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Whether you're just starting your career or searching for a new job, you'll need a high-quality professional resume that showcases your skills and experience. Creating a great resume can be a daunting task, but it's crucial if you're going to set yourself up for job-hunting success.
In this guide, you'll learn what you need to know about professional resumes. Plus, advice on what you should and shouldn't include in your CV.
When you apply for most jobs, you'll typically be asked to provide a cover letter and a resume. A resume is a document that features a summary of your employment experience, education, key skills and important achievements.
It's a quick and concise document that provides an overview of what you have to offer to a prospective employer. The employer can use your resume to determine whether or not you'd be suitable for a particular role, and whether they should contact you to arrange a job interview.
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A professional resume contains a range of essential information about you, your career and your skills. It includes details about:
However, there are different ways you can structure your resume, with three main layouts to choose from:
You'll need to include the following information in your resume:
There are many providers that specialise in creating professional resumes — for a cost. Prices vary depending on the provider you choose, but it's not uncommon to pay a few hundred dollars, or even more in some cases.
If you don't want to pay a professional resume writer, there's no shortage of free professional resume templates available online. They're easy to use and contain all the essential features you need to include to build an impressive CV.
Once you know how to tailor a template to showcase your skills and experience, you'll be well placed to create a professional resume that's sure to get plenty of attention.
How long should a professional resume be?
As a general guide, many sources recommend limiting your resume to two pages. By keeping your resume sharp and concise, you'll make it easy for an employer to quickly assess your strengths and skills.
However, there are situations where it's OK to go beyond this limit — for example, if the employer requests a detailed rundown of your work history, or if you've got plenty of relevant experience worth including.
Do I need to include my age or my marital status?
No, there is no need to include your age, marital status or other personal information aside from your name, phone number and email address.
Should I include information about my hobbies?
Generally, no. Most employers won't care whether you enjoy stamp collecting or horse riding in your spare time. However, if your hobby is relevant to the position or shines a light on specialist skills you can offer to an employer, it's worth including.
Do I need to include references on my resume?
No, it's not essential to include contact details for references in a resume. If a prospective employer wants these details, they'll ask for them, so you can fill the space set aside for references with other, more important details.
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