What Is a Resume?

A digital or printed resume is a document that lists down all the relevant personal, background, and work-related information needed for qualifying for a job. It is usually written on letter-size paper, but digital versions are not uncommon.

During the hiring process, recruiters may also ask for an individual's cover sheet or a curriculum vitae. But, most of the time, submitting a resume will suffice since it already contains the same information as the other documents.

It is estimated that approximately 250 resumes are submitted for a single corporate job vacancy. And that can be daunting. But when you're armed with the right sample resume to base your resume from, the task will be easier and less stressful.

How to Make a Sample Resume

Whether you are making a trainer, online, teacher, fresher, student, executive, functional, career, or photo resume, all of the resume-making tips that we offer below may be applied. Study them well.

1. Follow A Scannable Layout

It's reported that an average recruiter spends about 6 seconds scanning a resume. Is this amount of time enough to get all the relevant information about the applicant? Barely. That is why when creating your resume document, it's best to tailor-fit the document's layout towards this review method.

Categorize your resume content into job descriptions, objectives, past experience, education, and professional backgrounds. Use bold headers and font styles. Arrange content based on importance. Doing all this will make your resume easier to read.

2. Add a Data Visualization Tool

Aside from following an organized resume format or layout, you may also add data visualization tools to the document. Pie charts and bar charts allow you to showcase your skills and corresponding competence in them without resorting to using blocks of text. Data visualization tools or illustrations help make your resume less boring and more eye-catching.

3. Proofread Before Printing

Did you know that recruiters and employers will disregard your resume if they find at least one typo or grammatical error in them? So make sure that you polish your senior or beginner resume writing and proofreading skills before you print out or send out that resume.

Do not overly rely on free printable resume templates and cover letter examples found online, as they may not follow the right grammar and spelling rules. If you have to use them, make sure that you review the entire template and make any necessary corrections.

4. Include Your LinkedIn Profile

In a digital world, most hiring managers will look at an applicant's online or social media profiles before approving or rejecting a candidate. Make this online review easier for your employer by including a link to your LinkedIn profile. Also, make sure that your profile matches what was written on your resume. Don't forget to add a professionally taken photo on your profile. This online review is used to verify your identity and qualifications for the job.

5. Create a Plan B

As the economy recovers, it is expected that 63% more of US employers will be creating or filling positions within the next year. This means increased competition when looking for a job.

No matter how impeccable your credentials and business resume is, you will still be subject to the hurdles of a job interview, the fickleness of the job market, and the rude inevitability of a trashcan-leading typo. Prepare yourself. Come up with an alternative plan. For example, you may apply for multiple jobs at once, or you may get temp jobs while waiting for your dream job. Perhaps it's time to start your own business.

Just don't lose hope.