Best way to organize a resume

Whether or not your resume sells your skills effectively to the reader depends on how well it’s written. But if you’re just concerned with resume design, there are 4 quick things you can incorporate that are guaranteed to make your resume look better then most of the others you are competing with. A resume — even the best resume — will not get you the job; you’ll need to convince the employer during the job interview. The resume is simply a marketing tool to get you into the door. A resume is a statement of facts designed to sell your unique mix of education, experience, accomplishments, and skills to a prospective employer. Never lie or stretch the facts; do not get creative when identifying your job titles, dates of employment, or accomplishments. On the other hand, do not be modest; be clear about successes and accomplishments — and quantify whenever possible. The most common way to organize a resume is to use a chronological order and many recruiters prefer it. It is easy to read and analyze as the employer can quickly find answers to basic questions: where a candidate has worked, how long and what his /her responsibilities were. The chronological resume highlights the section devoted to work experience that is placed directly after the name, address and objective. In this section a candidate lists his/her work experience, beginning with the latest occupied position and proceeding to the earliest. You should include your responsibilities and accomplishments in each position description. If you do not possess significant working experience, you should emphasize your educational background and academic credentials. The best way to organize a chronological resume is to use a listing format with bullets. The next section should be devoted to special skills and abilities, which should be presented as personal data. The objective of a functional resume is to focus attention on candidate’s areas of competence. This pattern is useful for people who are just starting their career. Thus the applicant’s work history section is described but not emphasized and includes only major points. To describe the areas of competence, the applicant should list his/her accomplishments acquired through experience or academic qualifications in the subordinate sections. The use of action verbs and specific facts contributes to the résumé’s effectiveness.