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Resume: How to Create One, Where to Get a Template

Resume: How to Create One, Where to Get a Template

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What is a resume and why do you need one?

A resume is essentially a document that presents your jobs and experience. However, in practice, creating a resume requires much more care and attention to detail. It's important to not only list your previous jobs but also highlight your achievements, skills, and qualifications. A well-written resume should attract employers' attention and reflect your professional value.

A high-quality resume that can attract an employer's attention and help you land the job you want is more than just a chronological list of your previous jobs. It is a structured and clear presentation of your relevant experience that meets the requirements of the company to which you plan to submit your resume. It is important to emphasize the skills and achievements that are most relevant to a specific vacancy to stand out from other candidates.

A resume is a key tool in the job search process. It serves as a candidate's calling card, allowing the employer to quickly assess their qualifications, experience, and skills. A well-written resume helps you stand out from other candidates and attract the recruiter's attention. Furthermore, a resume allows you to organize information about your education and professional experience, which simplifies the process of self-presentation during an interview. In a highly competitive job market, a high-quality resume can play a decisive role in landing the desired position. Creating a resume that highlights your strengths and achievements increases your chances of successful employment.

  • To find a new job.
  • To present your experience to your current employer and ask for a raise.

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How to Asking for a Raise to Save Your Job

Ask for a raise is an important career move that requires careful preparation. If you feel your job is worth more than you're getting, it's important to articulate your thoughts and arguments clearly and convincingly. Start by reviewing your work and accomplishments: create a list of projects you've been involved in and the results you've achieved. This will help you justify your request.

It's also worth researching the market: find out how much professionals in your field with similar experience and qualifications are earning. This will allow you to assess how your current salary compares to market conditions. The right approach to talking to management may include choosing the right time and place for the discussion, and presenting your requests confidently but politely.

Avoid phrases that could come across as threats or ultimatums, such as "Otherwise I'll go to the competition." Instead, focus on your commitment to the company and how your promotion can contribute to its success. It is important to be prepared for various reactions and have a plan in case your application is rejected. Remember that constructive dialogue and professionalism are key to a successful outcome.

How can my resume help me get a promotion?

Masha has experience as an editor at a city newspaper and decided to change jobs. She submitted her resume for the vacancy of "Editor of a design magazine", believing that her editing skills would be useful in a new field. Masha's experience in the media allows her to confidently apply for this position, as she is familiar with the basics of editing and has skills in working with texts.

The editor-in-chief of the design magazine rejected the proposed position for Masha, as she does not have the necessary knowledge in the field of design. Instead, he was offered an alternative position - editorial assistant. In this role, Masha will be responsible for finding experts to write articles, explaining the content creation process to advertisers, and performing other administrative tasks. This position will allow Masha to develop her editorial skills and gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of working with design professionals.

After networking with other writers, editors, and design experts, Masha significantly deepened her knowledge of the topic. She updated her resume, highlighting her experience at various newspapers and her ability to write on a variety of topics. Now, with her new design knowledge, she approached the editor-in-chief with a request to try her hand at editing articles. The editor-in-chief, seeing her relevant experience and desire to develop in a new field, may consider her candidacy.

What does a resume have to do with it? The fact is, in his haste, the editor-in-chief forgot about another qualified employee on the team who is an excellent writer and editor. Masha, however, prepared her resume very carefully: she provided examples from her previous experience demonstrating her ability to understand complex topics. Her resume also indicates that she has experience working at a design magazine, where she successfully interacted with experts, suggested edits that they liked, and even filled in for the news editor while he was on vacation. This resume makes her competitive and highlights her professional skills.

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A portfolio is a collected set of works or projects that demonstrates your skills and achievements in a particular field. It plays a key role in professional activity, allowing potential employers or clients to evaluate your qualifications and experience. To create an effective portfolio, there are several important aspects to consider.

First, choose the format of your portfolio. This can be either a printed version or an electronic version, such as a website or PDF document. Electronic portfolios are becoming increasingly popular because they allow you to easily update information and share it with a wider audience.

Second, select your best work that reflects your style and skills. Include a variety of projects to demonstrate your versatility and ability to solve different problems. Each piece should be accompanied by a brief description outlining the project's objectives, your role, and the results achieved.

Third, pay attention to your portfolio's design. The design should be clean and professional so as not to distract from the content. Use a consistent style, fonts, and color palette to create a harmonious visual image.

Remember to update your portfolio regularly. Add new projects and remove outdated work to always present relevant information about your skills and achievements.

A well-designed portfolio not only demonstrates your professional competence but also helps you stand out from the competition, attracting the attention of employers and clients.

Got it. Let's say I'm looking for a job. How do I write my resume to attract an employer's attention?

First and foremost, it's important to understand what the specific employer is looking for. You need to understand their needs and expectations to successfully meet the job opening requirements. This will allow you to prepare for the interview and showcase your skills and experience in the context of the qualities the company seeks. By analyzing the employer's requirements, you can highlight key points and emphasize those aspects of your experience that are most relevant to the position.

Our heroine, Masha, has experience as an editor at a design magazine and aspires to become an editor-in-chief. She goes to HeadHunter and searches for "editor-in-chief." A variety of vacancies appears, each with its own unique requirements. This clearly illustrates the reality: different employers define responsibilities for the same professions differently.

The vacancy for editor-in-chief of a gas company's corporate magazine opens a unique opportunity for professionals in media production and content management. We are seeking a talented specialist with deep knowledge of the energy sector and the ability to create high-quality editorial content.

Key responsibilities include developing editorial policy, coordinating the editorial team, and writing and editing articles, interviews, and news stories. A key aspect of the job will be collaborating with various departments across the company to gather information and create relevant content that will be of interest to our readers.

Requirements: a university degree in journalism, media communications, or a related field, experience in editorial or media settings, and a portfolio. We are looking for a creative and proactive individual who can influence the company's image through high-quality content.

If you are ready to accept the challenge and contribute to the development of corporate culture and employee awareness, join our team. We guarantee interesting challenges, opportunities for professional growth, and competitive working conditions.

Screenshot: HeadHunter / Skillbox Media

The vacancy of the editor-in-chief in a digital agency opens a unique opportunity for professionals seeking to develop their skills in a dynamic environment. We are seeking a creative and experienced Editor-in-Chief responsible for creating and curating high-quality content. Your role will include developing a content marketing strategy, managing a team of writers, and editing materials to ensure they meet our standards and client requirements.

The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of digital marketing and SEO and is proficient in working with a variety of content formats, including articles, blogs, social media, and video. You should be able to analyze the results of content campaigns and make data-driven adjustments to improve their effectiveness.

If you're ready for new challenges and interested in joining our team, please submit your resume and portfolio. We offer a competitive salary, opportunities for professional growth, and a friendly work atmosphere.

Screenshot: HeadHunter / Skillbox Media

To achieve the best results in your job search, you need to tailor your resume to each specific employer. This may seem tedious, but this strategy significantly increases your chances of success. A customized resume demonstrates your interest and understanding of the job requirements, making you a more attractive candidate. The importance of this process should not be underestimated, as a personalized resume can be the key to successful employment.

Masha submitted her resume to a corporate magazine, focusing on her newspaper experience. She extensively interviewed individuals representing various industries, including factories and utilities. She also photographed industrial facilities, highlighting her skills in journalism and visual communication. This experience makes her a valuable candidate for a corporate environment, where the ability to work with various information sources and present them in the best possible light is essential.

In her resume for a digital agency, Masha emphasizes her experience working at a design magazine. In this role, she developed topics based on the publication's content strategy and editorial policy. Masha also selected authors and managed the budget for her section, which highlights her skills in planning and organizing content. This experience makes her a valuable candidate for a digital agency, which requires the ability to effectively work with content and coordinate a team.

What if I haven't worked in many places? For example, I spent several years at the same company.

The same work can be presented in different ways. Let's consider another example.

Nastya worked for several years in the marketing department of a construction company, performing a variety of tasks. She photographed construction sites, wrote press releases, managed social media, created presentations for management, and developed slogans for outdoor advertising. When the manager decided to create a new website for the company, Nastya also prepared the technical specifications for the designer and programmer. Her marketing experience and knowledge of the construction industry allowed her to effectively promote the company and strengthen its position in the market.

She decided to look for a new job and prepared several resumes.

  • Website Editor. What she did: Completely conceived and created content for the website — took photos from the construction site, wrote news about the construction progress and company press releases, wrote texts for the pages of new residential complexes.
  • SMM Specialist. What she did: Managed the company's social media — came up with formats, built a community, set up a target and achieved certain results (specify).
  • Project Manager. What she did: Supervised the development of the new website — wrote technical specifications for the designer and programmer, supervised the work, presented the results to management.
  • Brand Specialist. What you did: Wrote press releases with company news, negotiated media coverage, prepared construction project presentations and image presentations for the company's top management.

Make a comprehensive list of your professional accomplishments and responsibilities during your time at the company. Tailor this experience to the employer's requirements and expectations to highlight your relevance to a specific vacancy.

When creating a personalized resume, it's important to properly title it. Make sure the title matches the specific job opening you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for an editorial position, avoid using generic terms like "Editor, Proofreader, Author." These jobs require different skills and qualifications. Employers may dismiss such a resume, believing it to be too vague and irrelevant. It's important that your resume clearly highlights the required competencies for the specific position so that employers are motivated to review it. Properly formatted resumes increase your chances of successful employment.

Many companies automate the initial candidate screening process. If the job opening title doesn't match your resume title, there's a high chance your application will be overlooked. This underscores the importance of a precise match between job opening titles and resumes to successfully navigate automated screening. Use keywords from the job description to increase your chances of attracting an employer's attention.

So, I need to describe relevant work experience and leave out irrelevant work altogether?

If your goal is to become an editor, you shouldn't mention your time as a cashier on your resume, as this information is irrelevant to the desired position. Remove irrelevant facts to focus on the experience and skills that are truly relevant to the editorial role. This will help the recruiter quickly evaluate your candidacy and understand why you are a good fit for this role.

If your previous experience is related to another profession, it should be listed after your main one. For example, if you aim to become a magazine editor, but previously worked in radio or SMM, this is also relevant. It is important to highlight the skills that can be useful in editing. Mention how your experience in these areas helps you in your editorial work: for example, the ability to adapt materials for different audiences, knowledge of modern media formats, or copywriting skills. This will not only highlight your qualifications but also show potential employers that your experience is diverse and valuable.

  • Radio presenter. I produced news, so I know what concise, simple, and at the same time informative text is, and I know how to work with information sources.
  • SMM specialist. I wrote posts and came up with new formats, so I know how to make the text engaging.

What else is important to consider when writing a resume?

Career consultant Tatyana Minaeva highlights key aspects that are important in the career growth process. She emphasizes the importance of making an informed career choice, the need to analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and the significance of continuous learning and development. Tatyana also advises taking into account changes in the labor market and adapting to new conditions to remain competitive. In addition, she recommends building professional networks and actively participating in career development events, which contributes to expanding employment opportunities and professional development.

  • Structure the information. Use a numbered or bulleted list: white space visually makes it easier to read.
  • Draw a picture. Describe details, create images, mention details. This way, the recruiter won't have to guess for you and doubt whether they understood everything correctly.
  • Use numbers. Try to "digitize" your activities: numbers look attractive and sell your resume.
  • Mention the business benefits. It can be expressed not only in quantitative indicators (for an SMM specialist - "doubled the number of subscribers"), but also in qualitative ones ("worked with client objections on social networks, managed to increase loyalty, bad reviews decreased significantly").

By the way, what about education? Shouldn't that be included too?

Education is an important component of a resume and often occupies a primary place. Proper presentation of educational information will help the employer quickly assess your qualifications and skills. Make sure you indicate educational institutions, specialties, and years of study. It is also useful to add achievements, such as diplomas or certificates, which can increase your competitiveness in the job market. Effectively presenting your educational background helps create a positive impression of you as a candidate.

When writing a resume, it is important to emphasize relevant education, similar to how this is done with a description of work experience. However, higher education should be included in any case, regardless of its relevance to the vacancy. This will help the employer better assess your qualifications and educational level, which is important when selecting a candidate.

If you have a higher engineering education and are applying for a design position, first of all, mention the diploma. For a recruiter, the fact of completing university studies is very important, as it demonstrates the candidate's aptitude for learning, determination, and versatility. After this, it is important to indicate where you received design training, which organizations and what courses you attended.

You should not mention additional education that is not related to the vacancy. For example, for a design position, the number of courses and marathons in psychology you have completed is not important. It is important to focus on the skills and experience that are directly related to the required role.

What about soft skills? Recruiters are said to pay attention to them even more than hard skills.

Soft skills play a key role in professional work, but you should avoid directly mentioning them in your resume or cover letter. Instead, it's better to emphasize your work experience, demonstrating your developed soft skills through specific examples and achievements. This will help the employer see your abilities in action and assess how you can contribute to the team and the company as a whole.

Among your professional achievements, you can point out your quick mastery of new programs, which demonstrates your learning ability. It's also worth noting your successful team building and motivating to complete a complex project under a tight deadline, which highlights your creative abilities and teamwork skills.

Listing soft skills in the format "responsible, sociable, creative" without specific evidence of each quality is ineffective and can even be harmful. A recruiter might perceive this as a lack of evidence of your skills or an attempt to inflate your own importance without any basis. Instead, it's worth providing examples from your experience that clearly demonstrate these qualities. This will not only enhance your appeal as a candidate but also create a more convincing impression of you as a professional. Proper presentation of your soft skills with specific examples will help you stand out from other applicants and attract the attention of the employer.

Rework the text, maintaining its main topic and avoiding unnecessary information. Optimize it for SEO, without adding unnecessary characters or emoticons. Avoid using numbered or bulleted lists. Keep your copy clear and concise.

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Professional Personality Qualities: What They Are and Should They Be Included in a Resume

Professional personal qualities are a set of characteristics that contribute to successful completion of work tasks and interaction with colleagues. These qualities include aspects such as communication skills, responsibility, determination, organization, and teamwork.

Indicating your personal qualities on your resume is an important step, as they can significantly increase your chances of getting the job you want. Employers often look for candidates who not only have the necessary skills and experience, but also fit the company's corporate culture.

To highlight your personal qualities, it is important to use specific examples from your work experience. For example, instead of simply indicating "communicative", you can write about how you successfully interacted with clients to solve their problems.

Therefore, correctly indicating your professional personal qualities on your resume can become a powerful argument in your favor and help you stand out from other candidates.

Should I include my hobbies?

We do not recommend this, as it can be perceived as redundant information.

It does not matter to the recruiter how you spend your free time. If this information is important, he will ask a relevant question during the interview, although this may seem unusual.

And finally. Where can I get a resume template?

The place for creating and storing a resume depends on your professional field. The choice of platform may vary depending on the specifics of the job and the requirements of employers. If you work in the creative industry, a visually appealing resume on specialized sites may suit you. For more traditional professions, it is better to use classic text formats. It is also important to remember the possibility of storing a resume in cloud services, which will ensure the document is accessible at any time and from any device. Properly storing a resume helps it stay up-to-date and simplifies the application process.

A portfolio is critical for designers, illustrators, photographers, and other creative professionals. Many of them use the Behance platform to create and showcase their portfolios. When applying for job openings, they can easily send potential employers a link to their profile and cover letter. Furthermore, visual content professionals often create their own websites where they detail their experience and present case studies. This not only allows them to showcase their skills but also improves their search engine visibility, attracting more clients and employers. For most job seekers, it's important not to overload their resume with creative elements. It should be concise in content and formatting, focusing on professional experience and skills. It's recommended to use ready-made templates on platforms such as HeadHunter or SuperJob, where you can easily fill out a resume and then download it in the desired format. This will help you create a professional document that will attract the attention of employers and highlight your qualifications.

Resume on HeadHunterScreenshot: HeadHunter / Skillbox Media

Various resume templates are available on the Google Docs start page. To find them, go to the top right corner and click the "Template Gallery" button. Then, scroll down to the "Resume" section, where you'll find ready-made design options. Using these templates will help you create a professional-looking resume that meets modern requirements.

Screenshot: Google Docs / Skillbox Media

Create your own resume template in Google Docs to avoid formatting difficulties. Start by describing your education and providing your contact information. Then use a two-column table to present your work experience in a structured manner. This approach will help make your resume more understandable and attractive to employers.

Screenshot: Google Docs / Skillbox Media

A resume created in Google Docs can be easily downloaded in PDF format to send to an employer. You can also share a link to the document, but be sure to set up the access settings correctly so the employer can see your information.

  • Click "Access Settings" in the upper right corner.
  • In the "Sharing" section, select "Anyone with the link" - this will remove privacy from the document.
  • Then click on the right and you will see the "Reader", "Commentator", "Editor" settings. Select "Reader" here so that the visitor to your resume will not be able to change anything in it.

Anything else?

Check your resume for spelling errors using the following services. Clean and accurate text will make a positive impression on recruiters.

We have prepared a comprehensive career guidance guide for adults. If you're planning a career change or a complete career shift, this resource will be an indispensable resource. Our guide will provide you with helpful tips and advice to help you identify your strengths, explore new career opportunities, and build a successful professional trajectory. Don't miss your chance to change your life for the better.

Growing Up, Still Don't Know What to Be: A Career Guidance Guide for Adults

Career guidance for adults is an important stage in life that can help you determine the right career direction. If you're feeling unsure about your career choice, it's important to consider a few key aspects. First, assess your skills and interests. Conduct self-analysis to understand what you truly enjoy doing and what you excel at.

Second, research the labor market. Find out what professions are in demand in your area and what skills are needed to succeed in these fields. This will help you determine whether it's worth building on your existing skills or learning new ones.

It's also a good idea to consult with career experts. Consulting with a career counselor or participating in training can provide helpful knowledge and resources to assist in decision making. Don't forget about the opportunities for additional education: courses, seminars, and online training can be a great way to gain new knowledge and improve your competitiveness in the labor market.

Career guidance is a process that requires time and effort, but the right approach will help you find your way in the world of professions and achieve career success.

Free test: which digital profession is right for you Is it right for you?

IT, design, marketing, or management? Find out the answer in 15 minutes. And then try your hand at a new specialty for free.

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