I divided this article into two parts:
Writing the resume and formatting the resume, which, in my opinion, are equally important.
Writing the Resume
I Don’t Have Any Experience. What Do I Do?
Everything counts! List your volunteer work, your club experience, or those unrelated summer jobs you did at the ice cream shop. Contrary to popular belief, I do not believe in omitting unrelated experiences when you are just starting out. For most people, replacing unrelated experience with another project may not make you stand out as much, but showing hiring managers that you are employable and can maintain a job does say something! In every interview I had before my first internships, we discussed my experience working at a bubble tea store, what I learned, how I resolved conflicts; and at one company making POS software, we even talked about how we could improve the existing system!
Having a Master Resume
Once you've gained that first experience, you will find yourself facing the opposite problem: running out of space. That’s when having a master resume comes in handy.
How Do I Write Down My Experience?
The Google XYZ Format!
Google describes this as: "Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y], by doing [Z]." To make it easier to remember, let's shorten it to X-Y-Z.
Show your impact
It can be hard to quantify your accomplishments sometimes. Therefore, it's important to reinforce a point I made earlier: write down everything you are involved with WHEN you are doing it!
Formatting the resume
After discussing how to write a compelling resume, the next step is to ensure that its format is equally compelling.
Choose the Right Template
Select a template that is professional and easy to read. While creativity can be a bonus, especially for roles that value design skills, ensure that the template doesn't detract from the content. No 2 column template, please!
Use Bullet Points for Clarity
Instead of writing paragraphs, use bullet points to list your experiences and accomplishments. This makes your resume easier to scan and highlights your achievements more effectively. Remember the XYZ format mentioned earlier? This is where it shines, allowing you to succinctly present your achievements in a way that's immediately understandable.
Highlight Key Skills and Technologies
For a tech resume, it's important to have a section dedicated to your technical skills. List programming languages, frameworks, tools, and technologies you're proficient with. This section should be easily found and skimmed over by the recruiter. If you've worked with technologies relevant to the job you're applying for, make sure they're prominently featured.
Maintain a Clean, Organized Layout
Ensure your resume is not cluttered. Use whitespace effectively to separate different sections and make your resume look more inviting. Headings should be clear and consistent, making it easy for the recruiter to find the information they're looking for.
Keep It to One Page
Especially for those early in their careers, a one-page resume is typically sufficient and recommended. This forces you to prioritize the most important information, ensuring that recruiters see your top achievements without having to search for them. If you have extensive experience that justifies a second page, make sure every piece of information on there adds significant value.
Proofread and Get Feedback
Finally, proofreading cannot be overstressed. Typos and grammatical errors can create a negative impression. Use tools like Grammarly or have a mentor review your resume to catch any mistakes. Additionally, getting feedback from people in the industry can provide insights into how your resume can be improved from a technical standpoint.
Conclusion
Your resume is a marketing tool for yourself. It's the first step in showcasing your skills, experiences, and potential to an employer. By carefully writing and formatting your resume, you ensure that you present yourself in the best light possible.
Useful resources and URLs
What a good resume should look like: https://www.careercup.com/resume
xyz-formatter (Google’s xyz format): https://poe.com/xyzFormatter
ATS scanner: https://resumeworded.com/resume-scanner