Impressing the hiring manager through your resume is not as easy as it sounds. In fact, given the worldwide pandemic still ongoing these days, more and more companies are taking advantage of technology. Thus, resume bots have come into being, front and center. With these, job seekers like you need to consider more factors even before writing a resume online.
You might have read this a thousand times, but a powerful resume—really—is key to securing a chance to snag the job you want. So, take the extra moment to research and create a job-securing resume. And cheers, reading this article is already a big step!
“With my years of experience, which content should I include?” “Is it effective to use resume examples I find online?” “How short is a short resume?” “Are free resume builders reliable?” “I only have three years of experience. Should I hire an expert resume writer?” These might be just some of your questions. Hence, in this article, we will not only answer these; we’ll also learn expertly curated tips about professional resume online.
Step-by-Step Process of Writing a Resume Online
What’s good nowadays is that everything you need for your job search, from resume templates to resume checker, is readily available online. So, here is the step-by-step process of crafting a resume using all online resources.
Step #1: Know Your Target Job and Work Around Its Job Description
As a job seeker, the very first thing you need to do is to decide on your target job (and company, if any). From there, read and download the job description from your target company’s website. Why? Because it shows the experience, skills, and credentials that matter the most to your target employer.
After that, compare and match the job description to your work history. By doing so, you’ll learn which vital skills and credentials you’re qualified for. In line with this, list the training, projects, and other awards as well to further boost your resume content.
Expert Tip: Using job descriptions online can help you with your writing. But remember: Every company has its own needs and preferences. So, better cut the resume fat using only one job description. This could help you with the skills to highlight in your cover letter, too!
Step #2: Review Successful Resume Examples Online
Search for “resume examples” on Google and you’ll surely get millions upon millions of results. But how would you know if a sample resume is ‘successful’? Read through the reviews. Trusted online resume writing services generously provides free resume examples written by their expert writers to their readers. Not only that; they also create templates for exact jobs in specific industries. Some of these are healthcare, science and research, and many more.
Now that you have the content and the resume sample, you might think you’re good to go. Well, not really. Read the third step.
Expert Tip: You can use free resume builders online. But do not copy and paste from the resume template. You wouldn’t like to lie on the interview on the spot because of details you did not even read.
Step #3: Use the Right Resume Format Fit for You
Resume formats don’t depend on your personal likings. The right format solely depends on your career path plus your work experience. Applying it will surely bolster your job search, for you are presenting only details that matter to hiring managers. If you have three to five years of work history, which format should you use?
There are four resume formats you need to know before writing your resume: chronological, functional, combination, and targeted. Read Which Resume Format Best Suits Your Application? to help you grasp this concept better.
Expert Tip: Consider seeking help from a resume writer. These pros are well trained to build a resume with the right format targeted to your dream job. It takes a good resume investment to reach your goals. Worry not; online resume services ensure close coordination with their clients to meet their expectations.
Step #4: Don’t Forget Your Online Professional Profile
Your social media accounts such as LinkedIn is your brand. Whatever you post online gives a glimpse of who you are as a person and as an employee.
Over 90% of hirers use social media in looking for new workers. They make sure to check if their resume is coherent with their online profile. Thus, to help the hiring manager find your profile, write the URL on your resume.
Expert Tip: There are job seekers who are busy preparing for their job interview. To maximize their time, they hire LinkedIn writers to optimize their profiles. Since 87% of recruiters use this platform in talent acquisition, investing in this service is a win-win for them. Think about it: They saved time learning how to craft one, and were able to focus instead on their job interview.
Step #5: Highlight Measurable Achievements
Listing your awards on your resume is not enough to attract the readers; they should be quantifiable and measurable, too. High-quality resume accomplishments include amounts, time frames, volume, and percentage.
Here are some examples:
- Created SEO strategies that increased organic search traffic to main landing pages by 48% year over year.
- Wrote 60 new blog posts, eBooks, and landing pages, making up 42% of the company’s online content.
- Maintained a 92% satisfaction rating for two years as a customer service staff.
- Exceeded sales goals by 28% in 2020.
Expert Tip: Only put those results that are relevant to your target job. Also, trained resume writers have a workaround with quantified results, tailoring them to the job description.
Step #6: Use a Readable yet Professional Resume Font
Recruiters reveal that the best resume fonts are the simplest ones. These include the fonts below:
- Arial
- Cambria
- Calibri
- Didot
- Garamond
- Times New Roman
- Helvetica
- Muna
- Avenir Next
Notice that these are the most generic fonts you can see online. So why use them? Simple: These are clean, and easy-to-read fonts. In terms of font size, the optimal is between 10 to 12.
Expert Tip: Seek help from your family or friend in choosing the perfect font style and size for you. Send them your resume online and ask for their feedback.
Step #7: Slip Past the Resume Bots, aka Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
Due to the advent of technology, firms that receive as many as a hundred resumes for one job post alone have used ATS to help filter job applications. Jobscan research says that 98% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS. On the other hand, Kelly OCG survey found that 66% of large firms and 35% of small ones rely on this software.
Resume bots can scan and rank submitted resume online. They serve as an e-gatekeeper for a hiring manager. Likewise, recruiters use them to collect, sort, and store resumes during the hiring process.
So, how does ATS work? It views and scans the resume highlights, automatically ranks the resume based on the job description, and searches for keywords related to the job post.
The most recommended file types for an ATS-friendly resume are .doc, .docx, or plain-text files.
Expert Tip: Do not over-optimize your resume for ATS. Remember, after the bot scanning, a human will then read the file. Thus, strike a balance in writing your resume online.
Step #8: Proofread
The most common resume mistake is having typos or bad grammar. And as someone who’s looking to breach a competitive market, you must avoid this common mistake. Don’t let a simple error cost you your dream job. Dedicate a time for proofreading and editing. Surely, it is not a waste of time at all.
Expert Tip: The most important details in your resume to check and edit are your email and contact information.
Step #9: Send Resumes Properly and with the Correct Attachments
Now that your resume is good to go, pair it with a good cover letter. If the company requires you to send other requirements, make sure to follow them. Also, don’t forget to send your resume as an attachment. Rename the file. Try “Last Name_First Name_Resume.”
However, some employers do not accept attachments. In such cases, paste your resume as plain text. You may also send yourself a test email first and see how it would look like. Then, edit the email as you deem necessary.
Expert Tip: The best time to send your resume is between 6 AM and 10 AM.
Step #10: Be Expectant
If you heed the steps above, chances are you’ve written a good resume online. To avoid wasting time, you may start searching for the most common job interview questions. Write and practice answering these questions with a partner or in front of a mirror. One good practice is recording yourself as you speak. This way, you’d observe your body language and improve further.
Expert Tip: You can skip steps one to nine, then jump straight to step 10. How? By hiring a resume writer who is an expert in your industry. It’s a worry-free and time-saving investment for your career.
Career Experts Ready to Help with Your Resume Online
Almost everything you need for your job search can be found online now. Do you want to write your own resume online? Or do you consider hiring a resume writer? Whatever your decision may be, Resume Professional Writers is your one-stop site for your career needs. We provide online resume examples and career tips for you. And when you need an expert guide, don’t hesitate to contact us today!
