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How to Make a Resume or CV in PowerPoint (+ Templates)

Making a resume or CV is one of those tasks that we all have to do. But did you know you can actually create one in PowerPoint?

If that’s the tool you are most comfortable with, it is possible. PowerPoint can also be a good option for a resume or CV if you need something highly visual in a presentation style.

You can then export it from PowerPoint to any other format you need so that you can share it online or with potential employers.

Here’s how to do it, with a few templates to help you get started (all with a super professional look-and-feel).

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Determine if You Need a Visual Resume

Before you go down the path of creating a resume in PowerPoint, you need to figure out if it is the right choice for you. PowerPoint can be a good option if:

• It’s the only tool you have or know how to use
• You need a highly visual resume format for a presentation (we’ll focus on this one)

If you are presenting for a job interview, want to make a strong creative impression, or just show off your work in a style that marries your resume and portfolio, this option could be right for you.

Pick a Format

Once you have determined that PowerPoint is the tool you want to use for your resume, it’s time to think about formats and aspect ratios. How do you want to present or share the resume? What shape and size should it be?

If you are planning a presentation style, you’ll probably stick to the standard horizontal format. If you plan to export for more of a traditional look and feel, you can change the canvas size to a vertical 8.5 by 11 format.

The latter is great if you are using PowerPoint because you are comfortable with the tool, but want to export and save the resume for standard distribution.

Look for a Template (Or Create Your Own)

The quickest way to jumpstart a resume design project is with a template. A good PowerPoint resume or CV template will include slides in a style that appeals to you with elements for all of the standard resume content.

When looking for a template, you need one that matches the type of content you have to work with. (Don’t pick out a template packed with full-screen images if you don’t have them, or cut out photos if that’s not in your portfolio.)

The template should also have a visual style that’s similar to your own. You want the PowerPoint resume or CV to look like it belongs to you. It should show exactly who you are and what you do.

The other option is to create your own template. If you have a great idea, go for it!

Gather Visual Elements

If you are creating a visual resume, images are key. Gather what you plan to use in the resume design to get a feel for where you should go with the content.

• What types of images do you have to work with?
• What are the shapes and styles?
• How many images do you plan to use?
• Do you have a visual element to go with each section of the resume?
• Do you need to collect more visuals to complete this task?
• Are they in a format that will work with PowerPoint?

Once you have all the visuals together you can place them in the template to set the framework for your design.

Fill in Relevant Info

Once you have the concept of the PowerPoint resume design mapped out, you can start filling in all of your relevant information and details. Note that most templates will include way more slides than you need. Delete unnecessary ones to make the job quicker and easier.

Order the slide deck in a reverse chronological format with the newest and most relevant information first. It’s the same idea as if you were typing it out on paper.

Don’t forget an introduction slide with your name and contact details. (You’ll probably also want to repeat this slide at the end.)

Follow that with a quick summary or professional profile so that whoever looks at the resume gets a feel for who you are.

Then fill in work experience, education, and relevant skills.

Design for Key Details

Every important part of your PowerPoint resume should follow the format of one idea per slide.

If you are creating a visual resume, consider slides that pair a visual with the corresponding information. It’s a fact for your resume with a piece of visual supporting evidence.

Resumes can get long quickly, so try to design for key pieces of content and details with this format. Consider your most recent and best activity to be one slide each, and then all other supporting elements on a single slide.

It might look like this:

• One slide for current job
• One slide for relevant experience
• One slides for all other jobs

Finish with Achievements or Awards

Finally, wrap up the content in your PowerPoint resume or CV with a section that outlines awards or achievements. This is a great way to leave a strong impression at the end of the slide deck.

Things to include are certifications, awards, publications or grants, and key work-related honors. Even if you only have a few to share, this can add a lot of impact.

Proof Carefully

Edit your resume, ask someone else to proof your resume, and then edit it again. You can’t proofread too many times when it comes to this type of document. You want it to be flawless.

Export to Share

The last step is to export your PowerPoint resume or CV into a format for sharing. If you are giving a presentation, there’s nothing more to do than save.

If you plan to distribute the PowerPoint resume, it’s a good idea to export to a format that you know will maintain the integrity of the document no matter who opens it. A PDF format is recommended.

A resume or CV that’s designed in PowerPoint can be a lot different than the typical paper format. It will probably have a different shape and size (that’s made for screen viewing) and a much more visual format.

For a designer, this is almost a combination between a resume and a portfolio. Use this format to highlight your work with that in mind.

And if you like the examples here, head over to Envato Elements for these templates and more.

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Make a Splash With Presentations on Your Resume

A quick but detailed guide on how and when to include presentations on a resume, including resume templates and examples.

2 years ago   •   8 min read

Public speaking isn’t for everyone — which is why, if you have experience presenting in front of a crowd, you should definitely include it in your resume.

You can list presentations in your work experience section, resume summary, or in a separate ‘Presentations’ section, depending on how relevant they are to the job you’re applying for.

In this article, we’ll discuss what presentation skills to include on your resume, how and where to list presentations, and how to tailor your presentation skills to your desired industry.

How to add presentations to your resume

Let’s start with a few quick steps for adding presentations to your resume:

• Choose where you’re going to list presentations. This could be in your work experience , resume summary , or in their own section (more on this later).
• List the name or topic of the presentation.
• Specify where you presented or who you presented to.
• If it was an external presentation, include the name and date of the event.
• Add any relevant awards or publications .
• Use a clear action verb like “presented” so your presentation skills stand out to anyone quickly scanning your resume.
• Upload your resume to a free resume checker for personalized suggestions on making your presentations stand out to a hiring manager.

Now let’s take a look at some concrete examples of what presentations should look like on your resume.

What presentations to include on your resume

The types of presentations you can include on your resume include traditional styles like PowerPoint presentations, client briefings, and conference speaking, as well as digital and remote presentations, such as Zoom conferencing and Google Slide presentations. Both conventional and digital methods demonstrate your ability to convey information through the desired format and showcase both soft and hard skills.

The recent transition towards more remote work has brought digital presentation styles like webinars, online talks, virtual events, and social media live sessions to the forefront. These modern formats highlight both adaptability and remote/technical experience.

Whatever presentations you choose to include, ensure the skills you’re showcasing are targeted and relevant to your application.

Examples of how to put presentations on your resume

There are a couple of different ways of listing presentations on a resume:

• In your work experience bullet points
• In a ‘Presentations’ section of your resume
• (Optional) In your resume summary

Not sure which choice is best for you? Here’s a brief overview of the pros and cons of each option, including examples for you to follow.

Including presentations in your work experience bullet points

Include presentations in your work experience bullet points if you regularly presented to colleagues, clients, or external stakeholders as part of your job.

Include at least one bullet point detailing what you presented, who you presented it to, and, crucially, any quantifiable metrics . Emphasize the size of the audience, feedback scores, number of presentations, or tangible impact on the business to clearly demonstrate the scope and effectiveness of your presentations. Start your statements with powerful action verbs to make your bullet points memorable and impactful.

• Presented strategic changes in portfolio and marketing plan to C-suite executives, influencing key business decisions, as evidenced by a 15% increase in operational efficiency, and an expedited promotion within 12 months.
• Designed and delivered 10+ training workshops, presentations, and learning modules using a range of training aids and computer software.
• Presented keynote speech at a 200+ person conference on new and emerging technology.

Here is an example of a resume work experience section that highlights presentation skills:

Listing presentations in a separate resume section

You can create a separate resume presentations section if official presentations are a major part of the job you’re applying for and you have significant presentation experience.

Create a ‘Presentations’ subheading underneath your work experience and education . For each listed presentation, include not only the name, conference, and date, but also any measurable outcomes, such as audience size or notable feedback received, as shown in the resume screenshot below. If you have any related awards or publications, you can also list those.

• “The Evolution of Supply Chain Management,” Supply Chain Conference, Feb 2022.
• "Extended Structure in Globular Clusters with Gaia,” Astronomical Society Meeting, June 2022.
• “Community Management in Social Media Marketing,” B2B Marketing Expo, March 2021.
• Awards: Content Marketing Institute Award for Outstanding Community Engagement.

Here is an example of a resume that includes specific presentations in a separate Presentations section:

Highlighting presentations in a resume summary

Mention your experience with presenting in your resume summary if you’re applying for a role that involves regular public speaking and want to draw attention to a key accomplishment involving presentations.

At the top of your resume (beneath your contact information but above your work experience), include 3-5 lines briefly outlining your key presentation skills and experience.

Learning and Development Manager with more than 10 years of experience in creating and leading work-related training and development programs to help employees enhance their skills or the company's performance. Key accomplishment: Delivered lectures to over 70 employees on best practices, how to engage with the media in a crisis, and how to promote brands effectively to communications officers.

Here is an example of a resume summary that highlights presentation skills:

If you're not sure whether your presentation skills and experience should be included in your work experience section, summary, or a separate presentations section, upload your resume to the tool below . It'll evaluate your resume and give you feedback on how to improve each section.

Tailoring your presentation skills to different industries

When listing presentations on your resume, it's crucial to tailor them to the specific position or industry you're applying for. List the name, date, and location of the presentation, followed by a tailored explanation of the presentation's focus, so a recuiter can easily see why it’s relevant to your application. For example:

• Tech and engineering: Focus on technical expertise and innovation. For example: "Presented 'Emerging Trends in AI and Machine Learning' at the Tech Innovators Conference 2022, emphasizing practical applications in software development."
• Finance and business: highlight strategic insights and financial results. For example: "Delivered a presentation on 'Global Market Trends and Investment Strategies' to key stakeholders, resulting in a 15% increase in investor engagement."
• Education and training: Showcase your ability to educate and engage diverse audiences. For example: "Facilitated a series of educational workshops titled 'Innovative Teaching Methods in Digital Age' at the National Education Conference 2021."
• Marketing and communications: Focus on creativity, audience engagement, and brand development. For example: "Hosted a webinar on 'Effective Social Media Marketing Strategies' that attracted over 500 participants, enhancing brand visibility."
• Arts and culture: Emphasize creativity, industry knowledge, or critical analysis. For example: "Presented 'Modern Art Movements and Their Social Impact' at the City Art Museum Lecture Series, drawing a record number of attendees."

Keywords and phrases to use when discussing presentations

Incorporating specific keywords and phrases can significantly boost your resume’s impact and help you make it past ATS.

Here’s a list of keywords and phrases to use when discussing your presentation experience:

• Public speaking: Highlights your comfort and skill in addressing audiences.
• Audience engagement: Demonstrates your ability to connect with listeners and maintain their interest.
• Presentation design: Showcases your proficiency in creating visually appealing and informative presentation materials.
• Data presentation: Indicates your ability to present complex data in an understandable manner.
• Interactive workshops: Suggest an active, hands-on approach to presenting and training.
• Webinar hosting: Reflects skills in managing and delivering online presentations.
• Technical demonstrations: For those in technical fields, it highlights your ability to explain complex technical concepts.
• Conference speaking: Indicates experience with large, formal presentation settings.
• Training and development: Shows your role in educating and developing others through presentations.

When presentations do (and don’t) belong on your resume

Now that you know how and where to include presentation skills on your resume, only one question remains — should you?

The short answer is: It depends. Presentations are purely optional — no recruiter is going to pass you over if you don’t include them. Which means that, like anything else on your resume, you should include them if they’re relevant to the job you’re applying for and leave them off if not.

Not sure which category you belong to? Here are some considerations to keep in mind when deciding whether to list presentations on your resume.

You should list presentations on your resume if …

• The job you’re applying for involves giving a lot of presentations, training others , or public speaking.
• You want to showcase expertise in your field or specific subject matter.
• You presented at a well-known or prestigious event.
• You were a keynote speaker.
• You have significant publications or awards relating to a presentation.
• The content of your presentations is relevant to the job you’re applying for.
• You’re in an industry like academia where listing presentations is a common practice.

You shouldn’t list presentations on your resume if …

• You’re entry-level and don’t have significant professional presentations to list.
• Your presentations were in a completely different field.
• You attended a conference but didn’t speak at it.
• You have too many presentations to list — even if they’re all relevant, limit yourself to a few of the most recent or impressive examples.

Should I include presentation skills in my resume skills section?

Yes, including resume presentation skills in your skills section is highly beneficial, especially if the job role you're applying for involves communication or public speaking. This is particularly important if you're in fields such as sales, marketing, education, or leadership roles where presenting is a key part of the job.

How should I list presentations that may contain sensitive or confidential information?

When listing presentations that involve sensitive information, focus on the skills and context rather than specific details. Use phrases like "Presented on proprietary industry techniques to a select group of stakeholders" or "Led a confidential briefing on business strategy improvements." This approach showcases your experience while respecting confidentiality agreements and maintaining professionalism.

Should I list presentations on my LinkedIn profile as well as my resume?

Absolutely! Listing presentations on LinkedIn showcases your communication and expertise to a broader network, including recruiters and industry peers. On LinkedIn, you can add more details or even include links to presentation materials or videos. However, make sure you maintain consistency in how you present this information on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

How can I effectively demonstrate the impact of my presentations?

To effectively demonstrate the impact of your presentations, include quantifiable metrics. For instance, "Presented on market trends to an audience of 200+, leading to a 20% increase in post-event engagement" . This approach highlights your presentation skills and provides concrete evidence of your impact and effectiveness.

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How to write a resume presentation: tips and tricks from experts

Your resume is a ticket to a better job, and considering the current situation in the job market, standing out is more important than ever. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by incorporating a “Resume Presentation” section in your resume. This article focuses on the fundamentals of resume presentation, offers steps on how to put presentation on resume, and provides top tips for getting perfect results on the first try.

What’s a resume presentation?

A “Resume Presentation” is a section of your resume where you highlight your presentation-related skills, experience, and accomplishments. It’s a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate your abilities to effectively communicate, explain complicated ideas, and engage with varied audiences.

What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills involve your ability to organize slides and content in a way your audience can understand. This also includes technical knowledge and proficiency in presentation design software like PowerPoint, Keynote, etc.

7 steps to create a resume PowerPoint presentation

Here are some of the most effective tips you can use to create an excellent resume presentation without too much effort:

Step 1: Make it a separate section

Add a separate section titled “Resume Presentation” or something of the kind to your resume. It should come after your contact details and objective or summary statement, before your professional experience and educational background.

Step 2: List all the presentations done by you

List your presentations in chronological order under the “Resume Presentation” section. Make sure to include the following details:

• Title of the presentation
• Date created
• Location (if applicable)
• Use bullet points to add clarification.

Step 3: Highlight relevant skills

This section of your resume in PowerPoint should focus on your presentation abilities, including storytelling, public speaking, audience interaction, and data visualization.

Step 4: Emphasize key achievements

For each entry, provide a clear overview of your key achievements or the presentation’s impact. These can be anything from metrics to feedback to outcomes demonstrating your effectiveness as a presenter. For example, I received a 96% satisfaction rating from the audience and was invited to present at the upcoming conference.

Step 5: Quantify your achievements

Mention percentage improvements, the size of the audience, and any other measurable results. Numbers give your claims credibility.

Step 6: Incorporate action words

When discussing your presentation experience, use action verbs such as facilitated, engaged, articulated, and presented. This will help demonstrate your active involvement and overall effectiveness.

Step 7: Tailor your resume presentation to the job

Customize your resume for each job application. Highlight presentations that match the specific industry expertise or skills the potential employer wants to see in a perfect candidate.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s move on to the expert tips you can use to improve your resume writing PowerPoint presentation.

10 tips for creating an effective resume presentation

The below tips will help you make your resume presentation the best it can be, so let’s get right into it!

Tip #1: Start with attention-grabbing headline

Personal branding is all about the way you dress and, of course, your headline, so choose carefully. Your headline should be precise and concise, which means avoiding non-essential, complicated words or confusing phrases that could lead readers to believe something completely different. Make hiring managers want to learn more by using an enticing tone in text and visuals.

Tip #2: Give preference to an easy-to-read layout

Make your PowerPoint presentation resume as simple as possible. This way, you’ll ensure hiring managers can find what they are looking for quickly, boosting your chances of success in the job application.

Tip #3: Make use of typography

Use different fonts and font sizes to make your resume more visually attractive. You can also utilize typography to emphasize important details, such as your experience or skills—just make sure your potential employers can easily find what they need!

Tip #4: Put relevance first

Pick presentations that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, and remember that quality is more important than quantity.

Tip #5: Use lists and bullets

Creating a captivating resume presentation is not just about the content. It’s also about how well-structured and easy to read it is. If hiring managers are unable to understand what they are reading due to excessive jargon, complex wording, or sentence structures, they will not be attracted to your message. Using bullet points and lists will help make your writing more digestible and, consequently, more appealing to potential employers.

Tip #6: Add keywords

No matter how good your resume is, it’s no use if it doesn’t pass ATS. Including industry-specific keywords in your resume will help improve its searchability through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and ensure it gets noticed.

Tip #7: Customize your entries

Tailor each resume description to highlight skills and accomplishments relevant to the position. Emphasize how your specific experiences align with the requirements outlined in the job description. Doing so increases your chances of capturing the employer’s attention and demonstrating your suitability for the role.

Tip #8: Emphasize your experience and skills

Emphasize all of your skills and experience relevant to the position you’re interested in. This will give hiring managers a clue as to why you would be an excellent fit for the job.

Tip #9: Include a CTA

Before submitting your resume, make sure it includes a powerful call to action so potential employers know what to do next. For example, end your resume with the following statement: “I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my skills and experiences align with your company’s goals. Please feel free to get in touch with me at [your number] or [your email] to schedule an interview.”

Tip #10: Make sure your contact details are easily accessible

Additionally, consider adding links to your LinkedIn profile or other professional platforms. Making it simple for hiring managers to get in touch with you demonstrates your eagerness for further discussion, boosting your chances of progressing to the next stages of the hiring process.

Follow these tips to make your “Resume Presentation” section a powerful testament to your abilities and accomplishments, and remember that a targeted and well-crafted resume is vital in securing an interview and, ultimately, a job.

SlidePeak: your reliable partner in resume making ppt

“How do I quickly create a “Resume Presentation” section without previous experience?” you might ask. If you’re in a hurry to start the job application process, you can use free one-slide resume templates from PowerPoint or opt for professional assistance with your resume presentation. The last option will not only save you time but also ensure a polished and impactful presentation.

Contact our presentation design company today to discuss your specific needs and receive personalized assistance that will help increase your chances of making a solid first impression on potential employers. Our turnaround times are the fastest in the industry, and our dedicated team is here for you 24/7!

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Professional CV

Professional cv presentation, free google slides theme, powerpoint template, and canva presentation template.

Looking to stand out from the crowd and land the job of your dreams? This template is the perfect way to create a professional CV. Customize the design, add your own photos, and insert your key information in the modern geometric slides. Showcase your skills and experiences with custom photo frames and a modern font style. The additional resources like infographics or a cover letter will hit the spot exactly like you need to. The format is in A4 so you can print it easily as well. It’s that easy to create an impactful CV that will help you stand out from the competition!

Features of this template

• 100% editable and easy to modify
• 7 different slides to impress your audience
• Contains easy-to-edit graphics such as graphs, maps, tables, timelines and mockups
• Includes 500+ icons and Flaticon’s extension for customizing your slides
• Designed to be used in Google Slides, Canva, and Microsoft PowerPoint
• A4 format optimized for printing
• Includes information about fonts, colors, and credits of the resources used

How can I use the template?

Am I free to use the templates?

How to attribute?

Attribution required If you are a free user, you must attribute Slidesgo by keeping the slide where the credits appear. How to attribute?

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Curriculum Vitae Guide: Presentations and Papers

Presentations and papers.

This section should follow formatting rules for your field.  Most fields will use APA style formatting. Please refer to apa.org for formatting guidelines or visit the  Walden University Writing Center's APA Style page .

Use this section to document your professional presentations, including papers or poster sessions at professional conferences.

Additional formatting tips:

You can include training workshops you delivered, professional in-service presentations, etc., in this section or create another section (Teaching/Training) that includes these experiences.

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How To Make a Resume in PowerPoint (with Resume Templates & Examples)

Last updated on September 13th, 2023

Resume templates in PowerPoint are very useful to quickly make a professional resume using one of the most popular presentation tools. The free resume templates can help in the job search process. There are different ways to make a visual resume in PowerPoint or Google Slides, you can orient your resume to make it look like a presentation or create a resume document, and use PowerPoint instead of Microsoft Word. What’s the difference? Actually there are different ways to present your resume in a visual way to a new job opening.

Here we will see how to quickly design a resume in PowerPoint taking advantage of free infographics and PowerPoint shapes.

Gather the Information, Create a Blank Presentation and Prepare the Resume Layout in PowerPoint using Portrait Mode

First, take at hand all the information you can gather about your background education, professional background, honors, awards and accomplishments. If you have a LinkedIn profile and it is updated with your experience and background information, you can take that as as a base or good starting point.

Then, go to PowerPoint and create a new blank presentation.

PowerPoint automatically starts up with a landscape layout, but you can easily change the layout to portrait if you want to use that format for the professional resume . Go to Design tab and then click

Here you can change the orientation to use portrait mode instead of the default landscape mode.

Then, you can change the default title layout in PowerPoint that is always present by default as the first slide, unless you want to add a title to your slides. To do it, go to Home tab and then click Layout button. Select the empty layout for instance, in order to start drawing the elements that will be included in your visual resume presentation.

Related: 5 Overlooked Resume Presentation Factors

Add the Resume Content & Use Slide Master for Header & Footer Content

As we see, a good resume can help in the job search process. We already created a base presentation in PowerPoint where our resume will be designed. Now, it is time to add your infographic resume content to the presentation. From the notes and information you gathered from your past experience, let’s try to organize it slide by slide. You can start adding your name and contact information on every page. Using the Headers & Footer sounds like a good idea however these options (especially the header) are available in the Handouts view only. However, as an alternative you can use the Slide Master to add all the information that you’d like to keep in every slide or page.

In this case, we have created a new layout in the Slide Master view for all the elements that will be shared across the resume template in PowerPoint . As you can see in the figure below, these include the name, the street address, the phone and email. Also, we have included  the blue bar that will be used for the slide title or resume page title (Work Experience, Education, Awards & Honors, etc.).

Then, you can start adding the resume content with your work experience and education background.

Now it is time to work creating the cover. The resume cover will be likely one of the most important slides or pages since it would be the first slide or page that the recruiter or future employer will see.

Using the same previous approach, you can create a custom layout via Slide Master to add all the information you want to use in your resume cover or you can do it without Slide Master as many of the elements used here won’t be used in other slide (it is up to you).

To get some inspiration, you can check the free Resume PowerPoint Template available at SlideHunter.com and see what are the sections used in this template. It shows valuable information for any employer looking to hire someone for a new position. The sections you can find in this template are divided into: Objectives, Work Experience or Professional Background, Professional Skills, Education, Awards and Certifications, Interests.

Of course you can add or remove sections that you don’t need, or focus on any desired section where you can highlight your skills.

Pre-made Resume PowerPoint Templates

Alternatively, if you do not want to spend time creating your resume templates from scratch, then you can rely on existing resume PowerPoint templates.

1. Resume PowerPoint template by SlideModel

This resume template is a visual presentation design that can be edited in Microsoft PowerPoint. The resume template will help job seekers, candidates or HR professionals to streamline the hiring process.

The 100% editable resume template can also be used if you have a presentation on career related themes. It contains vivid images and vibrant illustrations that can be edited in PowerPoint. The CV template includes several useful visual slides such as a proficiency level and nice data visualization aid, a resume timeline, the candidate profile with photo, an slide for educational background & professional skills.

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How To Write A Resume In 7 Steps (With Examples)

• How To Write A Resume
• Resume Skills Section
• Resume Objective Section
• Career Objective Section
• Resume Reference Section
• Resume Summary Section
• Resume Summary Example
• Resume Interests Section
• Address On Resume
• Relevant Work Experience
• Anticipated Graduation Date On Resume
• Education Section On Resume
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• Statement Of Qualifications
• How To List Publications On Resume
• Accomplishments On Resumes
• Awards On Resume
• Dean's List On Resume
• Study Abroad On Resume

Resumes are still the most important document in your job search . Generating a professional and interesting resume isn’t easy, but there is a standard set of guidelines that you can follow. As hiring managers usually only spend a short time looking over each resume, you want to make sure that yours has a reason for them to keep reading.

If you’re looking to write a resume, rewrite a resume you already have, or are just curious about resume format, then you’ve come to the right place. This article will go through the steps to writing an excellent resume, as well as offering examples for what sections of the resume should look like.

Key Takeaways:

A resume is a short document that details your professional history in a way that tailors your experience and skill set for the particular job you’re applying for.

Resumes follow a few standard formatting practices, which hiring managers and recruiters expect to see.

Highlighting your work experience, skills, and educational background with relevant keywords can help you get past applicant tracking systems and into more interviews.

How to write a resume

Writing a resume involves using the proper formatting, writing an introduction, and adding your work experience and education. Stuffing your entire professional life into a single page resume can feel overwhelming, but remember that you’re distilling the relevant parts of your professional experience in order to catch the eye of the recruiter .

Formatting your resume. To start, use a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google docs. Standard resume formatting calls for:

1 inch margins

10-12 point font

A professional, commonly-used font

Additionally, there are three resume formats that are commonly used. Most people should stick with a chronological resume format , but the combination resume format and functional resume format can be effective for more advanced workers or those who have significant gaps in their resume.

Write a resume header . It doesn’t matter if you have the best resume in the world if the hiring manager can’t contact you. Every single resume should include the following contact information:

Your full name. First and last.

Your phone number. Use a personal phone number, and make sure your voicemail is set up properly.

Your email address. Nothing inappropriate — [email protected] is a safe choice.

Location. City, State, Zip Code is fine, but you can include your full mailing address if you think it’s appropriate.

Your social media (optional). LinkedIn is the obvious one you’d want to include, but make sure your profile looks good. If you have an online portfolio , either on a personal blog/website or on a site like Journo Portfolio , feel free to include that here as well.

Your job title. Also optional, but can be useful for applicant tracking systems.

Resume introduction. You have four options for your resume introduction: a resume objective, summary statement, resume profile, or qualifications summary. For most job-seekers, a resume summary statement is the best choice. Regardless of which resume introduction you choose, avoid first-person pronouns (I/me/my).

Resume objective. A resume objective is the goal of your resume. Since the objective of every resume is to land a job, this is not the most original or impressive opener you can have.

On the other hand, it’s a good choice for an entry-level applicant or someone who is changing career paths . This should be a 1-3 sentence summary of why you’re motivated to get the position you’re applying for.

Who should use a resume objective: Entry-level applicants, career-changers, and recent college graduates.

Resume summary. This is the best opener for most job-seekers. As the name suggests, a resume summary highlights the most salient aspects of your resume.

It should include your current position, how many years of experience you have, some of your biggest achievements, and possibly your career goals. This should be a 1-3 sentence spiel and should include some quantifiable experiences.

Who should use a resume summary: Most job seekers; anyone with quantifiable accomplishments to emphasize and a broad range of skills.

Qualifications summary. A bullet point list (4-6 points is the sweet spot) of your qualifications for the position. It’s best used by applicants going for jobs that require a fixed skill set. It’s not a great choice for entry-level applicants who lack quantifiable achievements.

You’ll notice that a qualifications summary takes up more space than a resume objective or summary, but it can actually save the hiring manager time if you provide a bunch of valuable information right off the top.

Who should use a qualifications summary: Those applying to a job with requirements for certain skills and job-seekers who have a lot of experience in their industry and/or field.

Resume profile. A resume profile is similar to a resume summary, but goes into more detail about your accomplishments at your current or former job, while also telling the reader about your career goals. Think of a resume profile as a section that pulls all the best parts of your work experience section into one place.

Who should use a resume profile: Anyone with significant accomplishments under their belt, expertise in a niche field, or applying to a job in the same industry that they have lots of experience in.

Resume headline. Resume headlines aren’t necessary, but you can include one alongside any of the four types of resume introduction listed above. A resume headline comes between your contact information and the resume introduction of your choice.

Headlines can be used by entry-level applicants and experienced job-seekers alike. The important point is that your headline should be short and to the point. Additionally, you should use title case when writing your resume headline (capitalize words as you would for a book title).

Who should use a resume headline: Any job-seeker who wants to showcase their experience or unique value right off the bat.

Work experience. Your work experience section is the place to let hiring managers know that you have relevant experience that would allow you to handle the job you’re applying for.

If you’re using the chronological resume format, your work experience section would come after your resume summary/objective. In a funcitonal reumse, it would follow your skills section. Either way, work experience should be listed in reverse-chronological order (most recent experience at the top).

When listing your work experience, you should include all of the following information:

Job title. Start by stating the position you held at the company. These are easy cue for the hiring manager to look at and determine whether your past positions would help you succeed at their company.

Company Info. Include the name of the employer, the location where you worked, and perhaps a brief description of the company, if it isn’t a well-known name.

Dates Employed: Use the mm/yyyy format if you want to be sure that most applicant tracking systems (ATS) will pick it up. Whatever format you use for dates, be consistent, or your resume will look sloppy.

Job Description. Don’t just list your job’s responsibilities; hiring managers and recruiters already have an idea of your duties based on the job title. Instead, list your most important and impressive responsibilities/achievements at the job with bullet points. Determine which of these are most relevant for your new role based on the job description.

Ideally, each bullet should be no longer than a single line. However, two lines is acceptable, if used sparingly.

Always start with a strong action verb, followed by a quantifiable achievement and a specific duty. For example: “Developed ad campaigns for clients, increasing sales by an average of 27%.” Each job title should include 3-5 bullet points.

The order that you include this information can be changed around, as long as you are consistent throughout your resume. However, the bullet points detailing your job’s achievements should always be the last item for each entry.

It’s important that you tailor your resume’s work experience section to the job you’re applying for. We recommend reading the job description carefully and highlighting the action verbs in one color and the skills, adjectives, and job-specific nouns in a different color.

Educational background. In almost all cases, your education section should come after your professional history. If you’re a recent college graduate with limited work experience, you may choose to put your educational achievements first.

Like the section on your professional history, educational experiences should come in reverse-chronological order, with your highest level of education at the top. If you have a college degree, you don’t need to add any information about your high school experience. If you didn’t finish college, it’s okay to give a list of what credits you did complete.

Each educational experience can be listed in the following format:

Degree/Program Name College/University Name Dates attended

You don’t need to add anything else, especially if your resume is already impressive enough. But if you’re struggling to fill up the page, or you feel that aspects of your educational experience will help make you a standout, you may consider also including:

Minor. If you think it rounds out your not-exactly-relevant-to-the-job major nicely.

GPA. Only if it was 3.5 or higher. Otherwise, it’s not going to do you any favors to include this.

Honors. Dean’s List, Cum Laude, etc.

Achievements. If you wrote a killer thesis/dissertation that showcases intimate knowledge relevant to the job to which you’re applying, you can include its title and a very brief description.

Extracurricular activities. Only include if they’re relevant. For example, if you’re applying for a management position and you were president of your student government.

Certifications/Licenses. If the job you’re applying for requires/likes to see certain certifications or licenses that you have, you may include them in this section as well.

Skills section. Your impressive skills should be scattered logistically throughout your professional history section, but you should also include a section solely dedicated to highlighting your skill set . Skills can be broken down into two categories:

Hard skills are skills you learn through training and indicate expertise with a technical ability or job-specific responsibility.

Soft skills are your personality traits, interpersonal abilities, and intangible qualities that make you more effective at your job.

Your resume should have a healthy mix of hard and soft skills, as both are essential to job performance. However, since soft skills are harder to prove in the context of a resume, we recommend leaning more toward hard skills. Additionally, whenever you list a soft skill, make sure that it has a correlating item in your work experience section.

For example, if you say you are skilled in collaboration, you should mention a time when a team project was a major success somewhere in your work experience section.

Optional sections. If you still have space left or there’s more you want to show off that doesn’t quite fit in any of the above sections, you may consider adding an additional section covering one or more of the below categories:

Language . Being bilingual is always impressive, and can be included on a resume for any company. Highlight this more if your position involves liaising with international distributors and/or clients. Don’t lie about your proficiency level.

It may be best to not mention it if you’re not particularly proficient speaker . Such as if you took courses in school, or haven’t really managed to gain fluency. It can end up looking like an attempt to inflate your credentials, which you want to avoid.

Volunteer experience . Always a good thing to include. It shows you’re a team player who behaves in a way that promotes the greater good, without thought of personal gain. Especially good for entry-level candidates and those applying for jobs at a non-profit. If you have gaps in your work history, you can also consider including volunteer experiences in your work history section instead.

Personal projects. A personal blog, published works, or a portfolio of your past projects are all good things to include. They show you take initiative, enjoy and take pride in your work, and that you can handle the responsibilities of the job, if relevant.

Certifications/licenses. If you didn’t include these in your education section, this is another good place to list relevant certifications or licenses that you have.

Interests . This is largely just a space filler if your resume is light in other areas. However, if your hobbies are directly related to the job that you’re applying for, it’s not a bad idea to include them. And it might draw a recruiter’s attention if you end up sharing some of the same interests as they do.

If you have several seemingly random items that are valuable, but don’t warrant creating a whole separate section for, you can also make a section called “Additional Experience.” Here you can include all of the above categories in one place. Just make sure that each item is clear and easy for readers to understand.

Resume samples

Now that we have a good idea of how to write a resume, let’s take a look at some example resumes:

Jack Pilgrim Washington , DC 14015 – (555) 444-3333 – [email protected] – www.linkedin.com/jpilgrim Resume Summary Graphic designer with 3+ years of experience creating and implementing promotional materials and social media graphics. Worked with sales and marketing teams to increase inbound calls by 23% YoY through compelling digital media. Adept at planning, managing, and prioritizing multiple deadlines at once, and thrives in fast-paced work environment. Work Experience Creative Designs | Washington, DC Lead Graphic Designer | June 2018-Present Worked with sales and marketing teams to create landing pages, sales proposals, and supporting media elements to drive sales by over $250,000 per quarter Trained, managed, and mentored team of 4 junior designers to fulfill 40+ project orders on a weekly basis Conducted UX research through surveys, usability testing, and data analysis to plan content marketing strategy, driving organic search traffic by 12% Presented proposals, results, and status updates to set of 4-7 clients, ensuring customer satisfaction at or above 95% for 3 years straight Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Junior Graphic Designer | July 2016-May 2018 Translated client needs and branding strategies into design and content strategy, increasing client retention by 22% Reduced project turnaround time by 8% by Utilizing web-based ticket system for completing and archiving finalized pieces Posted digital artwork to network IPTV using web interface to produce high-end info-graphics and other materials Happy Place | Alexandria, VA Marketing Intern | September 2015-July 2016 Assisted marketing team with data collection, analysis, and presentation using Google Analytics Drew up storyboards for new marketing campaigns alongside sales team, increasing brand awareness through social media Wrote 500-1000 word articles to pair with graphical elements on page, leading to a 40% boost in engagement on company website Education Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, Georgia May 2016 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design Skills Adobe Creative Suite Typography HTML/CSS WordPress Collaboration Organization

Allison Neederly Chicago, Illinois , 60007 | (333) 222-1111 | [email protected] | www.linkedin.com/allison.neederly Resume Summary Dedicated customer service representative with 4+ years experience resolving customers’ needs in-person, online, and over the phone. Top achiever at XYZ Inc. with a 100% customer satisfaction rate for Q1 of 2020. Friendly personable, and knowledgable about company’s products and services. Relevant Skills Customer Service Responded to upwards of 200 customer queries daily with XYZ Inc., reducing the average wait time by 56% and increasing customer satisfaction rates by 13% Ability to resolve conflict and create a positive atmosphere for shopping for both new and existing customers through technical proficiency Expert product knowledge and communication skills, and experience training and mentoring new customer service staff Web Chat and Phone Skilled in 3 web chat platforms for helping online customers resolve their queries quickly and accurately Achieved fastest call resolution rate at XYZ Inc., with an average resolution time of under 5 minutes per customer Performed outbound calls for customer satisfaction surveys, as well as writing web-based surveys for 10,000+ customers Troubleshooting Detailed product knowledge allowed for customer technical issues to be resolved at rate within top 5% of all customer service associates at XYZ Inc. Created manual for step-by-step directions for troubleshooting that was implemented for team of 100+ customer service reps Positive attitude took average tech-related negative response from 1/5 stars to 4/5 stars, increasing trust in brands and services Work Experience XYZ Inc. | Philadelphia, PA Customer Service Associate New Look Global | Burlington, VT Junior Customer Service Representative L.L. Bean | Burlington, VT Sales Associate Education University of Vermont | Burlington, VT May 2012 Bachelor of Arts in Humanities

Priya Laghari New York, NY | (222) 111-0000 | [email protected] | www.priyabizdev.com Resume Profile Strategy Development: Grew John Deere’s international sales by 13% by tapping into undeserved countries in Southeast Asia Management: Oversaw a team of managers representing marketing, sales, and product teams. Streamlined collaborative, cross-functional communications through agile and scrum management system CRM: Developed, customized, and implemented new customer relationship management database for accounts totaling over $10M in value Work Experience Business Development Manager 01/2015-Present Microsoft | Redmond, WA Developed product strategies and roadmap for Google AdWords, increasing inbound traffic by 26% YoY Reduced time training on new software by 50% for new and existing employees by implement e-learning programs Spearheaded digital marketing campaign worth $1M that saw a return of 200% in first year by qualifying leads earlier in the sales funnel Regional Sales Manager 11/2012-01/2015 Big Things Inc. | St. Louis, MO Managed territory encompassing 29 regional locations with an annual revenue of approx. $55M Worked with C-level executives to plan business strategies, resulting in 20% reduction in overhead costs Increased client retention by 12% in first year by implementing a CRM approach based on account profiling and elevating levels of relationship selling Account Manager 02/2009-11/2012 Solutions Corp. | Chicago, IL Implemented and developed CRM strategic plans, increasing retention of long-term clients by 22% Maintained 50+ accounts totaling over $35M in value Generated leads through one-on-one consultation via phone inquiries, online check-ins, and meeting office walk-ins Relevant Skills CRM: Proficient with Salesforce, Zoho, and HubSpot; some experience with Keap. Used various CRM software over a decade to successfully manage customer relations and quick to adapt to new software and tools that aid in quality of customer experience. Salesmanship: Negotiated and closed over several deals worth $1M+ and skilled in upselling and cross-selling. Adept at working closely with marketing and product teams to maximize the efficiency of the sales funnel for both inbound and outbound traffic. Presentation: Represented Microsoft Northwest Region at quarterly board meetings, ensuring all stakeholders were kept abreast of new developments and opportunities. Also deliver monthly presentations to big clients and vendors to maintain positive relationship. Data analytics. Expert at integrating data from various analytics platforms, including Google, Microsoft Power BI, and SAP BusinessObjects Education Colgate University | May 2008 MBA Fordham University | May 2006 Bachelor’s Degree in Business

For more resume examples and templates:

Resume examples by job

Google docs resume template

Resume templates

Resume builder

Resume Headers Samples:

Tip : Never put your contact info in the header of your document; some applicant tracking systems might miss it.

For more on how to write a resume header:

Resume Header

Resume Titles

Resume introduction examples

Entry-Level Resume Objective.

Recent graduate with a bachelor’s in Marketing from the University of Virginia seeking an entry-level role in content marketing. Excellent copywriter with 2+ years experience editing content as a member of the UVa Writing Center.

Career Change Resume Objective.

Eager to apply 7+ years of experience with customer success management to make successful outbound B2B calls, deliver customized business solutions to new and existing customers, and provide expert product knowledge in the role of Account Manager for XYZ Inc.

Example Resume Summary Statement.

Accountant with over 8 years of experience in the medical industry. Adept at advising on management of cash deficits, reconciling departmental accounts, and creating new accounts and codes. Coordinated invoice preparation system for ABC that reduced contractor overhead by 19% YoY.

English teacher with a love of language and 6 years of experience teaching high school students. Developed new curriculum that boosted freshman reading comprehension scores by 12% and created after school book club for AP Lit class, resulting in 100% of participating students achieving a 5 on the AP Lit test.

Example Qualifications Summary.

Executive assistant with 5+ years experience helping maintain efficiency in an office of 25 employees Communicated directly with internal and external stakeholders, helping Senior Vice President manage projects worth $5M+ Proactively managed office schedules, identifying and prioritizing changes to ensure client satisfaction Recognized in a company of 500 for “Outstanding Achiever” in May 2019

Example Resume Profile.

Detail-oriented IT Specialist with 4 years of experience overseeing and improving the infrastructure of IT systems. Adept at building and running troubleshooting systems and testing services. Decreased security risk by 47% through continual optimization, while also improving the speed of client portal by 22%. Excellent communicator both internally and for client-facing discussions. Achieved 98%+ customer satisfaction ratings through weekly and monthly check-ins with accounts valued cumulatively at $500,000.

Entry-Level Resume Headline.

Bilingual College Graduate with 80 WPM Typing Speed and Tutoring Experience

Experienced Resume Headline.

Business Development Specialist with 6+ Years Experience Scaling Start-Up Tech Teams

For more on resume introductions:

Resume objective statement

Resume summary statement

Resume summary statement examples

Qualifications summary

Sample resume work experience sections

Work Experience XYZ Industries | Seattle, WA Marketing Associate | May 2019-Present Delivered weekly presentations to client-base to communicate brand messaging, increasing client retention by 11% Served as liaison between marketing and product teams, resulting in projects finishing 2 weeks early, on average Leveraged Excel skills to create and maintain spreadsheet to track consumer insights, emergent trends, and inform decisions of marketing team through competitive analysis Managed team of 5 contractors to juggle multiple priority projects simultaneously, never missing a deadline Initiated an affiliate referral program that PR team went on to turn into a revenue-generating stream valued at $30,000 annually ABC Corp | Seattle, WA Marketing Intern | September 2018-May 2019 Developed, maintained, and processed 20+ digital consent forms and distributor forms Worked collaboratively with a team of 10 marketing professionals, closely aligning our goals with the PR team Provided data analysis using Google Analytics and performed keyword research to increase blog traffic by 56% over six months Answered up to 50 customer queries by phone and email each week

For more on building the perfect resume work experience section:

Resume work experience section

First resume (no experience)

Examples Of Education Resume Sections

Graduated recently from a 4-year program.

Western Illinois University | Macomb, Illinois May 2020 Bachelor of Arts in Sociology | Minor in Psychology 3.95 GPA magna cum laude Dean’s List all semesters

Two degrees.

Fordham University | Bronx, New York April 2016 Master of Chemical Engineering Stony Brook University | Stony Brook, New York April 2014 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Anticipated graduation date (not yet graduated).

DePaul Univeristy | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Arts in History – Degree anticipated May 2021 Current GPA: 3.8

Older job seeker (graduated 10+ years ago).

University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois Bachelor of Business Administration

High school graduate (no college degree).

Johnston High School 2016-2020 Head of Computer Club

More on crafting the perfect resume education section:

Education resume section

GPA on resume

Dean’s list

Magna cum laude

Examples Of Skills For Resume

Examples of hard skills include:

Examples of soft skills include:

Here’s more information on how to incorporate skills into your resume:

Resume skills section

Hard skills

Soft skills

Top skills for professionals

Skills-based resume

Resume writing FAQ

What is a resume?

A resume is a one to two-page document that focuses on professional experience, past achievements, education and certifications, and specific skills tailored to the job you’re applying for.

Almost every job application requires a resume, and hiring managers use them as a first impression in determining which applicants get a shot at an interview.

Whether you’re fresh out of college or have 30 years of professional experience, this guide should help craft a resume that stands out from the crowd and get you one step closer to landing your dream job.

What is the format for writing a good resume?

Most people will want to use a chronological or reverse-chronological resume format. This format is compatible with most applicant tracking systems (ATS) and is easy for employers to read. Additionally it helps highlight your experience, which helps prove your qualifications.

How far back should a resume go?

A resume should go back no further than 10 to 15 years. However, it is important that all your information is relevant. Therefore, do not include job experience that is irrelevant to your application, even if it’s fewer than 10 years old. Save that information for later discussions.

Should you personalize your resume for each job?

Yes, you should personalize your resume for each job you apply to. Many recruiters use ATS now, which will search for keywords in a resume and reject those that don’t have them. That means that the skills you choose to highlight as well as your opening, such as your resume summary, should be altered to suit each job you apply to.

You don’t need to rewrite the entire resume for each job, but it does show attention to detail and initiative to make sure that your resume is customized. It also makes it more likely that you’ll get past the first step of the process.

State of New York Department of Labor – Resumes, Cover Letters and Job Applications

Harvard University – Create a Resume/CV or Cover Letter

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Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.

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10 Resume Tips to Help Your CV Stand Out, Experts Say

Posted: May 14, 2024 | Last updated: May 14, 2024

When you're hoping to land the job of your dreams , your resume can serve as the secret weapon you need to get your foot in the door. As the first touchpoint you'll have with a potential employer, it needs to stand out from the crowd if you want to be invited in for an actual interview. This is especially true in today's highly competitive job market.

"A great resume isn't simply a piece of paper on which to record employment history; it's a strategic tool for marketing yourself as the perfect job candidate," says Vit Koval , a global hiring and remote work advocate at the hiring company Globy .

With that in mind, experts say there are a handful of ways that you can upgrade your resume to ensure that it ends up in the right hands and makes the right impression. These are the top 10 resume tips to put your career goals within reach.

RELATED: How to Ace Every Common Job Interview Question .

1. Focus on results, not just experience.

Employers want to know the highlights of your career until now, but simply listing your experience won't paint the full picture.

"Too many resumes simply list experience," says Renee Fellman , a turnaround expert and interim CEO at Renee Fellman & Associates . "To make your resume stand out, clearly and concisely include the results you achieved that can be verified by the person to whom you reported."

She recommends asking yourself: "What were your goals? What did you accomplish?"

To that point, the experts all agree that it's a good idea to lean on data to quantify your achievements and showcase your impact. "Data is one of the most underused resume enhancement techniques," says Daniel Space , a senior HR director and content creator who goes by Dan from HR .

For instance, explain how you helped save the company $100,000, how you optimized a process for 11 percent efficiency, ensured training for a data analysis skill set of 900 employees, or managed a budget of $6 million, Space says, emphasizing the importance of specificity.

2. Tweak the resume to fit the job description.

RELATED: 10 Best Public Speaking Hacks That Experts Use .

3. Use a professional format for easy readability.

LaMonica also recommends giving careful consideration to your resume formatting, opting for a "clean, professional" style that's easy to read.

Hull agrees that "format matters." She recommends using standard fonts (Arial, Cambria, Garamond, and Times New Roman are all considered standard for CVs), appropriate use of white space, and clear margins and alignment.

Though consistency is key, Space adds that you can also use visual cues to highlight your CV's most important pieces of information. "For your best achievements, use bold lettering to call the reader's attention," he suggests.

4. Consider your order of presentation.

The order in which you share your experience, results data, education, and skills can also make a difference. "Highlight key skills and accomplishments at the beginning for emphasis," advises LaMonica.

"Your most important information is your experience—that should take up 80 percent of the page," adds Space, noting that education should go at the end. "You do not need a professional summary if your resume is directly appropriate for the role."

5. Keep it short.

Submitting a resume that's many pages long may signal to your potential employers that you're unable to synthesize information into digestible formats. Your biggest achievements are also likely to get buried in too much information.

"Brevity and clarity are key qualities of a great resume," says Hull, who was also the founding director of an executive coaching program for faculty at Duke University Medical Center.

RELATED: The 13 Best Ways to Make Money Online, Experts Say .

6. Use digital formats to your advantage.

Submitting a resume is different today than it was even a decade ago—one of the biggest differences being that most resumes are now digital.

By using the right relevant keywords, you have an opportunity to optimize your CV and pass through any automated tracking systems (ATS) used to screen candidates initially. In particular, you can include keywords, including specific skills and qualifications, that stand out from the job description.

LaMonica also recommends providing a link to a professional online profile or company website for additional information.

7. Address any gaps in employment.

Submitting your resume for consideration is the very first opportunity you'll have to tell your story. If you leave gaps in that story, your potential employers might make unfair assumptions.

This is especially important to remember if you've had any major gaps in your employment. "Tell the story of what was going on. Explain, don't be defensive, and focus on how the gap may have improved your skills, including resilience," suggests Hull.

8. Use a "Previous Experience" section.

Having lots of job experience is a good thing, but including details about jobs you held two decades ago can take away from your more recent achievements. Space adds that, unfortunately, "ageism is a thing"—meaning you may not want to highlight just how long you've been in the workforce.

RELATED: 5 Things You Should Never Lie About on Your Resume .

9. Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Nothing will turn off a potential employer faster than noticing typos or careless errors in your resume. Since your CV is your one chance to put your best foot forward, even minor mistakes in spelling, punctuation, or word choice can signal that your work is sloppy or rushed.

To avoid this mistake, read it slowly, ask a friend to give it a second pass, and run your work through a spellchecker. "Proofread meticulously to ensure error-free content," advises LaMonica.

10. Always include a cover letter.

Making a point of always including a brief but thoughtful and personalized cover letter "will greatly enhance your chances" of employment, says Koval. This is where you really get to tell your story, share your enthusiasm for the position, company, or general field of work, and let your personality shine.

RELATED:For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter.

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Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

The Online Writing Lab at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

The Purdue On-Campus Writing Lab and Purdue Online Writing Lab assist clients in their development as writers—no matter what their skill level—with on-campus consultations, online participation, and community engagement. The Purdue Writing Lab serves the Purdue, West Lafayette, campus and coordinates with local literacy initiatives. The Purdue OWL offers global support through online reference materials and services.

A Message From the Assistant Director of Content Development 

The Purdue OWL® is committed to supporting  students, instructors, and writers by offering a wide range of resources that are developed and revised with them in mind. To do this, the OWL team is always exploring possibilties for a better design, allowing accessibility and user experience to guide our process. As the OWL undergoes some changes, we welcome your feedback and suggestions by email at any time.

Please don't hesitate to contact us via our contact page  if you have any questions or comments.

All the best,

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