A powerful resume is one of the key points in getting the job that you have always dreamed about. Although a piece of paper does not define you, it definitely helps the company in understanding your basics. Everyone has their own journey but the trick lies in emphasizing on what is more important.

Your resume should meet the needs of a certain company or organisation. Moreover, a good resume never lies, is systematic and always up to date. Here are a few things to include in your resume to land your dream job:

•Name and Contact Information

Resumes will only make sense if they start with your name. Contact information includes your email address, phone numbers and your residential address. This is the first section to be filled in any kind of resume. Keep in mind that your name looks like a header.

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Mention an email address that you use for business-related tasks. Do not use too many fonts so that you can keep it simple. Add a relevant address as you may receive updates through letters. Also, changing the colours of fonts is a big no-no as it will make it kind of funky which you certainly should avoid.

•Resume Summary

Here, you insert two or three lines that give a brief knowledge of the work you do. If you have any experience then include it in the first line. Moreover, adding some soft skills in this section is always a good idea.

Since this is a brief introduction, keep it precise and very short. Avoid using unnecessary information that can be discussed later in the resume. Simply tell the company why you are suitable for the job that you are applying for. Do not include your salary in this section.

•Education

This category contains all the information that is related to your education. Start writing with the most recent degree that you have got and then mention your other degrees. For those who are fresh graduates, mention your high school, otherwise, it is advised to skip it.

If you have some academic achievements then do mention them here. In addition, if you are a fresher then you can add your cgpa and ignore it if you are a professional. Do write about the subjects you have studied only if they are relevant to the job.

•Experience

Just like the Education section, start with your latest jobs then list the others. Your priority should be mentioning the most relevant jobs of your career. Write about your progress as well as achievements. Try to include numbers as they make a positive impact.For instance, if your company’s sales increased by 20% under your guidance, then do put it down. If you are a fresh graduate then you can write about your side jobs. List the things or soft skills that you may have learned while working. See to it that these skills match the ones that are required for the job.

Also Read – Here is how you can write the perfect Electronic Resume, that is also ATS friendly

•Skills

This section will comprise of both hard as well as soft skills. Be very careful while you fill out this category as you can make or break the impression with your skillset. Now, of course, each individual has a unique skill set but only write those which are related to the job.

It will make absolutely no sense if you mention that you are good at photography when you are applying to an IT firm. Do not forget to include your soft skills like leadership qualities, great at communicating and so on. Hard skills may show your professionalism but soft skills depict the kind of person you are.

•Other aspects

There are some other things that you may include in your resume to make it stand out.

*Certifications or awards that are related to your field can be included in your resume. If you are an engineer and you have completed certain workshops or learned new languages then mention them all. Do write about any awards that you may have earned in your career.

*If you speak more than two languages then it may be a plus point for you. Do not forget to mention how proficient you are in each of those languages.

*Hobbies are a great way to know any person. The interviewer will learn more about you through your hobbies. Only this section of the resume can be a little fictional and you can go all out to impress the interviewers.

*If you have volunteered for any organisation then this would make a great point to add to your resume. Whether it is related to your core field or not, just mention it to show how generous you are.

•Things not to include in a resume

When you are writing your resume summary, make sure that it is formal and to the point. Do not make any requests or demands in those lines. It would be better if you don’t include your birth of date to avoid any sort of discrimination. Also, never mention the jobs that you have done for a very short period of time. This may create a negative image of you in front of interviewers. Last but not the least, do not lie!

Conclusion

These were some things to include in your resume to land your dream job. Be practical while resume writing as it really does count and shows how serious you are with your work.