Basics
This is typically the first section of your resume and includes your name, contact information, and professional title.
Header
This is the standard font size for the body text of your resume to ensure readability.
10-12 point
This is the term for the qualifications or abilities you can demonstrate, such as communication, leadership, or technical expertise
Skills
Tailoring your resume to match the job description is known as this
Customization
This common mistake can make you seem unprofessional and harm your chances, such as using an unprofessional email address.
Using Inappropriate Contact Information
This resume format focuses on skills and qualifications, rather than work experience
Functional Resume
You should avoid using this in your resume because it can make your document difficult to read and look unprofessional.
Excessive Color or Graphics
This section of your resume is where you should highlight measurable achievements, such as sales increases or cost reductions
Achievements/Accomplishments section
This is a good approach if you lack direct experience in a field but want to emphasize transferable skills.
What is Functional Resume Format
This practice of exaggerating or lying on your resume could lead to job loss or damage your professional reputation
Resume Padding or Lying
This section of your resume should provide detailed information about your work history, including job titles, companies, and dates
Work Experience
These are important because they help your resume get noticed by applicant tracking systems (ATS) and increase your chances of getting an interview
Keywords
These are abilities you gain through specific training, experience, or education, such as programming, data analysis, or certifications
Hard Skills
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, this section is crucial to explain what you’ve been doing during that time
Professional Summary or Career Gap Explanation
This term refers to spelling, grammar, or formatting errors that can make your resume hard to read and unprofessional
Mistakes
This term refers to the action words used to describe your responsibilities and achievements, such as “led,” “managed,” or “improved
Power Verbs
This is the ideal file format to send your resume, as it preserves formatting and is easy to open.
These are more general traits that demonstrate how you work and interact with others, such as teamwork or problem-solving
What are Soft Skills
When applying to creative roles like graphic design or writing, this extra component can help show your work
Portfolio
Using this term for job responsibilities can make you sound vague and less compelling than using active verbs
Passive Language
This is the best practice for formatting a resume—keeping it to one or two pages to make sure recruiters can quickly read it.
You should leave space at the top of your resume for this crucial section, which helps employers identify you quickly.
Professional Title or Headline
Including these, such as certifications, awards, and volunteer work, can help set you apart from other candidates and show your qualifications
Additional Sections
This is important to include if you're applying for positions in highly regulated industries such as healthcare or law
Licenses and Certifications
This term refers to the outdated habit of including references directly on the resume. Instead, it’s better to state "References available upon request.
References