perceived as a higher risk, potentially preventing the document from reaching the intended inbox. PDFs, on the other hand, are widely accepted and less likely to be flagged.

By using a PDF, you’re not only presenting your document more professionally but also ensuring it’s secure and more likely to be delivered successfully.

Human & Machine Readability: Crafting an Optimized Resume

A good resume should strike a balance between human and machine readability. It must be easily scannable by a hiring manager within 30 seconds and simultaneously optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to ensure it is correctly parsed.

For Human Readability

To make your resume scannable:

• Focus on Key Information: Place the most relevant details, such as skills and accomplishments, near the top of your resume.
• Structure with Clarity: Use clear headings, consistent formatting, bullet points, and ample white space to guide the reader's eye.
• Highlight Achievements: Use concise, action-driven bullet points that emphasize measurable results (e.g., “Increased team productivity by 25%”).
• Avoid Overcrowding: Limit content to relevant experiences, ensuring the resume is not cluttered.

For ATS Compatibility

To ensure your resume is machine-readable:

• Standard Fonts: Stick to ATS-friendly fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri.
• Simple Formatting: Avoid columns, tables, graphics, or complex layouts, as these may confuse the system.
• Keyword Optimization: Use terms directly from the job description naturally throughout your resume. For example, if the job mentions “project management” and “budget analysis,” ensure these phrases appear in your skills and experience sections.
• Consistent Formatting: Ensure consistent formatting for job titles, dates, and company names (e.g., "Marketing Manager | ABC Corp | Jan 2020 – Dec 2023").
• Test Before Submission: Use ATS-friendly platforms like Lever, Greenhouse, or Ashby to upload your resume and confirm it parses correctly.

LinkedIn or any other professional platform, here’s a basic guide:

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