by Rick Geiger
Learning how to write a great resume is important, vital even. No, it won’t guarantee you get the job. But it is the first step to a great first impression—your first opportunity to sell yourself to your next boss. So, put in the effort to put your best foot forward. You won’t be sorry.
If you’re not already a resume-writing virtuoso that blank page staring back at you may seem like it’s smirking, mocking you even. But don’t despair. There are a lot of resources available for people just like you who need a job, but just don’t happen to be card-carrying members of The National Resume Writers Association. (Yes, that’s a thing.) Countless books, websites, apps, and even YouTube videos promise the secrets to impress the socks off any hiring manager.
Books
If you’re a little old-fashioned and want to turn actual pages with your actual fingers, there are always books. Lots and lots of books. “Resumes for Dummies” comes to mind. Or better still, the NRWA has a list of recommended books that are sure to do the trick. Now if you can just find your library card…
Websites
Pick a number, any number. Do you want 15 tips for writing an outstanding resume? Or maybe 11. Or better yet 10. Perhaps lucky number 7 holds the key to securing your professional future. If you’re feeling ambitious, here are 45 tips to writing a great resume. 45!!! If that all seems a little overwhelming, Forbes distills their wisdom down to 5 simple tips:
- Get detailed
- Highlight your most relevant experience first
- Use statistics whenever possible
- Make friends with the thesaurus
- Proofread!
Software
There are scores of programs for your laptop or even your phone that will walk you through the process of how to write a great resume:
…just to name a few. And, of course, word processors like Microsoft Word have templates you can download.
YouTube
Want a friendly face to explain how to write a great resume for free? Then maybe a video is right for you. Here’s one on how to write a good resume. And here’s another by the same professor on how to write a really good resume! Maybe she’s working her way up to great.
The main point to all of this is you’re not alone. Help is out there and it’s not hard to find. You can craft a great resume and you can find a great job. So, good luck!
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