Resumes are an important element of job applications and often give employers their first impression of you. However, creating a resume can feel intimidating and confusing. This article provides a list of dos and don’ts to help you perfect your resume. We hope these tips help you improve your resume with ease! Refer to the end of the article for resume examples and directions to upload your resume to the AbilityLinks platform.
DO
-Go for simple templates: Fancy-looking resume templates may seem like a great way to stand out. However, choosing a resume template that includes things like graphics, pictures, color, or bold fonts typically has the opposite effect.
This is because companies use ATS (applicant tracking systems) to sort through resumes. ATS favors simple templates and often automatically rejects resumes that include creative elements. To prevent this, create your resume using an ATS-friendly format.
-Use verbs: Start each resume bullet with a strong verb that conveys the responsibility or achievement you are highlighting. Use past-tense verbs, unless you are referring to a position you currently hold. Examples of strong verbs include examined, led, organized, analyzed, developed, and communicated.
-Quantify as much as possible: Describing your relevant experience numerically shows that you have verifiable accomplishments. This gives your application more credibility and helps you stand out to recruiters.
Examples of quantifiable accomplishments:
- Frequency: Show how often you completed activities. (e.g., weekly meetings, annual presentations, monthly reports…).
- Growth: Showcase your accomplishments with measurable growth. (e.g., boosting sales 30%, increasing social media interaction by 40%, expanding client base by 35%...).
- Amount: Describe your achievements by reporting the amount completed. (e.g., delivering 24 reports, leading a team of 20 employees…).
-Include a professional summary: Providing a brief professional summary at the beginning of your resume is a great way to showcase your qualifications. This can increase your chances of getting an interview. A good professional summary is generally around 3-5 sentences and includes information about your experience and skills. Professional summaries are also commonly written in the past tense.
Example: Pretend that you are applying for a project management position at Company Z. You have previous experience working in construction project management. This is the professional summary you write.
Skilled professional with over 10 years of experience in construction project management. Successfully managed budgets exceeding $5M, led cross-functional teams, and oversaw the completion of residential and commercial developments. Committed to effective communication with stakeholders and optimized operations. Demonstrated ability to complete projects efficiently while prioritizing quality and safety standards.
DON’T
- Don’t list every job you’ve done: While it can be tempting to create a lengthy resume, keep it to a single page. Prioritize including the professional experiences that are most recent and relevant to the role you are applying for. Typically, the first experience on your resume should be your most recent position. List experiences in reverse chronological order.
-Don’t leave grammar mistakes: While easy to make, spelling errors and inconsistencies in tense can make your resume appear unprofessional. To avoid this, we suggest you use spell-check tools to ensure there are no major errors. It can also be helpful to ask a friend or mentor to proofread your resume.
-Don’t center your resume: Avoid aligning your resume content in the center of the page. Instead, align the text to the left so it is more readable. Some resume templates use centered headings; this is acceptable.
-Don’t submit the same resume for every application: Make alterations to your resume for each application. While it may seem time-intensive, customizing your resume helps you highlight your qualifications.
To make impactful changes, read the job description of the position you are applying for carefully. Identify keywords mentioned and brainstorm how they might relate to your experience. You can also ask AI tools to identify keywords by pasting the job description. Add these keywords to your resume when possible.
Example: Pretend that you are applying for the same project management position at Company Z. You reviewed the job description and identified keywords like ‘risk-management,’ ‘team motivation,’ and ‘estimates.’
You can add these words to your professional summary.
Experienced professional with over 10 years of experience in construction project management. Successfully managed budgets exceeding $5M, led cross-functional teams, and oversaw the completion of residential and commercial developments. Enthusiastic team leader dedicated to fostering team motivation. Committed to effective communication with stakeholders, project efficiency, and creating comprehensive risk-management plans. Demonstrated ability to complete projects efficiently and provide accurate cost estimates while prioritizing quality and safety standards.
You can also integrate keywords into your resume bullets when applicable.
- Created detailed risk-management plans for 25+ projects, identifying potential cost, schedule, and safety risks early and reducing project delays by up to 20%.
- Organized monthly team-building events aimed at boosting team motivation and enhancing workplace relations.
- Created detailed cost estimates for major construction projects valued up to $10M, improving bid accuracy and contributing to a 15% increase in project win rate.
You can also add relevant hard and soft skills from the job description to your resume’s skills section, if you have them. For example, if the job description lists proficiency in Microsoft Project as a desirable skill, include ‘Microsoft Project’ in your skills section.
Example Resumes
It can be helpful to visualize how to apply these tips to your resume. The example resumes below provide great formats and useful content to inform your resume editing process.
Resume 1, created by Resume Genius, is appropriate for professionals with extensive work experience.
Resume 2, created by Columbia University Center for Career Education, is appropriate for entry-level professionals. To find Resume 2, click on the hyperlink and scroll down to the resume labeled ‘Service Work and Non-traditional Experience.’
Uploading Your Resume to AbilityLinks
Uploading your resume to AbilityLinks connects you with inclusive employers who value diverse talent. Be sure to keep your profile updated and customize your resume for each application!
After you create your resume, uploading it to AbilityLinks is the next step! This will help employers learn more about you! Follow these steps to upload your resume:
If you are a new user:
- Click sign up in the upper lefthand corner of the website
- Under "Resume" click on "select a file to upload"
- Choose the correct file and click open!
If you are an existing user:
- Login to your account
- Scroll over to your name in the top right corner of the website
- Click on the "My Profile" option in the dropdown
- Under "Resume" click on "select a file to upload"
- Choose the correct file and click open!