At some time in your life, you will need a resume. The question is – what does a good resume look like? There are many different ways to write a resume, however there are some key points that absolutely need to be included.

Below I have included a guide on how to create the perfect resume and also some tips to help your resume stand out. Also check out the link at the bottom of the page to see an example of a good cover letter and resume.

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Step 1: Write name in bold w/ info

Write your name in bold at the top of the page, followed by your address, phone numbers, and email address. Then center the whole thing. It also helps to make your heading slightly bigger than the rest of your resume so it stands out at the top of the page.

Step 2: List work history

List your work history, starting with your most recent position. Include the place of employment, the dates you were employed there, and the type of job you performed. If it’s your job titles that are impressive, lead with them in bold. If the places you worked are more impressive than what you actually did there, bold them instead. Also, give a brief summary of what you did at each position. Make this summary short and write in third person.

Step 3: Adjust to job description

Look closely at the description of the job you’re applying for, and adjust what you’ve written to emphasize your most relevant skills and experience. If you’re not applying for a specific job, use an “Objective” line to describe what kind of work you’re looking for and why you want it.

Step 4: List education

When you’re done listing former jobs, list your education, including the school you graduated from and the degree you earned there. It is customary to list your cumulative GPA when you are fresh out of college. Later in life, this number won’t matter as much.

Step 5: List personal information

After your education, list any personal information—like hobbies, interests, or skills—that pertain to the job you’re seeking. The most relevant skills to include are proficiency in a foreign language and knowledge of a specific computer application or platform. This is also a great place to list any achievements, awards, leadership roles or organization memberships.

Step 6: Offer references

Always offer to make “references available upon request” at the end of your resume. It’s classy—and if you actually have them, it’s even better.

IMPORTANT: Before giving your resume to anyone, call your references and check to make sure they’re comfortable with you listing them as a reference. This gives you a chance to reconnect with your old bosses and make sure they will still hold you in high regard in case your new company decides to contact your reference.

Step 7: Spell-check your work

Be sure to spell-check your work. Also, try to get an appointment with a career counselor at your college to go over your resume. Often they can make suggestions to make your resume look more professional.

Step 8: Print resume

When your resume is letter-perfect, print it out on the special paper of your choice. Traditionally resumes are only 1 page in length, however, some encourage more detailed resumes depending on what field you’re going into.

Other Tips

By following these steps, you should have a good resume ready for distribution. If you’re interested in adding some pizzazz to your resume, there are a few things you can do to make your resume stand out.

In the Personal Information section, list something unique about yourself that might separate you from the other interviewees. For example, my brother is a finalist in a video game design competition at SXSW. Depending on how he does this year, he will most definitely list this on his resume.

Resume Example

Wondering what a good resume actually looks like? Check out this post from Marketing Headhunter where the author breaks down a good cover letter/email that includes an example of a great resume.

Did these tips help you with your resume? If so, let me know in the comments below.