A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Winning Resume from Scratch

A well-crafted resume can reveal your experience and expertise in a particular domain. It can also provide hook points for the interviewer to ask questions during the interview process. 

This article will provide some invaluable insights into the resume-building tips and techniques.

How to Build a Resume?

Following are some important tips on how to build a resume: 

• Make Sure To Utilize Fonts that are Appropriate For Professional Use 

Employers have limited time to review resumes, so ensure yours is easy to read. Choose a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman and set the size between 10 and 12 points. Doing this will give your resume a professional look.

Make sure to reduce or eliminate any unnecessary white space in your resume. 

More blank space can make your resume look sparse and may cause concern for the reader. To prevent this, increase the font size to 12 points and consider adding an extra section such as "Skills" or "Awards and Achievements". 

This will make it easier for the reader to focus solely on the content of your resume instead of the white spaces.

 

• Express Yourself With Action Words 

Use strong, active language for an effective resume and avoid unnecessary words. Include powerful action verbs such as “achieved,” “earned,” “completed,” or “accomplished.” To improve readability, ensure succinct sentences and ideas are clear and concise. 

• Begin Constructing Your Resume By Including The Essential Information

When constructing a resume, begin by adding the essential details. Incorporate a header with your contact info, such as your telephone number, email address, and location (just city and state will suffice, no need for full address).

If you have a personal website, you can include it on your resume. To maximise impact, you should focus on the responsibilities and achievements of each role. 

• Describe The Successes And Achievements You Have Achieved 

Although it may seem daunting, writing bullets for your previous job experiences does not require documenting every detail. Instead, highlight the responsibilities and accomplishments you are most proud of. 

You don't need a long list of bullets - a few key points should be sufficient to demonstrate your capabilities to potential employers. To ensure that the impact of your work is felt, include numbers when possible - this will help to illustrate the scope of your accomplishments. 

• Provide a List of the Experiences You Have Had in The Relevant Field 

Begin by arranging the positions on your resume in reverse chronological order within each section so that your most recent experience is listed first. 

You should also be open to more than just paid, full-time work experiences; other applicable factors, such as volunteer roles, extracurricular leadership experiences, and side hustles, should also be included.  

• Do Not Forget To Mention Your Achievements And Certifications 

Adding certifications and specialised training to your resume can be a powerful way to make it stand out. Even if you have yet to attain official certifications, any internal training, online courses, or tutorials can be included. 

For example, Skill-Lync offers many free online engineering courses with certificates through the Grow platform. Any kind of training that gives you an edge and furthers your academic standing can be mentioned on a resume. 

• Ensure That You Only Include Subheadings and Sections That Are Necessary 

When constructing a resume, certain sections are recommended; however, you may not need all of them. For instance, resume building for freshers; if you are a recent college or high school graduate who has yet to hold a professional position, it is best not to include an empty work history section.

Instead, substitute the experience section with details of any coursework, academic successes, internships, or extracurricular activities demonstrating your achievements. 

• Be Sure To Proofread and Edit Your Work 

Prior to submitting your resume, it is good to proofread it to guarantee that there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. 

You can use a few programs and tools for this purpose, yet it is also useful to ask dependable acquaintances or colleagues to examine your resume. 

• Select Margins That Are Suitable For Your Document 

Generally, when formatting your resume, stick to one-inch margins on all sides and single-spacing between the lines. If there is too much white space, you can adjust the line spacing to 1.15 or 1.5. If you find it hard to fill the page, you can increase the margins, but they should be at most two inches.

Final Check 

Before submitting any job resume, ask yourself, "Have I made it as simple as possible for this employer to ascertain that I'm a suitable candidate?"

If the vacancy has distinctive criteria, you may need to create another version of your resume to demonstrate you meet the criteria. 

Crafting a well-structured, attention-grabbing resume is an essential step. Ensure you include the most pertinent details, structure it to accentuate the vital information, and thoroughly check for mistakes. 

To help you build your resume, Skill-Lync provides special training sessions for students enrolling in PG Programs. We refine the resume and ensure that all the important points are highlighted. We also conduct mock interviews and provide placement assistance for eligible candidates to make them ace the interview.

Talk to our experts to know more about our career-building courses.