How to Write a Proper CV

In today’s competitive job market, understanding how to do a resume can be the key to securing an interview and landing your dream job. A resume, or resume/CV, is the most crucial document that introduces you to potential employers, giving them a glimpse into your professional background, skills, education, and qualifications. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just entering the job market, creating a professional resume is an essential part of the job application process.

The quality of your resume determines your chances of getting called for an interview, and in many cases, it is your only opportunity to make a positive first impression. The process of creating a resume is more than just filling in your personal details and past job roles. It involves knowing how to write a resume that effectively showcases your strengths, experience, and achievements, while tailoring the content to specific job opportunities. This guide will help you learn the steps to do a resume, with advice on format, essential sections, and tips on how to make your resume stand out.

What Is a Resume?

A resume, or CV, is a document used by individuals to present their educational background, work experience, skills, and other relevant personal details when applying for a job. Its main purpose is to highlight qualifications that make the applicant suitable for the position. A well-written resume provides a snapshot of a candidate’s professional life in a concise format, allowing hiring managers to assess quickly whether or not they should be considered for a position.

In essence, learning how to write a resume is about mastering the art of summarizing years of experience and education into one or two pages. There are several different types of resumes—chronological, functional, and hybrid—and choosing the right one for your circumstances is crucial to building the format resume. The goal of a resume is simple: to convince the employer that you are the right fit for the job, and that you deserve an interview.

Resumes have evolved, with digital resumes becoming increasingly popular in recent years. A resume application can be submitted through various online platforms, and recruiters now regularly review LinkedIn profiles and online portfolios as part of the job evaluation process. Mastering the art of how to do a resume that works well both as a physical document and as a digital resume is vital in today’s job market.

How to Create a Professional Resume

When you set out to create a resume, you need to be strategic about both the content and the structure. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to build a professional resume step by step.

Choose Format and Structure

The first step in learning how to write a resume is selecting the right format that best represents your career history and qualifications. There are three main types of resumes to consider:

• Chronological Resume: This format emphasizes your work history, listing jobs in reverse chronological order (starting with your most recent job). This is ideal for individuals with a stable career progression and relevant job experience.
• Functional Resume: This format focuses on skills rather than job experience, making it ideal for job seekers who are changing careers, have employment gaps, or are just entering the workforce. It emphasizes what you can do, rather than when and where you did it.
• Combination Resume (Hybrid Resume): As the name suggests, this format combines both the chronological and functional formats. It allows you to highlight both your skills and your work history, making it perfect for experienced professionals who also want to showcase specific competencies.

When deciding how to format a resume, keep in mind the job you are applying for and which format would most effectively highlight your qualifications. Make sure your resume is easy to navigate and uses plenty of white space, bullet points, and bold headings to break up sections.

Name and Contact Information

At the top of your resume, include your full name, email address, phone number, and any relevant links (such as your LinkedIn profile or personal website). This information should be easily visible and up-to-date. A professional email address is essential—avoid using casual or quirky usernames.

Summarized Biography (Professional Summary)

A professional summary is a short paragraph located at the beginning of your resume that summarizes your skills, experience, and career goals. This section is also sometimes referred to as a resume objective, especially for candidates with less experience who may be more focused on their future aspirations.

For experienced professionals, this is an opportunity to quickly communicate your most significant achievements and areas of expertise. Use this section to grab the hiring manager’s attention and give them a reason to keep reading.

Professional Experience

The professional experience section is the backbone of most resumes, providing detailed information about your previous roles and responsibilities. Each entry should include your job title, company name, location, and the dates of employment. Following that, list your key responsibilities and achievements in bullet points.

When detailing your work experience, focus on quantifiable achievements. If possible, include metrics like sales numbers, budget sizes, or performance improvements to give a concrete sense of your impact.

This section allows you to show not just what you did, but how well you did it. Mastering how to write a resume requires balancing brevity with impact—describe your roles clearly while focusing on the value you provided.

Skills

The skills section provides an opportunity to list both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job. Hard skills are technical proficiencies (such as proficiency in specific software, languages, or processes), while soft skills refer to interpersonal or leadership abilities (such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability). Tailor the skills section to match the requirements of the job description, and list only those skills that you can confidently back up in an interview.

Education

In this section, list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Include the institution name, degree earned, and graduation date. If you have certifications or additional training relevant to the position, you can list them here as well.

Hobbies and Interests

Although optional, a hobbies and interests section can help demonstrate your personality and soft skills. It’s particularly helpful in industries that value culture fit or for job seekers looking to highlight non-professional achievements that relate to the job.

Be careful not to include irrelevant or overly personal information in this section, as it could detract from the professionalism of your resume.

Resume Sections

A resume/CV is typically divided into several distinct sections, each with a specific purpose. Understanding how to write a resume that uses these sections effectively can make the difference between a good resume and a great one.

Resume Objective/ Summary

This section is a brief introduction that highlights your top qualifications and career goals. Whether it’s called a professional summary or resume objective, it sets the tone for the rest of your resume. If you’re transitioning into a new field or have limited experience, the resume objective can help explain your goals and why you’re the right fit for the job.

Contacts

Your name and contact details are essential for any resume/CV. Make sure your email, phone number, and any professional links (such as LinkedIn or a portfolio site) are clear and prominent. This is often overlooked, but ensuring that your contact information is up-to-date is critical—hiring managers won’t be able to reach you otherwise.

Work Experience

Your work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent). For each role, list your job title, employer, location, and dates of employment. Use bullet points to provide concise, impactful descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.

Skills

This section can include technical skills, language proficiency, software expertise, and even soft skills like leadership or communication. Be selective—highlight the skills that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Education

Your education section provides information about your academic background. List your most recent degree first, and include the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation year.

Tips for Creating a Professional Resume

Creating the perfect resume requires more than just filling in the blanks. Here are some key tips to ensure your resume stands out:

Tailor Each Resume to the Job

One of the most important steps in how to write a resume is to tailor your document to each specific job. This means using keywords from the job description, highlighting relevant experience, and focusing on the skills and achievements that align with the company’s needs. When you build the perfect resume, you should adjust your professional summary, work experience, and skills to match the job listing.

Use Strong Action Verbs

Action verbs can make your resume more engaging and professional. Rather than saying “responsible for managing,” use stronger phrases like “managed,” “led,” or “oversaw.” This makes your contributions sound more proactive and impactful.

Quantify Your Achievements

Whenever possible, use numbers to demonstrate your accomplishments. Instead of writing, “Improved sales performance,” write, “Increased sales by 20% over six months.” Specific, measurable achievements help you stand out as a candidate who delivers results.

Keep It Simple and Concise

A simple resume for a job is often more effective than one overloaded with too much information. Focus on the most relevant details and keep the length between one to two pages, depending on your experience level.

Proofread Thoroughly

Spelling mistakes or grammatical errors can quickly undermine your professionalism. Always proofread your resume multiple times before submitting it, and consider asking someone else to review it as well. Typos can make a bad impression and prevent you from getting called for an interview.

How to Format a Resume

Formatting your resume correctly is essential for making a strong and positive impression on potential employers. A well-organized, easy-to-read resume shows attention to detail, professionalism, and a clear understanding of how to present information effectively. Proper formatting helps hiring managers navigate your resume efficiently, ensuring they focus on your qualifications and experience rather than struggling to interpret the content. Here are key considerations for formatting your resume for maximum impact.

Use Consistent Fonts and Formatting

When creating a resume, consistency in fonts and formatting plays a crucial role in presenting a polished and professional appearance. Choose a readable font such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri. These fonts are clean, easy to scan, and universally accepted by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Stick to one font size for the body of your resume, typically between 10-12 points. For section headings, slightly larger font sizes (12-14 points) will make the headers stand out. Ensure that your formatting, including font styles (such as bold or italics), line spacing, and alignment, is consistent throughout the document.

Clear Section Headings and Bullet Points

Organizing your resume into clear sections helps make your resume easy to read and navigate. Standard sections like “Professional Experience,” “Education,” “Skills,” and “Certifications” should have bold, distinct headings to break up the content visually. This formatting approach allows employers to quickly scan for the sections most relevant to them.

Using bullet points is another essential aspect of resume formatting. Bullet points create structure by presenting information concisely and in digestible chunks. Rather than writing large blocks of text, use short bullet points to outline key achievements, responsibilities, and contributions under each job listing. Aim for 3-5 bullet points per role, focusing on measurable accomplishments and key responsibilities that highlight your skills and contributions.

Keep White Space in Mind

White space is an often-overlooked element in resume formatting. A cluttered resume with dense text can overwhelm the reader and make it difficult for hiring managers to find the most important information. To keep your resume visually appealing and easy to navigate, maintain standard margins of about one inch on all sides. Incorporate ample spacing between sections, headings, and bullet points, which will give the reader’s eyes a chance to rest and provide better clarity.

In summary, how to format a resume involves choosing consistent fonts, structuring it with clear headings and bullet points, and maintaining adequate white space for readability. By following these formatting tips, you ensure that your resume looks clean, professional, and easy to understand—key factors in making a positive first impression during the hiring process.

Conclusion

Crafting a professional resume is one of the most important steps in your job search. Whether you’re learning how to write a resume for the first time or updating an existing one, the effort you put into creating a polished, well-structured resume will pay off. Remember, your resume is your personal marketing tool—it needs to convince hiring managers that you’re the right person for the job.

At Recruiting.by, we specialize in HR search and management, both in Belarus and abroad. We also help businesses expand through Employer of Record (EOR) services. If you’re looking for assistance with creating a resume, help build a resume, or need support with recruitment and hiring, we’re here to help. With our expertise, we can guide you through the process of crafting perfect resumes that align with your career goals.