Resume is the most important document when it comes to finding a job. Previously, I shared about the Curriculum Vitae (CV) required when applying for school. What are the differences between a Resume and a CV? How can we prepare an attractive resume that can increase the chance of getting an interview invitation from the hiring manager? In this article, I will share how to prepare a good resume!
Table of Contents
What is a resume?
A resume is like a condensed document that summarizes a person’s life on a single page. It includes personal education, work experience, skills, achievements, and more. It is usually used as a tool for applying for academic, research, or other job positions. The purpose of a resume is to provide a concise overview of a candidate’s background and qualifications, allowing applicants to highlight their relevant work experience and skills among many resumes. Additionally, a well-crafted resume can help candidates stand out and increase their chances of being selected for an interview.
Difference between Resume and Curriculum Vitae
A resume is a brief summary of a person’s work history, education, skills, and achievements, usually not exceeding two pages (if you are a recent graduate, it is recommended to condense it into one page). It is usually focused on a specific job or industry and highlights the qualifications of the candidate most relevant to the position. The purpose of the resume is to be a concise and focused document that can quickly convey the applicant’s strengths to potential employers.
On the other hand, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a more detailed and comprehensive document that includes a person’s complete work history, education, publications, speeches, and other achievements. A CV is usually used in academic, research, and other fields that require complete qualifications and experience. Unlike a resume, a CV can be several pages long and does not necessarily need to be tailored to a specific job or industry.
In summary, a resume is a brief and focused summary of a candidate’s work history and qualifications for a specific job or industry, while a CV is a more comprehensive document that includes a person’s entire career history and achievements, usually used in academic and research fields.
Tips for preparing a resume
reparing a good resume can increase your chances of getting hired for a job. Here are some tips on how to create an effective resume:
- Start with a clear and concise summary: Begin with a summary section that highlights your skills and experience in a few sentences. This should be attention-grabbing and give the employer a quick overview of what you have to offer.
- Use bullet points: Use bullet points to break up large blocks of text and make your resume easier to read. Use action verbs and quantify your achievements where possible.
- Tailor your resume to the job: Review the job posting and tailor your resume to the job description. Highlight your relevant skills and experience that match the requirements of the position.
- Use a professional format: Use a clean, easy-to-read format that is consistent throughout your resume. Use a font that is easy to read and avoid using too many colors or graphics.
- Include relevant experience: List your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent job. Focus on your most relevant experience for the job you are applying for.
- Include education and certifications: List your education, including degrees, certifications, and any relevant coursework. Make sure to include the name of the institution, degree or certification received, and graduation date.
- Include keywords: Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Make sure to include relevant keywords from the job posting to increase your chances of getting past the initial screening.
- Proofread your resume: Make sure to proofread your resume carefully for spelling and grammatical errors. Ask someone else to review it for you as well to catch any mistakes you may have missed.
Example
For my resume example, I started with my educational background, highlighting the schools I attended in bold font to make it easy for employers to see where I graduated from. In the next section, I listed all of my research experiences and emphasized relevant experiences and skills with underlining, summarizing my research achievements in a single sentence that quantifies the results. For instance:
“Large-scale biomanufacturing and cryopreservation for organoids in hydrogel capsules: With alginate capsules in stirred bioreactor, the organoids expansion increases in 1.5 fold and the viability under cryopreservation is improved from 20% to 80%.”
I also emphasized the development of a new method for culturing 3D organoids, which can increase production by 1.5 times, and effectively improve cell survival rates from 20% to 80% under cryopreservation. Using these figures, we can understand the contribution of this research to the field and easily understand the advantages of this technology. Additionally, if you are a permanent resident, you can add “permanent residence” after your name to increase your chances of success!
Conclusion
Resume is a very important document in job applications. A good resume can easily make you stand out from numerous competitors. However, it takes a lot of time and effort to improve your resume to the best form. After proofreading by yourself, getting opinions from friends, or even seeking help from professional resume writers, the modified resume is still just a template for job applications. I would still recommend modifying your resume according to different job contents in different job applications. Only by submitting resumes that are tailored to the job requirements can you shine in every job application and get the opportunity for an interview!
Regarding the details of interviews and other job applications, I will share with you in future articles. I also hope that everyone can successfully apply for jobs and find their dream job!
