Your resume is the first impression you make on potential employers. If it isn’t up to par, you may not get the chance to showcase your skills and abilities in an interview.

Creating an impressive resume doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, with the right tips and some helpful examples, you can have a resume that stands out from the crowd.

In this post, we will teach you how to create a resume that will make employers take notice.

Start with a Heading Statement (also called "Summary" or "Profile").

Your resume should start with a heading statement, also known as a summary or profile. This is a one- to two-sentence introduction that tells the reader who you are, what you do, and what you're looking for.

Think of it as your elevator pitch: it should be short and to the point, and it should give the reader a good idea of what to expect from the rest of your resume.

Example

Creative graphic designer with 5+ years of agency experience and excellent communication and collaboration skills. Shortlisted for the 2020 Creative Design Award. At Dribble, maintained 100% customer satisfaction. Seeking to apply my talent and skills towards producing innovative, high-quality graphic design solutions for GoDesign clients. 

List Your Key Skills and Competencies

When listing your skills and competencies, be specific and relevant.

It can be tempting to just throw a long list of skills at the hiring manager and hope one of them sticks. But this is not only ineffective, it's also lazy.

Hiring managers are looking for candidates who have concrete skills that are relevant to the job they're hiring for. So before you start writing your resume, do some research on the company and the job posting. Highlight the skills and competencies that match what the company is looking for.

Not sure what to list? Here are some key skills and competencies that are commonly seen on resumes:

-Strong communication skills

-Teamwork skills

-Problem-solving skills

-Analytical skills

-Technical skills

Prove Your Skills and Competencies with Specific Professional Experience

When listing your skills and competencies, it's important to provide specific examples of how you've demonstrated them in a professional setting. This will help to prove that you're not just stating them off the top of your head, but that you actually have the experience and knowledge to back them up.

Your work history is a great place to showcase your skills. If you can, try to pick examples that are directly related to the role you're applying for. For instance, if you're applying for a job as a social media manager, mention any previous experience you've had with managing social media accounts.

If you don't have any direct work experience to showcase your skills, try to think of other ways you can demonstrate them. Did you volunteer or intern in a related field? Did you take any courses or workshops that would be relevant? If so, be sure to mention them!

Example

Graphic Designer

Eledea Design, New Delhi

November 2017–September 2021

-Developed brand guidelines for 20+ clients, including custom typefaces. 

-Designed 200+ client deliverables, including logos, vector graphics, leaflets, banners, web graphics, and more. 

-Consulted with clients to determine project scope and produce budget estimates for 50+ projects. 

-Achieved 98% accuracy when predicting the lead time and cost of a project.  

Key achievements: 

-Maintained 100% customer satisfaction during almost 4 years on the job. 

-Received the 2020 Certificate of Typographic Excellence from TDC for a typeface design project. 

Add Additional Sections to Your Resume/CV (Optional)

There are a few additional sections you can add to your resume/CV to help you stand out from the competition.

One option is to add a section on your skills. This can include things like software programs you know how to use, foreign languages you speak, or other special skills you have.

Another option is to add a section on your professional achievements. This can include things like awards or commendations you've received, articles or papers you've authored, or presentations you've given.

If you have a lot of experience in a certain field, consider adding a section on your work history. This can include the companies you've worked for, the positions you've held, and the dates of your employment.

Finally, if you want to go the extra mile, consider creating a portfolio that includes examples of your work. This could be anything from design projects to writing samples to photos of events you've organized.

Example

Certifications

-Design with CorelDRAW 2020, Udemy, 2020

-Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop, Adobe, 2016

Awards

-2020 Certificate of Typographic Excellence Award, Type Directors Club (TDC)

-Shortlisted for the 2018 Indigo Design Award, Logo Category

Languages

Hindi: native

English: fluent

German: minimum working proficiency

Hobbies

Photography and videography: my friends and I run a YouTube channel with DSLR tutorials, I’m responsible for filming and editing footage using Adobe Premiere Pro

Use a Modern, Professional Resume/CV Design

Your resume is the first impression you make on potential employers, so it's important to make sure it looks professional and polished. A modern design is a great way to achieve this, and there are plenty of templates to choose from online.

Using a professional resume design will help you stand out from the crowd and show that you're serious about your job search. It also conveys that you're up-to-date with current trends and have a good understanding of branding and design principles.

If you're not sure where to start, we recommend checking out some of the free resume templates on Canva. They have a wide range of designs to choose from, so you're sure to find something that suits your style.

A great resume is key to landing a great job. Follow these tips to create an eye-catching resume that will stand out.

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