You can focus your skills and side projects if you don’t have any work experience. Then, pair your resume with a strong letter. You should keep your resume as brief as possible with no more that five bullets per part. The recruiters are unlikely to spend too much time looking through a lengthy document. It is therefore important to keep the content brief and to the point.
Format
Properly formatting your resume is crucial when you are creating it. These formatting guidelines will help you create a winning resume. Make sure your headings are at the level 1. If you are using Microsoft Word, you can add headings automatically by pressing alt + control + 1.
Layout
Layout of the resume should highlight skills and experience. The format of a resume should be the same as a functional one, but the experience section should be more specific. Your name, address, email and phone number should be included in the contact information section. Include your website. Your resume objective should summarize your skills and career objectives. The skills section should include a list or two-sentence description for each skill.
Be sure to include both hard and soft abilities
Hard skills are specific abilities required for a job. These skills can be acquired through education, certification, and practical experience. Soft skills are harder to measure and subjective. A software developer might need to be able to use Microsoft Excel and Photoshop. Music teachers might also need to know how to play the piano, and what teaching methods to use.
Avoid cliches
Resume cliches can be overused phrases that don't add any value to your resume. Some examples of these phrases are "team player", "hardworking" and others. Too many cliches can make you look desperate and generic. Instead of focusing only on your achievements and describing how they contributed to the team, instead describe them as a contribution to the organization.
High school diplomas are also acceptable
When creating a resume, include a high school diploma if you have one. Employers will often verify education information on resumes, so it's best to keep it true. You can also include your grade point average if you do not have a high-school diploma. You can also include your high school honors or awards.
Avoid long employment gaps
It is normal to worry about the effect of long job gaps on your resume. However, you can manage this concern through your personal development and your involvement in your work. You might consider pursuing new certifications, taking workshops, or continuing education courses. Even volunteering can prove useful. It shows potential employers that you care about the community as well as being relevant to the position you are applying.