Writing a Great Resume

Writing a great resume comprises of two main aspects- the main principles of resume writing and knowing the essential elements that help build a traditional resume. The latter is just as important as the former, as it consists of the basic framework of the resume around which a profile of you, your skills and accomplishments is constructed. This article will help familiarize you with the different parts of the resume and elaborate on each one of them.

A typical resume is made up of 7-8 elements that are as follows:-

Contact Information
Your resume should ideally begin with your name, address and contact details that include your phone number and email ID. This information should be displayed on top where it can be easily accessed by the recruiters should they want to get in touch.
Some useful tips:
- Do not include any designations/ titles such as Mr/Ms/Mrs, just write your full name in block letters or bold font
- Include only your personal number and email ID and not your office contact numbers. Make sure that you check your answering machine and email at least twice a day and promptly return calls by recruiters
Objective
This could well be the punch line of your resume as it represents your goals, mission and reason to join a particular job in that particular company. It should mention the job title you seek and the skills and expertise that you would make use of to achieve your goals. It conveys your intentions to the recruiter and gives a glimpse into the skills you possess. The objective should be carefully tailored to suit the requisites of each employer or company. It is important to never make a mistake of maintaining a constant objective for multiple job applications.
Example: Seeking an experienced customer service representative position related to the field of banking and finance where my expertise in economics and audits can enhance the profitability of the company.
Profile/Summary
The profile or summary follows the objective and is a summing up of your skills and work related experiences and achievements. It serves to provide the reader an overview of your work profile, abilities and knowledge and is written either in the form of bullet points or in short phrases.
The summary could well prove to be the best way to draw attention to your capabilities as it appears in the beginning of a resume and is likely to get noticed quickly by recruiters. You could make the most of your summary by focusing on your strengths and by using keywords that are appropriate to the position you seek. It would be a good idea to do some research on the job advertisements on the Internet or newspapers and try and pick a terminology that applies to you.
Example:
- 5 years of experience in customer service
- Sincere and motivated with a pleasant personality, with expertise in Finance Management
- Twice voted as the most resourceful Customer Service Officer
Skills
The skills section too should be molded according to the job position sought. You would usually begin with the most important skills that you possess and those that match with the job profile. These also act like tags which are identified and picked up by the automated softwares increasingly used today by employers to filter the multitude of resumes they receive. Therefore make sure that you include key skills relevant to your field and also stress upon your proficiency in computers and the number of languages you are in fluent in. If you possess any rare or special skill, this is the place to include them. However it is best to restrict the number of skills listed to not more than 8, the optimal number being 6.
Work Experience
This is always written in reverse order that is beginning with the most recent and going back progressively to your earlier employment history. You must remember to mention the dates you were employed in every job. However your work history should not look like a boring list of job titles and mundane responsibilities undertaken. It is imperative to translate your achievements into quantifiable figures and percentages as this offers more concrete evidence of your successes.
Education
Here you would mention your latest degree/qualifications along with the date and the grades achieved and again work your way backwards. You can include even the diplomas, training or certifications that you have obtained as all these give a positive impact to your credentials.
Awards/Achievements
Any recognition that you may have received for your work is proof of your potential and can act as a huge plus point in your favor. Although professional awards should preferably be included, you could mention a personal award if it could help reinforce some invaluable quality in you.
Affiliations (optional)
If you happen to be a member of any professional or non profit organization, it would certainly be worth a mention as it projects you as someone with a wide variety of interests and a broader intellectual horizon.

Knowing the correct format of a resume adds that invaluable professional touch that forces recruiters to take a second look and convinces them of your potential worth to their company.