3 Ways to Move your Strongest Wins to the Front of your Resume

Your resume is a critical document that introduces you to prospective employers. The information it contains and how it is organised says a lot about potential employees. Always begin a resume by listing your strongest credentials at the beginning. Depending on where you are at in your career, here are some ways to do that that could lead to a positive hiring decision.

Education

College seniors or recent graduates should place their degree information at the start of the resume below the heading. This section can be arranged by dates of attendance, major and minor fields of study, grade point average (GPA), and date (or expected date) of graduation. The type of degree earned is one of the decisive factors that employers will consider when evaluating an applicant. Job seekers who are just beginning their career should emphasise their higher education credentials in the primary location.

Higher education or vocational education may include special projects that help to make you a great fit for the job applied for. Briefly explain in a sentence or two how the project or portfolio has prepared you to perform well in the position for which you are applying.

Employment History

Someone who has been in the workplace for a few years may want to list the most relevant employment at the front of the resume. This can be highlighted in a text box or by bolding keywords in the section, such as the job title held previously or currently. Companies who plan on hiring new employees want to find a good match for the available job. An applicant’s employment history in a similar position or using related skills is a big plus. In addition, putting job experience first along with additional training or certifications that may come in handy will be eye catching to the person screening applications for consideration.

Include the names and addresses of past employers as well as the job title and a brief description of the duties you performed along with any promotions or special projects you were responsible for.

Experience and Skills

With several years of valuable experience and the development of specialised skills, you might want to put this information front and centre on your resume. Critical factors such as length of time worked for each employer, promotions earned or awards received, and essential knowledge acquired during your tenure in each position will impress a prospective employer when you begin your resume on these glowing qualifications.

However you begin your resume, you can include the names and contact information for two or three references. Additional skills that might not pertain directly to the job may demonstrate your eagerness to learn and help you stand out as a candidate who is willing to learn for its own sake. This can be an attractive trait in a company where employees are expected to learn new skills during a training period or to eventually move upward as their career progresses.

Standard twenty pound bond white or off-white paper with blank print is the traditional resume format. Some occupations encourage greater creativity than others. The main point is to promote your strengths at the start of the resume to show the employer you are the right person for the job.