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How to Write a Winning Resume Even If You Don't Have Any Experience



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If you don't have any experience, you should focus on your skills and relevant side projects, and pair your resume with a strong cover letter. Your resume should contain no more than five bullets per page. Recruiters are not likely to spend much time on a lengthy document, so it's essential to keep the content concise and to the point.

Format

While preparing your resume, it is imperative to make sure it is formatted properly. These formatting guidelines will help you create a winning resume. First of all, make sure that your headings are at level 1. If you are using Microsoft Word, you can add headings automatically by pressing alt + control + 1.


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Layout

Your resume should be designed to highlight your work experience and skills. 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 include your career goals and skills. 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 the specific abilities needed for a particular job. These skills are acquired through training, certification or experience. Soft skills, on the other hand, are more subjective and are hard to measure. Software coders might have to know how to use Microsoft Excel or 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. Examples of these phrases are "team-player" and "hardworking." Cliches can make you seem jaded and generic. Instead of focusing on your accomplishments, talk about how they help the team or the organization.

Include high school diploma

Include a high school diploma when creating a resume. Employers will often verify information about education on resumes. Therefore, it is important to keep yours true. Include your GPA if you don’t have a highschool diploma. You can also include your high school honors or awards.


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Avoid long-term employment gaps

While it's normal to be concerned about the effects of long unemployment gaps on your resume, you can take steps to manage this concern. You can improve your skills and stay engaged in your job. Consider learning new certifications or attending workshops. Even volunteering can prove useful. Volunteering will show potential employers you care about your community and that you are qualified for the job.


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How to Write a Winning Resume Even If You Don't Have Any Experience