Explore different types of Resume Examples and download ready-to-use resume samples to build that perfect resume to get your dream job:
You find your dream job – one you are perfect for, you send in your resume, and think to yourself, “I’ve got this in the bag.”
Then you wait… and wait… and wait. The call never comes. Why?
Chances are, they never even looked at your resume.
But that won’t happen again!
We’re going to help you build an extraordinary resume – one that is sure to get you noticed, so you finally get that call.
With the help of our resume samples, you will be able to:
- Choose exactly what, and how much, information to include.
- Identify the perfect format for your resume.
We’ve got good resume examples to suit different levels of experience and all industries – so look and get inspired to build that perfect resume!
Table of Contents:
How To Write A Resume
Content
Before you can choose an appropriate format and layout for your resume, you need to think about the content. This is the basic information that every resume should include:
#1) Contact Information
You should include these details at the very top, so recruiters can easily see who you are, and how to reach you:
- Name: First and last name (middle name/initial optional). This should be the largest font on the resume.
- Phone number: Include your personal number, never home or work. Make sure your voicemail message is appropriate for receiving professional calls.
- Email address: Use a formal, professional-sounding email ID, not the first one you made in high school, for example i_lovepuppies1996@aol.com
- Professional title (optional): This can be the title of your current job or the one you hope to get.
- Social media (optional): Only if you’ve got an online presence, such as a published portfolio, website, or blog, that is relevant to your work
- LinkedIn URL(optional): Only if your profile is up-to-date.
#2) Summary & Objective
Recruiters spend only a few seconds scanning resumes, so you’ve got little time to capture their attention. A well-crafted resume summary or objective at the top of the page can help you make a striking first impression. But which do you need – a resume summary or a resume objective? Or both?
a) Choose a resume summary, if you have the relevant experience for the position you’re applying for. It is a brief, 2-3 line summary of your professional achievements and skills.
Resume summary example:
Solutions-focused software tester with 8+ years experience in the development and implementation of manual and automated test scripts, well versed in agile, scrum, as well as waterfall methodologies, and with a proven history of isolating flaws, resolving defects, and ensuring client satisfaction.
b) Choose a resume objective, if you’re changing careers, or if you’re a recent graduate or entry-level candidate, and lack work experience. It is a brief, 2-3 line description of your career goal, or your motivation to enter this particular field or industry.
Resume objective example:
Creative and disciplined recent graduate with a BFA in Visual Arts and Graphic Design, from City University, seeking new opportunities. 2+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Photoshop and Flash, creating graphics for ads & websites. Looking to grow as a graphic designer, and hone my artistic abilities at the XYZ Design Company.
Look at different resume summary examples online, as well as resume objectives, to help give you some ideas.
#3) Work Experience
This is the most crucial part of your resume. Potential employers will scrutinize this section to see if your employment history and professional achievements make you a suitable candidate for the position. Before filling out the work experience section of your resume, there are two things you need to know:
a) How to list work experience
The most commonly used format for listing your employment history follows this order:
- Your job title – at the start of each listing, in bold.
- Company name & location – only the city and state are fine.
- Start & end dates of employment – only year, or month and year.
- Key Responsibilities & Achievements– not just what you did, but also how well you did it.
Remember, you also need to tailor your resume to each job you apply for. You can do this by looking at the job description and identifying keywords related to the responsibilities of the position you’re hoping to fill.
This is an essential step as most HR departments or firms use an ATS or Applicant Tracking System – a software that helps recruiters to screen candidates, by scanning resumes for key skills, responsibilities, titles, etc., and identifying good matches.
b) How much work experience to list
Whether you have over ten years of work experience, or you are a fresh college graduate, this is an important consideration – you don’t want to write an entire book about your work history, nor do you have to leave this section completely blank.
The information you include in this section depends on your level of experience:
- No experience – If you really have none, you can simply skip this section altogether, and emphasize other sections. Another option, if it would help bolster your application, is to include other experience you may have, such as internships, or volunteering in student bodies, charitable institutions, etc.
- Entry-level – Include all the work you have done so far.
- Mid-level – List only what is relevant to the job you’re applying for.
- Senior/Expert level – Up to 15 years of relevant work experience is all you should include.
Top Tips:
- You don’t need to mention all your responsibilities. Include only the ones most relevant to the position you’re applying for.
- Use action words as much as possible in this section.
Once you master this section, you will be done with the hardest part of writing a resume.
#4) Education
If you have several years of experience, you can keep this section brief, but if you have little to no experience, then this is your chance to highlight your academic achievements. Put this section first if you are a recent graduate, and/or have no experience.
List your education using this standard format:
- Degree Name
- Institution name & location
- Month and year of graduation
- Any relevant coursework (optional)
Top Tips:
- Start with your highest degree and don’t list high school if you have a university degree.
- Don’t mention your grade unless you have a remarkable academic record.
#5) Skills
There are two types of skills you can list on your resume:
- Hard/Technical skills: These are measurable, job-related abilities, the know-how gained from education, training, or experience. For example Photoshop, Python, Bookkeeping, Baking, etc.
- Soft skills: These are personal skills or natural abilities that have more to do with your individual character traits than education or training. For example Time management, Empathy, Diplomacy, etc.
#6) Optional Sections
You don’t have to include the following sections, but they offer you the opportunity to personalize your resume and show potential employers how well-rounded a candidate you are.
Optional sections include:
- Languages – List along with language fluency levels.
- Awards & Honors – For example scholarships, special recognitions, academic or professional achievements, etc.
- Certifications – Include any licenses, if they’re relevant to the new job. For example, Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Chartered Public Accountant, etc.
- Volunteering experience – This is especially helpful if you are a student or recent graduate with hardly any experience.
- Internship experience – This should only be included if you are still a student or fresh out of school.
- Publications – This is an important section if you are a writer, or researcher, and have published works to showcase. You may want to link to an online portfolio if you have too many to list on a resume.
- Projects – Show how passionate you are about your chosen field by mentioning any relevant academic, personal, or professional projects. For example college group projects, part-time business ventures, academic coursework, etc.
- Hobbies & Interests – It may not be the reason you get hired, but it tells a potential employer a little more about you as an individual. If you have room to spare on your resume, use this section to tell your story.
Format And Layout
Now it’s time to think about the format and layout of your resume. You should pay attention to the design of your resume, as this catches the eye of recruiters. Our different resume samples will help you choose the right design for you. The right resume format and layout will depend on your experience level and the industry you are applying to.
There are three kinds of resume formats:
a) Chronological: In a chronological resume, you list the details of your employment and education history in reverse chronological order, i.e. from your latest position or qualification to your oldest. This is the most commonly used resume format and can be used by anyone, but it is especially suitable for candidates with little experience, i.e. college graduates or entry-level candidates.
b) Functional or skills-based: This resume allows you to showcase your skills, abilities, and achievements by reorganizing your employment history by skill categories rather than by time periods. This kind of format is best for career changers with relevant, transferable skills, or when you need to gloss over any gaps in your employment history.
c) Hybrid: A hybrid resume, as the name suggests, combines the best elements of both the functional and chronological resume formats, i.e. it simultaneously showcases your skills, achievements, and relevant work experience. This is a versatile resume format that will suit experienced i.e. mid-and senior-level professionals, or highly skilled candidates.
Depending on the industry you are applying to, you can choose a traditional or modern layout for your resume.
d) Traditional: If you are applying for a job in a ‘traditional’ industry, for example, law, banking, government contracting, etc., then a conventional layout is best for you. Its simplicity increases its scannability, increasing the chances of a recruiter picking up your resume and actually reading it. A traditional resume layout usually features:
- Classic serif fonts – For e.g. Times New Roman, Garamond, or Cambria.
- Minimal colors – Usually black and white, or white and any other dark color, e.g. navy blue.
- Minimal style elements – No background art, icons, etc., as it is more text-based.
e) Modern: If you are keen to work in a ‘contemporary’ industry that values imagination and innovation, for example, advertising, or IT, then you can get creative with your resume. This kind of layout is unconventional, in that it can take on many forms, e.g. an infographic resume, and could serve as an opportunity for you to showcase your artistic talents. A modern resume layout commonly uses:
- Graphic elements – Background art, icons for sections, a personal logo, etc.
- Visual data – Information about your experience, skills, and achievements is presented in a visual format, e.g. charts, graphs, skills bars, etc.
- Colors – As long as you don’t overdo it, a few pops of color will help your resume stand out and make it easier for the recruiter to spot relevant information
Top Resume Examples For 2022
Before you build your resume, take a look at the top resume samples:
Example 1: Chronological Resume
Best for candidates with little experience, i.e. college graduates, or entry-level candidates.
=> Click here to download a sample of the chronological resume
Example 2: Functional Resume
Best for career changers with relevant, transferable skills, or anyone with gaps in their employment history.
=> Click here to download a sample of the functional resume
Example 3: Hybrid Resume
Best for experienced, i.e. mid-and senior-level professionals, or highly skilled candidates.
=> Click here to download a sample of the hybrid resume
Example 4: Traditional Resume
Best for jobs in Finance, Administration, Healthcare, Transportation and Logistics, and Education.
=> Click here to download a sample of the traditional resume
Example 5: Modern Resume
Best for jobs in Information technology, Sales and Marketing, Business, Creative Arts, and Hospitality.
=> Click here to download a sample of the modern resume
Frequently Asked Questions
Q #1) Can a resume be 2 pages long?
Answer: If you are an entry-level candidate, or have less than five years experience, use a one-page resume. Very experienced candidates who need more than a single page to showcase their expertise commonly used two-page resumes.
Whatever the length, make sure your resume includes nothing superfluous, such as any experience or skills irrelevant to the position you’re applying for.
Q #2) What should I include in a resume?
Answer: You should include:
- Your name and contact information
- Relevant work experience
- Education
- Related skills
Remember to customize your resume to fit each application, so prospective employers can see why you are the right candidate for that position.
Q #3) What are some red flags on a resume?
Answer: These are the top 5 red flags that may put employers off:
- Long, unexplained gaps in employment history.
- Errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation, and other typos.
- Generic work summary, without specifics of the position applied to.
- Switching jobs frequently, with less than two years at each position.
- Resumes are longer than two pages.
Q #4) Which resume format is best for an intern?
Answer: Most recruiters prefer a chronological resume, in which experience and qualifications are listed in reverse chronological order, i.e. from your current or most recent position to the oldest. But if you’re a college graduate with at least some experience e.g. volunteering, then a functional resume may also work for you.
You can use the functional resume format to highlight your skills and achievements and show employers why you are the right candidate for a specific position.
Q #5) What is most important on a resume?
Answer: The most important thing is for recruiters to be able to easily see why you are a good fit for the position. With entry-level candidates, they are looking for evidence that, though you may not have extensive experience, you have either the right qualifications or the requisite skills to learn and grow in the position you are looking to fill.
In the case of seasoned candidates, recruiters want to see both experience and achievements.
Conclusion
In this article, you’ve seen how to write a resume, i.e. what information to include in it, as well as how to choose an appropriate resume format and layout. You’ve also got several resume samples to help you build your own. Choose the best format and layout for your resume according to your experience level and industry.
For example:
- If you are a recent graduate applying for an entry-level position at a bank, you need a chronological resume with a traditional layout.
- If you are a seasoned professional applying for a senior position at an IT company, use a hybrid resume with a modern layout.
- If you are changing careers, or have large gaps in your work history, then a functional resume with either a traditional or modern layout (depending on the industry) would be best for you.