should i use microsoft word resume templates

Include what is relevant to the role you’re applying for. Include numbers where you can, and give small, telling details that show how you have helped projects succeed. Depending on the job you’re applying for, include a mixture of both hard and soft skills. They want to be sure that you can thrive in their offices, too. Today’s recruiters aren’t just looking for hard skills. An overview at the top gives your recruiter a good sense of you right away. Your most important information should be at the top of your resume.

Place an overview or mission statement at the top.

Use bullet points and bold headings to break up the text. Carefully balance font style, font size, layout, and design. If the formatting is overly complex, they might put it down. Recruiters will scan your resume quickly.

So how can you make your resume stand out? You should: If your resume is well-written, they see your job history at its finest. In that time, recruiters must be able to determine your work history and if you’ll be suitable for the position.Īfter the initial scan, recruiters want to review the highlights of your career. Recruiters spend 7.4 seconds screening your resume before they decide whether or not to keep looking at it. Cover letters, recommenders, and professional websites come later. Resumes are often the first thing recruiters look through. However, it does need to reflect your unique qualities. You can format your resume however you’d like, as long as it is organized and appealing. You can use plain white paper with black lettering, or add color and interesting shapes. You can organize your resume chronologically, by function, or a mix of the two. While resumes often contain these core materials, they rarely look the same. It can cover a variety of topics, including your: In the business world, a resume is a single-paged document that lists a person’s professional background and skills. These are rarely requested in a business setting. In academia, they ask for curriculum vitae (CVs). Most recruiters ask job candidates to send their resumes alongside cover letters and recommender information.

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Should i use microsoft word resume templates