If you're a recent graduate or just looking to start your career, drafting your first resume can seem overwhelming. With a limited professional background and an almost non-existent track record, it is expected to feel confused about the best way to sell yourself.

However, a strong resume doesn't only focus on where you've worked. It should show your abilities, qualities, and aspirations in a way that motivates the hiring manager to schedule an interview with you. 

This article will give you tips on how to build the perfect resume that showcases your potential and skills and helps you land your first paying role.

Why is a Resume Important?       

A resume is a crucial first step in getting hired. It doesn't just show hiring managers what you've done; it shows them what you can do. Your resume communicates your capabilities and skillset—who you are and what makes you different—to hiring managers and employers.

Employing a powerful AI resume builder like Lightresume can help you create a concise and appealing resume. It crafts and optimizes resumes that beat the Applicant Tracking system and catches the attention of recruiters, making it easier to land interviews.

1. It catches a recruiting manager's attention

According to a survey by TestGorilla, 82% of employers have used resumes to hire in the past 12 months. This shows how vital a resume is in helping to get a hiring manager's attention.

How you present yourself can make the difference between someone landing an interview or getting ghosted. Your resume should be professional, polished, and free of typographical errors, and it should showcase your most notable accomplishments.

2. It highlights your qualities

A resume is significant because it highlights your qualities. The objective of crafting a resume is to demonstrate to the hiring manager that you are an exceptional candidate.

To help you land your position, you can show statistics from your most significant accomplishments. These can also be academic achievements.

3. It shows your career progression        

A hiring manager uses a resume to determine how a candidate has advanced and improved in their career.

If you've had great accomplishments in school or in a volunteer role, this can qualify you as the ideal candidate. Using a resume to demonstrate your career advancement will help boost your career and job prospects. 

4. It gives lawful credibility

While most occupations demand some work experience, not being qualified or trained in specific fields can reduce your chances of getting employed.

For example, a doctor without a medical degree cannot lawfully treat patients in a country. Listing your qualifications and degrees helps show hiring managers that you are legally qualified for the advertised position.

5. It is an effective strategy to promote your portfolio

Your resume is significant because it can help you promote your portfolio. If you have one, include the link on your resume, as it is an ideal way to market yourself.

Specific careers, such as writing and graphic design, typically have extensive work and demo projects. A portfolio can help you showcase these skills and get hired quickly. 

                

Tips on How to Put Your First Resume Together

There are numerous frameworks to choose from when creating your first resume. With the right format, building an impressive resume that highlights your skills and potential will not be difficult. 

1. Selecting the Right Format

It is highly suggested that a resume format should be focused on showcasing one's skills and educational background in the initial stages of a job application.

If the applicant uses a conventional resume to highlight their skills, hiring managers will quickly evaluate them. Your resume can be crafted in one of these basic styles:

Reverse-chronological: This is a format of resume writing in which education and work experience, including volunteer work or internships, are presented chronologically in reverse order. It is the most suitable form as it captures the latest achievements and experience one might have with employers.

Functional: A functional resume focuses on an applicant's first qualities for that particular job, namely, communication and time management qualities.

It is commonly used by people who have recently completed their studies or are returning to work after a lengthy absence and is, thus, perfect for a first resume.

2. Contact Information

It is recommended that your contact details be included in the first section of your resume so that potential employers can easily identify them.

Include your full name, address, phone number, and email below your name. If applicable, include your LinkedIn profile as well. According to Havard Business Review, 40% of recruiters hire candidates based on their LinkedIn profiles alone.

Your city and state are optional but can be advantageous for local applications. 

3. Write a Professional Summary

A professional summary explains your qualifications, education, and experience for a position. It is usually two or three sentences at the start of your resume to grab employers' attention quickly.

In your summary, emphasize your relevant skills, education, or training for the position. Describe your successes to demonstrate your value to employers.

Below are examples of professional summaries for your first resume: 

- A detail-oriented honors student with lifeguard certification and experience. 

- Track record of caring for young children, including responsibilities for younger siblings and relatives. 

- Knowledgeable in first aid and CPR. 

Only focus on highlights that will catch the hiring manager's attention and portray them in the best light possible.

4. Research Keywords 

Researching relevant keywords, as provided in the job description, helps tailor your resume to the position.

Most employers utilize the Application Tracking System (ATS) software to scan through applications for relevant keywords beforehand. This means that an employer is more likely to review a resume when keywords are used in job descriptions.  

5. List Significant Experience

In the experience section, mention any volunteer work, projects, and extracurricular exercises you were involved in. Assess them and consider how applicable they are to the work position you're applying to.

When listing your experience, provide your role title and the experience dates. Include the name of the organization, group, or activity. Write bullet points to describe your tasks or accomplishments and the abilities you employed in that capacity. 

Here are examples of how to include volunteer experience on your resume: 

- Communicated clearly with participants to explain the procedure and determine their preferences. 

- Developed Instagram strategy to promote brand activities

6. Highlight Your Hard and Soft Skills

According to a McKinsey study, 41% of recruiters look for soft skills on a resume first. Soft skills, such as presentation and leadership skills, can be transferred from role to role.

Hard skills or technical skills are those that are acquired through more formal education or training, such as software knowledge.

So, if you have training or certifications, you can mention them in your resume to show the employer that you are motivated and want the role.

Remember that employers are looking for a combination of both soft and hard skills in an individual. 

7. Include Any Relevant Certifications or Awards

If you have certificates, licenses, or awards of any kind that are associated with this job, indicate them here.

These certifications also show your interest in self-development and professional improvement. This is important as any employer would want a candidate willing to enhance their skills. 

8. Stick to One Page

As a first-time resume builder, keeping it to one page helps you focus on only the most relevant details. Condense descriptions and use concise language to avoid clutter, making it easy for employers to scan through your experience quickly.

A one-page resume encourages you to prioritize what matters, ensuring that every line counts. Employers appreciate a brief, focused resume that respects their time, giving them a clear view of your potential without overwhelming them with unnecessary details. 

9. Proofread      

Typos and grammatical errors are the most common and costly beginner resume mistakes. 

According to a survey by CareerBuilder, around 77% of hiring managers reject resumes that contain errors, so don't set yourself up to fail. After you finish writing your resume, proofread it more than once and ask someone else to check it before sending it to a potential employer.  

Craft a Resume That Stands Out with LightResume!

Building a resume for the first time will most likely be difficult, but using an AI Tool will help make the process faster.

Have recruiters chase after you with a perfect resume that scores 80+ on ATS and puts you in the top 5% of applicants. Try LightResume now to start building the resume that will help you land your first role.