By Abearica Online Editors · Published
Start with the job you want and a list of work you can honestly describe. Draft the evidence before polishing the language. For each requirement in the posting, write down a task, project or experience that shows what you did.
Harvard's resume guide recommends tailoring a resume to the type of position and reflecting skills the employer would value.1
Make a private evidence sheet
Keep the job posting beside a rough working document. Note your role, the work itself and the result you can support. Include relevant volunteer or learning projects if you choose, but label them accurately. Separate paid work from coursework instead of making the reader infer the difference.
Harvard's Extension School guide recommends clear, direct, fact-based resume language rather than embellished wording.2
Replace a broad label such as dependable with a specific description of responsibility. If you cannot substantiate a number, leave it out. Never borrow a sample resume's achievement as your own. For organizing files and checking document tools, use Computing as a separate help stop.
Choose and order the evidence
Harvard's guide recommends placing entries within resume sections in reverse chronological order, with the most recent first.1
Choose section headings that describe the experience you actually have. Put the most relevant material where a reader can find it without hunting. Remove statements you would struggle to explain in an interview. Keep a master copy of your notes, then save a separate version for each application.
Review the exported document
Harvard's guide advises checking that formatting translates properly when converting a resume to PDF.1
Open the file you intend to submit. Check your contact details, dates, line breaks and the employer's requested file format. Read it aloud once for awkward wording. Ask a reviewer to identify anything unclear rather than asking only whether it looks good.
Keep application expenses in your Personal Finance planning notes, not in the resume. If you want health information while planning a job transition, use Health separately rather than putting personal medical details into this exercise. Finish with a document you can discuss accurately, not a promise that a particular format will get you hired.