How to write a resume / CV with Microsoft Word

How to write a resume / CV with Microsoft Word

1. Choose a resume format
There are three standard resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid (sometimes called a combination resume). For most job seekers, a hybrid resume format, which puts equal emphasis on skills and work experience, is the best choice. However, in some cases, a chronological or functional resume might work better.

2. Add your name and contact information
The top of your resume should include the following information:

Name
Phone number
Location (City, State, Zip Code)
Email Address
LinkedIn profile URL
It might seem obvious, but job seekers sometimes forget a key piece of contact information in this section. Double check and make it as easy as possible for recruiters to contact you for a job interview.

3. Write a standout resume headline
A resume headline is a concise, one-line description of who you are as a candidate. A well-written headline can grab a recruiter’s attention and encourage them to take a more detailed look at your qualifications.

4. Add your professional resume summary statement
A resume summary statement is a short paragraph or section of bullet points at the beginning of a resume that highlights your professional skills and experience. Your summary should expand on your headline and communicate to recruiters and hiring managers why you are a good fit for the job.

5. Detail your work experience
The work experience section is the heart of your resume. Employers look at this section closely to determine whether your job history and prior accomplishments make you a promising candidate.

6. List relevant skills and keywords
Resume keywords are important terms of interest that recruiters look for whether skimming a resume or searching within an applicant tracking system (ATS). The more role-specific keywords—often hard skills—your resume contains, the better optimized your resume is.

7. Add your education, certifications, and any other relevant information
There are other resume sections that may be worth adding, depending on both the job and your unique experience. These sections include things like education, awards and accolades, volunteer experience, and certifications. Keep in mind that your resume should always be showcasing your skills for that particular job, so anything in your history that doesn’t support the image of you being a perfect candidate for the role doesn’t need to be included.

Education
Name of Institution
Degree
School Location
Years Attended

8. Tailor your resume and optimize for applicant tracking systems
It’s very easy these days to fire off your resume to dozens of jobs, but if you’ve tried this method, you may have been disappointed by your success rate. That’s because you didn’t take the time to customize your resume for each individual role—and recruiters can tell.

9. Polish up your grammar and formatting
Resume writing is a unique style. It can be tricky to remember which tense to use or when (and why) to omit pronouns. How can you use language to tell a more compelling story? Which fonts and formats are ATS-friendly? Let’s take a look.

10. Resume Fonts
It’s important to use a font that is easy to read on screen, ATS-compatible, and commonly available. A few traditional resume fonts to consider include Helvetica, Garamond, or Georgia. Avoid using script fonts or custom fonts unless you are a designer. Don’t use a font size below 10.