They say that a successful resume is already 50% of success in employment. After all, it is this that forms the first impression of you at a potential job. But how to make your resume truly unique and stand out from the crowd?

To help you with this task, here are 10 rules for the perfect resume – simple but very important guidelines to help applicants.

# 1. Make your resume easy to read

Recruiters don’t have much time to spend on deciphering acronyms or looking for the information they need in their next resume. Be clear and understandable. Structure your information. Use a standard font, subheadings, and lists. And don’t go overboard with the size – the size of the document is no more than two pages!

# 2. Don’t be too lazy to insert a photo

A photo in a resume is another opportunity to attract attention. Still, your appearance can tell a lot about you, even if your job is not related to something like a modeling business. Thanks to the photo, the recruiter is no longer a faceless text, but a living person.

Choose a good quality photo and place it in the upper corner of your resume. It may not be as formal as for a passport, but in no case is it “home”. Your appearance in the photo should correspond to your profession (most often business style is preferable).

# 3. Focus on the desired vacancy

Describe yourself so that your characteristics match the job for which you are applying. Everything from personality to achievement should indicate that you are suitable for the job for which you are applying.

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If in previous jobs you performed tasks that will be useful for your new position, be sure to mention them. If perseverance or sociability is important for your profession, tell us how these qualities manifest in you. If you’ve taken special courses that will come in handy in your new job, don’t forget about them.

Important: if you are applying for more than one job, create a separate resume for each with different accents.

# 4. Achievements

Many job seekers begin to rewrite the so-called job description from their previous jobs in the Achievements block. But this section is by no means for that. Do not be afraid to brag and have more specifics and numbers!

Not “engaged in attracting clients”, but “attracted 6 top clients in a month.” Not “increased sales,” but “increased sales by 45%,” and so on. It will not be superfluous to mention professional awards or even university achievements. Provided, of course, that all these successes are relevant to the desired position.

# 5. Describe your work experience in detail

The section of the resume “Work experience” should inform the employer about your competencies: what skills you possess, what you did, what you could achieve in your career. For this, of course, it will not be enough just to list previous jobs.

When describing your activities in a particular company, focus on the desired vacancy. What things you have done in your previous jobs will be useful in your new job? And remove the excess.

Describe even those companies and projects that are not listed in the workbook. Any experience is important to fully show what you can do.

# 6. Don’t ignore the “Additional Information”

The “Additional Information” section is needed for those data that were not included in the previous resume blocks. This is most often the level of proficiency in foreign languages ​​and PC, personal qualities. There may also be marital status or a driver’s license.

Why not neglect this section? The absence of such an “afterword” will give the impression that you have nothing to tell about yourself. But it’s not worth writing too much: after all, this is not an autobiography. Only information that can give you additional “points” in employment.

# 7. Confirm your personality

Applicants rarely pay attention to the subsection “Personal qualities”: it happens, and it is completely skipped. Meanwhile, according to this block, certain conclusions can be drawn about you: why not tell yourself what is useful for a potential position?

For example, write about your scrupulous attitude towards work and confirm this with a case from your career. Or, if you’re in a creative profession, share your imagination and support with an example from your portfolio.

# 8. Avoid templates

Oh, this “sociability” and “stress resistance”! Recruiters no longer know where to go from them. To make a truly perfect resume, write “on your own” rather than clichéd phrases.

Yes, the document should be in a business style, but at the same time, does not allow an abundance of clericalism and platitudes. In other words: write in a way that will interest the reader.

# 9. Check spelling and punctuation

Even if you’re not trying to be a literary editor, don’t feel like you might submit a resume with an abundance of errors. If you still have problems with this, ask someone to check the document or use special online services, and only then send it.

Also no emoticons, ellipsis, or exclamation marks.

# 10. When the resume is already written

After carefully reviewing your resume, pay attention to a few more details.

  • Name the document using your full name and job title.
  • Save your resume in doc or pdf format.
  • Don’t forget to write your cover letter.
  • Send your resume and letter to the employer with a clear subject line (for example, “Ivanova I. I.’s resume for the position of the translator”).