In our previous video we tackled some of the bigger-picture questions such as “should I include a summary or statement?” and “is it ok to use a template?” Now we focus on constructing each individual section of a standard, chronological resume. Find out whether or not to include your GPA, where to place your education section, what to exclude from your contact information, and more!
Transcript
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Narrator: In this video, we will be dissecting each individual section of a resume. Although there are several configurations, today we'll be working with the standard chronological resume with a summary. Section one, contact information. The essentials to include are your name, current residential address, phone number and email. If applicable, include your social media profiles such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram but reserve the latter two for roles such as marketing or graphic design. Do not include an unprofessional email address. Also do not include any personal information such as marital status, sexual orientation, or religious or political beliefs. Section two, resume summary. A resume summary is a statement summarizing your skills and experiences. This is best for those with prior experience that can be quantified and emphasized in a brief overview statement. It summarizes what you are highlighting in your resume. A strong summary states your length of experience, your achievements, and any specific skills that can be proven and quantified. Section three, work experience. Each entry should have the company's name, the location, your job title and the date range of employment. Use bullet points for each new responsibility or achievement. Entry-level seekers can list as many jobs, internships and volunteer opportunities that seem relevant to the desired position. More seasoned professionals do not need to list all the jobs they've ever had. A 10-year cutoff is standard. Quantify your results and achievements. For instance, if your product or project generated income, include the numerical value. In this example, not only does the achievement detail the generated income, it also includes a date range to further illustrate the project's success. Include keywords from the job posting to illustrate your skill relevancy as well as to increase your chances of being selected by the applicant tracking system. Don't simply list your tasks but rather use action words to stress how you helped. (lively music) Section four, education. Place your education section above your experience if you are a recent graduate with less than five years of work experience. Only include your GPA if it is above a 3.0 and less than three years out, you graduated from a well-known challenging program, the hiring manager directly asks for it. Be sure to list any academic honors or awards you received such as cum laude. If you earned your bachelor's degree, there's no need to include your high school information. Section five, skills. Although you should highlight your skills throughout your resume, it's important to have a dedicated skills section as well. List the skills that are most relevant to the job for which you are applying. The more relevant, the better. Include both hard skills, such as industry-specific software and soft skills such as time management and leadership. Include more keywords from the job posting. This is a great way to increase your chances of being picked up by the applicant tracking system. Only list the skills that you cannot not only prove you have but can prove to have used with effectiveness. A hiring manager may ask for examples in an interview. (lively music)
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