Resume Guide and Resources

A professional resume answers the most crucial question of all: What makes you the right person for the job? Gear all your work history, skills and qualifications to answer this question, topped off with a strong summary that states your best attributes. A good resume should also have the right “look,” with a streamlined layout and a length of no more than two pages.

• Simple errors or typos: Few things turn off a recruiter faster than a professional resume with an easily avoidable mistake. Always review your document a few times before sending it in — you can also send it to someone you trust so they can review it.
• Being generic or vague: It’s easy to create a resume where you present yourself as a “superior” employee, but what does that mean, really? You’re better off using specific job achievements and examples to show how good you really are. In the same vein, avoid generic terms like “best in class” and “outside the box.”
• Copying and pasting keywords: While getting keywords into your resume is critical, just copying and pasting them from the job description into your resume can backfire if the employer notices. Try to present skills and experiences of your own that address keywords. For example, if the job calls for “ability to make quick decisions,” bring up an example of a responsibility or situation from your work history that shows your effectiveness in this area.
• Including irrelevant personal information: A professional resume isn’t the place to list your personal interests or hobbies. However, you can feature extracurricular activities, volunteer work or projects, as long as they involve skills that are necessary for the job.
• “Stretching the truth” or outright lying: Sending a resume for a job application with false information can lead to serious consequences. Avoid this at all costs.

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are used by employers and recruiters to scan resumes and grade them with a “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” based on their content. To create a resume that passes the ATS test, make sure your layout is straightforward and readable (no strange headings or graphics) and that your resume addresses the specific requirements of the job.

Generally, a resume shouldn’t be longer than a page — unless you have 10+ years of work experience. In this case, your resume can be two pages long. In today’s job market, 40% of hiring managers spend less than a minute reviewing a resume.

To keep your professional resume the right length and make it eye-catching, use short, bullet points and phrases rather than over-verbose sentences, focus only on relevant work experiences from the past 10 years, and narrow your skills list to around six to eight critical abilities.

We’ve explained in detail what is a resume, but let’s go over what it isn’t.

• A comprehensive overview of your entire career: Resumes should feature the specific traits and experiences you have that directly apply to the job you’re applying for, rather than a laundry list of everything you’ve ever done. When making a resume, only feature the most relevant information.
• A list of references: While having professional references who can vouch for your work history and ability is important, they don’t belong in a resume. Create a separate document for your references instead and have it ready for the moment the recruiter or hiring manager requests it. For more on this topic, visit our article References on Your Resume 101.
• A document about your personal goals: A professional resume is less about your personal aspirations and more about the value you can bring to a company. Focus on skills, qualifications and experiences that address what the job needs. You can save more personal details and career goals for your cover letter.