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Apr 29th 2022

Feeling lost? Here’s how to follow up on a job application! [+Email samples]

Created by CakeWe all have been there.You have just sent your resume to a company you are very interested in. A couple of days, or even weeks, have passed. You are starting to feel anxious, waiting for a response. Should you do a job application follow-up? When should you follow up on a job application? How to follow up on your job application Do not worry about it! In this article, we will go over why, when, and how to follow up on a job application while also providing follow up email examples. You can either write a follow up email or make a follow up phone call (keep in mind that most recruiters prefer a job application follow-up email). Its purpose is to check your status after you submit your resume. While it’s not usually required, it can help you reinforce your interest in a position. Additionally, if successfully done, it can bring extra attention to your application, given your extra effort. However, to avoid overstepping, make sure you pay attention to the following pieces of advice on how to follow up after sending a resume (whether you send your resume via email or directly on job listing sites, or company's websites). TABLEOFCONTENTHow to Follow Up on a Job ApplicationTips on How to Follow Up on a Job ApplicationHow to Follow Up on a Job Application – SamplesJob Application Follow Up Email Template How to Follow Up on a Job ApplicationThere are several approaches you could take to make a job application follow-up. Each has pros and cons you need to consider. Read the following guidelines to understand which one fits you best and what to do after applying for a job: ✉️ How to Write a Follow Up Email for a Job Application You might be excited to move towards your new dream job. Alternatively, you might be so nervous that you cannot even sleep. It is acceptable to send a follow up email after applying for a position if enough time has passed. Sending an email is usually the best way to do a job application follow-up. Especially because recruiters like to keep a record of your interactions just in case they need them. Additionally, they can get back to you as soon as they have some free time. However, it also has some disadvantages. If you do not send it at the right time, it can get buried under tons of other emails. Moreover, if you need a quick response (perhaps you have another job offer), sending a follow-up email after a job application might not fit your needs. 📞 How to Follow Up on a Job Application by Phone Other than sending an email asking for an update on a job application, you can call to check on a job after applying to inquire about your application status. Making a follow-up call can help you remind the recruiter that you have applied for the position. Moreover, it shows that you are willing to take the extra step to demonstrate your interest in the company. Nonetheless, making a phone call can be nerve-wracking to many. To avoid forgetting the questions you want to ask, you should make a list of what to say when following up on a job application to keep your call brief and effective. On the other hand, not all recruiters are open to receiving a job application follow-up call. Make sure you double-check the job listing to see if it’s ok to call them. Otherwise, you will come across as impolite, pushy, and even needy. Therefore, when a company does not want applicants contacting them, you need to respect them. 🧑🏻‍💻 How to Follow Up on a Job Application on LinkedIn Social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, provide incredible tools for job seekers. Many companies post their job listings regularly on LinkedIn. You can apply directly through and contact HR through the website. Therefore, you need to know how to reach out to a recruiter after applying on LinkedIn.; It is not important whether you applied through LinkedIn or traditional venues. Most of the time, you will find the hiring manager’s profile on LinkedIn. Does that mean you should message to recruiter after applying for a job? Well, there are some things you still need to consider. First, make sure it is ok to contact them beyond their traditional platforms. Additionally, your LinkedIn profile needs to be updated and active. Otherwise, it can harm your application. If you decide it is a good idea to do your job application follow-up on LinkedIn, we recommend you follow the company’s profile. It will allow you to be up to date with the company’s projects. Additionally, it reinforces your interest in the position, too. You can also add the recruiter to keep in touch with them. 💁🏻 How to Follow Up on a Job Application in Person While this can be more time-consuming than sending a follow-up email after submitting a resume, it is also a more personal way to do a job application follow-up. There is something good to this old-school approach. You can get your face and name on the employer’s mind and shows them how serious you are about the position. If things go your way, the recruiter can even decide to invite you to an interview, so be prepared! However, remember that it is very different from sending a follow-up email after a job application. First of all, you need to dress to impress! Wear an attire you would wear for a job interview. You will need to make a positive first impression, as it is probably how the hiring manager will remember you. Furthermore, keep in mind that most of the time, big companies won’t allow people to enter their premises, at least not without an appointment. Make sure that you know they will welcome you if you go. Perhaps, you need to find someone who can connect you with the hiring manager if you intend to follow up on your job application in person. Tips on How to Follow Up on a Job ApplicationFind the right person to contact.Keep it professional and brief.Follow up at the right time.Show your interest in the role.Highlight your qualifications.Express your gratitude. Regardless of which approach you choose the following tips are great for you to learn what to do after applying for a job. 1. Find the right person to contact. Whether you are wondering if you should send a follow-up letter after your application or if a job application follow-up call might suit you better, one thing is certain. Finding out who to reach is one of the most important steps before you even begin. While you might want to send an email to the hiring manager after applying rather than the HR department, you don’t always have their email address. It is a good idea to double-check the job listing. If you’re lucky, the information will be right there. Nonetheless, if it’s not available, you can visit the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to find the information you need.2. 2. Keep it professional and brief. Even if you have been in touch with the hiring manager for a while, you should still maintain a professional and respectful way of communication - especially when you want to make a job application follow-up. It’s always a great idea to start your interaction by thanking the recruiter for their time and effort. Additionally, bear in mind to keep your message brief and clear. Hiring managers and recruiters are very busy people. Consequently, brevity is something they appreciate. Whether you are making a phone call, paying a visit, or sending an email to the recruiter after applying. Your job application follow-up inquiry should focus on two things: reinforcing your interest in the position and asking about when you should expect to hear about the following phase. 3. Follow up at the right time. When deciding how to ask for an update on a job application, take timing into consideration. If you want to know the best time to send a follow-up email after applying for a job, or in general, when to get in touch with a company to inquire about your status, you need to consider many factors. First, hiring managers need to take some time to review the applications before getting back to each applicant. Many suggest waiting for one to two weeks before sending a follow-up email (unless the job listing includes the closing window, which gives you the perfect target date to do it). Moreover, avoid sending your job application status email or making your phone call on a Monday or a Friday. Mondays tend to be the busiest days in offices with regular schedules, as people are trying to catch up with a weekend’s amount of work. On the other hand, if you send your email on a Friday, you are risking it to get buried under a whole weekend’s worth of emails. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays are your best options to email the recruiter after applying. 4. Show your interest in the role After considering how soon should you follow up on a job application, you need to think of the content you want to cover. Figuring out what to say when following up on a job application can be hard. One of the things you do is to reinforce your interest in the position. A good way to show them your interest, when following up on a job application, is to ask them whether you need to send them any additional information, such as portfolios or pre-interview tasks. Show your willingness to help make their job easier! 5. Highlight your qualifications. No matter how you are making your job application follow-up, you should always try your best to briefly mention why you are a good candidate for the job.You can even add some new achievements or qualifications you managed to attain after sending your application if you think they can help your application. By correctly doing this step, you might help the hiring manager and improve your chances of moving to the following phase. 6. Express your gratitude. Never - and we cannot stress this enough - never send your job application follow-up email without letting recruiters know that you are thankful for their time and dedication. The same applies to other means of communication, through which you decide to follow up on a job application. Such a small gesture can impress recruiters and show how you fit corporate etiquette.How to Follow Up on a Job Application – SamplesBefore sending out emails and making phone calls, we suggest looking at these job-status inquiry email samples. We provide examples of what to say when following up on a job application by phone, message, or in person. 🖋 Sample Follow-Up Email for a Job Application If you are going to email the recruiter after applying, remember to keep the email short, and to talk about your relevant skills. Check this job status inquiry email sample: Email Subject: Following up on Project Manager applicationHello Mr. Mario,I’m writing to inquire about the application I submitted on March 10th for the project manager position advertised on your company’s LinkedIn page. I wish to confirm you received my application and reinforce my interest in this position.I’ve been looking for a position at your company for a while. I think that my values align with your company’s values. Moreover, my international background and years of experience as a project manager are a great match for what your company requires. I hope I get a chance to go over them with you. Thank you for dedicating your time to reviewing my application.Best,Lincoln Dragmire0909123456 🖋 Sample Follow-Up Email for an Internship Application If you are still a student, you might be wondering how to write a follow-up email for an internship. We suggest you focus on how your academic background supports your application. Do take a look at this sample on how to send follow up email after applying for an internship Email Subject: Customer service internship - Application for Lincoln DragmireHello Mr. Mario,I would like to follow up on my application to make sure you received my resume, and let you know I am very interested in starting my career as a customer service representative in your company.I am currently in the last year of my business administration bachelor program. I would be honored to learn from you and be of use to your company. Please do not hesitate to inform me if I need to provide any additional documentation. Thank you for your time and consideration.Sincerely,Lincoln Dragmire0909123456 🖋 Sample Job Application Follow-Up Call If you choose to make a job application follow-up call, the following sample might be helpful to you. Hello, this is Lincoln Dragmire, and I am an applicant for the project management position. Is now a convenient time for us to talk? Of course, you’ll have to wait for their response. And you might have to follow your guts. However, we recommend you try to cover the same points as the following example: I am calling to reiterate my interest in the position. I applied on March 10th, and I am still excited about working for your company. My years of project management experience make me an excellent candidate for this position. Please, contact me at 0909123456 or [email protected] if you need any additional documents or information to process my application. Make sure to be polite when finishing the conversation: Thank you again for your time and consideration. 🖋 Sample Follow-Up Message for a Job Application Alternatively, if you are wondering how to check the status of a job application by sending a message (for instance through LinkedIn), you can follow this example: Hello Mario,I have been following your company for a few months. I was delighted to find the opening for Project Manager yesterday. I applied through the link you provided in the job listing. However, I hope it is okay to send you a request to stay connected.Please let me know if you need additional information. I hope you can look at my profile. You will see that I am a good fit for your company.Thanks,Lincoln 🖋 Sample In-Person Job Application Follow-Up Conversation Script Similarly to making a phone call, you’ll have to wait for the hiring manager’s response to guide your conversation. However, if you are not sure about what to say when following up on a job application in person, we recommend you try to cover the same points as the following example: Hello Mr. Mario. Thank you for accepting to see me today. I am Lincoln Dragmire, an applicant for the project management position I applied for on March 10th.I am here today to show you my interest in the position. I am excited about working for your company. I would love to have the chance to go on an interview to explain how my years of project management experience make me an excellent candidate for this position.Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you. If you need any other documents from my side, please do not hesitate to reach me. My phone number is 0909123456. Have a nice day! Job Application Follow Up Email TemplateFeel free to use the following template as a base to build up yours if you still don’t feel confident enough after reading the templates we provided in the previous section and are still wondering how to send a follow-up email after an application. Email Subject: Following up on [Job title] application.Hello/Good morning/Afternoon [Hiring manager’s name],I’m writing to inquire about the application I submitted on March 10th for the [Job title] position. I want to confirm that you received my application and reiterate my interest in this position.I’ve been looking for a position at [Company name] for a while. I think that my values align with the company’s values. Moreover, my [relevant work experience/qualifications] are a great match for what your company requires. I look forward to having the opportunity to deeply explain why to you. Thank you for dedicating your time to reviewing my application.Regards,[Your name][Your contact information (Phone number, LinkedIn profile)]Cake provides the best resume builder and resume templates to help you create the perfect resume for your job hunt. Take your career journeyto new heights - create a resume online (free download) now!Create CV--- Originally written by Roger Rene Ortega Figueroa---
Resume & CV
Mar 3rd 2021

Professional ESL Teacher Resume Examples [+ Objectives, Templates & Description]

Created by CakeYou'll learn about:How to write an ESL teacher resume?What to put on a resume for ESL teachers?Tips for writing the best ESL teacher resumeHow to write an ESL teacher cover letter?ESL Teacher Resume SampleESL stands for English as a Second Language. In some instances, it is also referred to as English as an Additional Language (EAL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) depending on the learning environment. For this article, only the term ESL will be used.Just by looking at all the abbreviations above that mean almost the same thing, you can get a sense of how popular or in-demand ESL teachers are.🔍Fact:There are around 1.5 billion English language learners (ELL) around the world and they range from toddlers to business professionals. But no matter the age, level, and needs of their ESL students, ESL teachers are required to prepare lesson plans, assess and keep track of their students' progress with homework and tests, and develop their own classroom management styles. These responsibilities sound a lot like those of an English Language Arts teacher (ELA teacher), so how are these two teaching jobs different?ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher vs. ELA (English Language Arts) teacher:An ESL teacher focuses on improving an ESL student's English proficiency by improving his/her receptive skills (reading and listening) and his/her productive skills (speaking and writing);whereas an ELA teacher focuses on literacy--mainly understanding the text and analyzing the text through different methods.Both ELA teachers and ESL teachers are found in K-12 settings such as public schools, private schools, and international schools; but ESL teachers can also be found working in language centers or language schools, universities, and even online learning platforms. Whether you want to teach ESL overseas, teach online, or locally, it is important to know how to write an ESL teacher resume (also known as ESL CV in British influenced regions). A great resume can help employers in the education sector understand if your teaching skills, teaching methods, and teaching philosophy are compatible with their core values. A well-written ESL teacher resume can also help you analyze your strengths and weaknesses as an ESL teacher.However, no matter how experienced an ESL teacher you are, resume or CV writing is hard. It is hard to transfer years of experience onto just a few pages. If you have just started in the education sector, how do you convince the manager to hire you? Nowadays, there are links to online portfolios or video cover letters you can include to catch a hiring manager's attention. But if you want to rely solely on the A4 document you are submitting, keep in mind that it is structure and content that matters.How to write an ESL teacher resume?Step 1: Thinkabout who your audience is.Before composing your resume or CV, think about who your audience is. What educational system does the school fall under? If you are applying to a school that follows the Common Core Standards, or you know that it is heavily influenced by the American culture, make sure to submit an ESL teacher resume. But if the school is more European influenced, then an ESL teacher Curriculum Vitae (CV) is more appropriate.What is the difference between a resume and a CV? The two job hunting documents are similar in the sense that they both require the job seeker to include an overview of his/her achievements, work experience, and skills. Some people even use these two terms interchangeably, but Curriculum Vitaes focus more on a job applicant's academic achievements while resumes focus more on the applicant's achievements in their previous jobs. While it is emphasized on most Job search sites that Curriculum Vitaes are for academia or teaching jobs and resumes are not, it is really up to the school that you are applying to, as mentioned before. 💡 Tips: The school usually would announce in their job posting which one they are looking for - if you are unsure, you can always contact them before applying. Step 2: Think about which type of resume best presents you as an ESL teacher.While it is tempting to use a fancy design for your resume, it is best to stick to a more conventional layout since you are trying to showcase your core competencies as an ESL educator. Your resume should be able to highlight the hard skills and softs skills that you have as an ESL teacher, such as your classroom management style, your understanding of summative formative assessments, your ability to design a curriculum and plan lessons according to the curriculum, and your ability to provide fun and engaging English education. ✅ Your ESL teacher resume should be skills-focused; it is recommended that you create a functional resume or combination resume. If you are targeting a specific school, it might be a good idea to try a targeted resume. Learn about4 different types of resume formatsfirst before making your decision. Step 3: Browse through already existing ESL resume templates.To avoid writer's block right away, try to browse through already existing ESL resume templates.Most job search websites include resume templates you can easily customize - some require you to become a paid member, but some only require free but complete registration.Step 4: Tailor the resume to the job position. Every school has its own unique environment and ESL program. The school you are interested in might have a co-teaching system, or an after school ESL club that requires team teaching. Submitting a tailored ESL teacher resume shows that you have studied the school's core beliefs, teaching environment, and philosophies. Browse through the ESL teacher job description, the school's website, and the hashtags that the school has used on social media. 💡 Tips: If the school has used the hashtag PBL several times, you know that they want a teacher who has a deep understanding of project-based learning. What to put on a resume for ESL teachers?1. ESL teacher resume profile headline/titleNow that you have created your resume outline, go back to the top of the page and give it a resume headline and a resume profile. The headline goes before the profile; but since the resume headline is a one-line summary of the resume profile, the trick is to create your resume profile first before giving your ESL teacher resume a headline. You can present this section as a five to seven line paragraph, or you can use bullet points, whichever helps you to highlight your talents and catch the attention of your recruiter.The first sentence of your resume profile is your topic sentence, so it should quickly tell the recruiter what kind of teacher you are and what you can do for the school. Make sure to capitalize the words to hint that this is a title.ESL teacher resume headline examples:ESL teacher with 4+ years of experience working in a middle school co-teaching settingAttentive Adaptable Bilingual ESL Middle School Teacher with Strong Knowledge of Various Methodologies 💡 Tips: If you do not have experience yet, cite any achievements that could be related to the job position you are applying for - include highlights from your teacher training or practicum. 2.Resume summary career objectives for ESL teachersAfter this first sentence, state your resume objective, or why you are submitting your resume to the school. Fromhere, include keywords that can be found in the job description, or research some of the skills or qualities that most schools are looking for on job boards. Remember, the purpose of your resume profile summary is to tell the recruiter what you can bring to the table, not what you are looking for.Example of a complete resume profile summary:Bilingual ESL teacher with 4+ years of experience working in a middle school co-teaching setting seeking a full-time position as a seventh grade EAL Support Teacher. Innovative and passionate teaching professional with a genuine interest in ESL teaching methodologies. Strong leader with interpersonal skills who builds rapport with colleagues, students, and parents. 📝 Note: After having a professional summary for ESL teacher, you can now condense it to just one phrase, and that is your resume headline. 3.Skills for ESL teacher resumesThe skills section on a ESL teacher resume can also help the recruiter learn what you can bring to the table. Most people overlook this part of the resume because they deem it redundant. However, if the right keywords are used, your ESL teacher resume may just be able to outshine others.Hard skills(specific and teachable):Classroom managementClassroom technology competencyLesson planningLiteracySoft skills(personal qualities, attitude, interpersonal skills): Time managementStrong work ethicTeamworkEmotional intelligenceThink about the skills you already possess to customize this section to fit the requirements of the position you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for an ESL Support Teacher role who needs help your ESL kids understand the content being taught in Science and History, then your hard skills might include History content knowledge, Science content knowledge, literacy, continuous assessment, giving instructions/instructions checking. And you might want to include collaboration, communication, creativity, empathy, and adaptability as your soft skills.🔍How many skills should you include on your ESL teacher resume?As this section is usually on the side of your resume or usually below your work history, it is advised not to include more than 10. If you think you have more than 10 skills, you can always present them in your work history section as longer phrases.4.ESL teacher work experience on a resumeYour ESL teacher work history should focus on the transferable skills that you have acquired. If you have achieved amazing things in your previous workplace, include those in your bullet points as well. Remember to start each bullet point with an action verb in the past tense. Be sure to include your job title, the name of your school, and the duration you have worked at the institute so the recruiter can understand when and how you have acquired those skills.You may use longer phrases in this section, so please take advantage of as many useful and relevant keywords from your research about the school and from the job posting you have found. Make sure to list your experience in reverse chronological order.5.Educational background section on an ESL teacher resumeAfter the recruiter has had a sense of who you are as an educator, he or she will also want to find out where you have trained as an ESL teacher. Some schools abroad may only require a Bachelor's degree, but some might want the candidate to have a TESOL certificate, or even a PGDE. Always start with your highest attained degree and work your way down to high school.6.Additional information section on an ESL teacher resumeFor overachievers who have won awards or have held positions in school clubs. You can showcase them in the additional information section. This section may help your recruiter confirm if you really do have the leadership skills and interpersonal skills that you have listed previously.Cakeis an online resume builder that helps job seekers build professional ESL teacher CVs.Create NowTips for writing the best ESL resumeAlong with your ESL teacher cover letter, your resume is the only way to make a good impression on the recruiter, so here are a few things to remember.#Tip 1:Customize or tailor your ESL teacher resume.As mentioned before, it is frowned upon to submit the same resume to different schools. Schools in different regions look for different qualities in a teacher, so submitting a customized ESL teacher resume can showcase the fact that you have done your research on the school and the culture of the region in which it is situated.#Tip 2: Bullet points are useful.They help keywords jump out at the recruiter who usually has less than 8 seconds to review a ESL teacher resume. Also, bullet points help a resume look more organized.#Tip 3: Quantify your achievements.If you are unavailable to turn your achievements into numbers, make sure to include viable ones that are relevant to the position you wish to secure. Providing useful achievements can help the school imagine all the possible contributions you could bring to the table.#Tip 4:Choose an ATS-friendly ESL teacher resume format.Most teachers do not know about this, but there is an increasing number of schools, especially private or international schools that use Applicant Tracking System/Software to filter applicants. The larger the school, the more likely they are going to feed your ESL teacher resume into the ATS. Most schools abroad also hire through education recruitment agencies because they want quality teachers fast. 💡 If you found a job listing on Facebook or on one of those international job boards, your resume will most likely be fed through the ATS! Once your ESL teacher resume is in the software or system, it will be scanned and ranked based on the number of relevant keywords inserted in your resume.#Tip 5: Adopt ESL teacher resume action words. Action words are also known as power words. These words help your daily mundane tasks stand out and become achievements. Rather than "planned a curriculum with another teacher," try "collaborated with the English lead teacher on curriculum design." Turn a DIY clay mug into a coveted Starbucks mug. This is a subtle way of tooting your own horn.#Tip 6:Include a teaching demo video.If you are planning on teaching abroad or online, include a hyperlink to a teaching demo video. It will give your potential employers an idea of your teaching style, classroom management skills, and most importantly your command of English. If you have designed your own lesson plans, feel free to turn them into concrete lessons in a demo video to show how creative you can be.💡 Pro Tips:You can also opt to attach your teaching videos to your ESL teacher cover letter. That way, if the recruiter has decided to print out your resume before reading it, they do not have to wonder what the hyperlink leads to. How to write an ESL teacher cover letter?The ESL teacher cover letter tells a deeper story of who you are as an ESL instructor. The cover letter consists of three paragraphs. The first paragraph should tell the reader straight away where you obtained your credentials and teaching license or certificate, as well as the number of years you have taught.The second paragraph goes into detail about the various teaching environments you have been exposed to, and the age and English proficiency of your students. Most importantly, this paragraph should also showcase your talent for catering to your students' needs and what resources you used for differentiation.The third paragraph should go into detail about your teaching styles and methods for different students. If you teach both adults and children, do you use the same teaching methods? How did you come up with these styles and methods?DO customize the language so the recruiter understands your motivation. Also, don't forget to mention your teaching video or career portfolio if you have one. ESL Teacher Resume SampleSophia MacDonaldLead Middle School EAL Support Teacher (6-8th Grade) No. 3, Wendover Rd, Forest Hills, Queens 33143 NY Professional Summary Adaptable Dedicated Bilingual (viz. Chinese and English) Middle School ESL teacher with 6 years of experience seeking to progress ESL career in Asia. Ability to facilitate a classroom by presenting either receptive skills focused or productive skills focused lessons. Collaborated in a team setting to create 100+ Individualized Education Plans for English Language Learners. Work Experience Bright Minds International School, Singapore7th Grade ESL Push-in Support 08/2017 – Present Collaborated in the design of ESL leveling entry assessmentCollaborated in the design of 7th grade ESL curriculumCreated differentiated tests for 7th grade HistoryCreated differentiated PBL lessons for 7th grade HistoryOrganized coursework for ESL lessons and learning materialsAssessed student progress using weekly quizzes, monthly tests, in class activities, and homework Dammam International School, Saudi Arabia English Language Specialist 08/2014 - 06/2017 Created individualized lesson plans for students with learning disabilitiesResearched new teaching methods for TESOLResolved crises in the classroom with colleaguesMaintained supportive and positive classroom environmentInformed parents about student progress dailyAssessed students’ language proficiency weekly Wixon Innovation School, Massachusetts ELL Teacher 08/2010 - 06/2014Developed and executed lesson plans using a balance of teaching strategiesAdjusted different teaching strategies using a variety of learning environments, including whole class, pairwork, group work, and individual workDifferentiated activities to meet students’ language proficiencyCollaborated with the ELL faculty in a professional manner in the assessment processInvolved parents in shared reflection regarding students’ learning process Skills English LiteratureGrammarPhonicsCurriculum DesignIEP comprehensiveLesson DifferentiationPush-in SupportTeam TeachingClassroom ManagementProject Based Learning Education 2007 – 2009, Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) University of Edinburg 2003 – 2007, B.Ed in English as a Second Language Liberty University --- Originally written by Wendy Chen ---
Interview Skills
May 29th 2022

20 Most Common Job Interview Questions and Answer Samples

In this article, you'll read about:Common Interview Questions“Tell me about yourself.”“How did you hear about this position?”“Why did you decide to apply?”“Why should we hire you?”“What are your strengths?”“What are your weaknesses?”“What is your greatest work achievement?”“Tell me about a time you failed.”“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”“How do you handle stress?”“What motivates you?”“What do you know about us?”“What do you look for in this position?”“What kind of work environment do you prefer?”“Do you prefer to work independently or with a team?”“Are you applying for other jobs?”“Why did you leave your last job?”“Why have you changed jobs so frequently?”“What are your salary expectations?”“Do you have any questions for us?”Do you have a job interview soon? Are you ready to tackle each interview question and answer them with confidence? Unfortunately, no one can read minds. There's no way of telling what the hiring manager will throw at you. Some typical interview questions like "What is your greatest weakness?" or "Tell me about a time where you failed" might stumble someone who is not prepared. To be ready for the big interview effectively, exploring the possible interview questions and their answers can be a great help. So, we have the next best thing for you, a list of 20 commonly asked interview questions with advice and tips on how to answer them. In light of preparing for a job interview, it's also important to learn what questions to ask your potential employer during a job interview. Let's first start with categories of common job interview questions. Common Interview QuestionsWe've compiled a list of basic questions for a job interview and divided them into five categories. Most hiring managers would have these general questions for your interview to get to know you better and assess if you are the right fit for their team. To give you ideas on what sorts of job interview questions and answers you need to prepare for, here’s a list for you to get your brain juice going: Top interview questions about yourself: Tell me about yourself.Why did you decide to apply?How did you hear about this position?What are your strengths?What are your weaknesses?What motivates you?What was the biggest challenge you ever had to overcome?Tell me about a time where you failed.What are you passionate about?What do you like to do outside of work? Top interview questions about your work history: Why did you leave your last job?What is your greatest work achievement?Why have you changed jobs so frequently?Tell me why you're switching career paths.What did you like most about your previous position?Why is there a gap in your employment history?What was the biggest challenge from your previous job?What did you learn most from your previous work experience?How did you get to where you are now?Why were you laid off or got fired? Top interview questions about salary: What are your salary expectations?What was your previous salary?What are your benefit expectations?Would you accept a job that pays less than your previous job?Why would you apply for a new job that has a lower salary than your previous one? Situational common interview questions on management and teamwork: Do you prefer to work independently or with a team?What kind of work environment do you prefer?How would your previous employer/supervisor describe you?How do you handle stress?How do you keep yourself organized while handling multiple projects?What is your leadership style?How do you like to be managed?How do you address a disagreement with your supervisor? Typical interview questions about the future: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?Are you applying for other jobs?How do you plan on achieving your career goals?If hired, how long do you plan on working with us?Are you planning on getting married or starting a family? Aside from the above-mentioned commonly asked interview questions, some interviewers might also ask you about some industrial knowledge. Therefore, don't forget to study the technical aspect of the position you're applying to. You've probably also heard that there are no right or wrong answers. But the purpose of those top interview questions is to see if you understand what is asked of you. In order to better answer those common job interview questions, first, you need to understand why the interviewer asks it in the first place. To help you nail that interview, here are some samples of interview questions and answers.“Tell me about yourself.” Sounds super easy, right? After all, we can’t get enough talking about ourselves. But, do you really think the interviewer wants to hear your whole life story? This very common interview question is only a way to ease into the actual interview. So, keep it structured (using the past-present-future formula), brief, and most importantly, relevant to the position you're applying to. A good self-introduction example for a job interview should be something like this: "First of all, thank you for having me. My name is Jane Doe, I'm 29 years old and for the past 5 years, I've been working as a Clinical Research Associate at MediCo. I have always been interested in plants and their medicinal uses, which motivated me to pursue a degree in Chemistry and specialize in Biochemistry for my Master's degree. In my previous position, I was in charge of site visits, as well as monitoring clinical documents and systems for drug trials. Moving forward, I would like to include my passion for medicinal plants with my expertise as a researcher. Thus, I am interested in your company's Clinical Research Manager position." “How did you hear about this position?” Employers want to know if you were actively seeking an opportunity in their companies or just casually browsing and stumbled upon their job posting. This job interview question might have an apparent answer. However, you shouldn't state the obvious. Instead, approach this common job interview question where you can show your passion towards the company and what they do. Here’s an example of how to answer this common interview question: "I've been following your company's LinkedIn profile for a while. Since last year I've wanted to get into medicinal plant drugs and I am really interested and passionate about the projects that your company does, especially the new aloe-based drug your company developed last year." “Why did you decide to apply?” Now it's your chance to go deeper with this follow-up on the previous job interview question. Mention how the company's values align with your own and how the position will help you accomplish your career goals. Here’s an example to answer this question in your interview: "I firmly believe that a successful company not only develops the most advanced products but also cares about the environment. After reading your CSR report and article on sustainable research practices for the aloe-based drug, I know that this company holds the same value as I do. When I found there's an opening in the RD team for a Clinical Research Assistant, I knew I had to apply. I would be really excited and happy coming to work every day knowing that I am making a difference not just in the pharmaceutical field, but also to our earth." “Why should we hire you?” This one is one of the many top interview questions that is favored by hiring managers. This is your sales pitch to them. So, don't just list out your skills and qualifications. Instead, package your answer with an example in a way that captivates the interviewer. Here’s a sample answer to this top interview question: "That is a great question. I'm glad you asked. Since I don't know the qualifications of the other candidates, I can only speak for myself. During my tenure at MediCo, although my title was associate, my scope of duties reached beyond that. I was assigned to train and manage 5 new associates when I was in my third year working. Something that's quite rare in the clinical research team. With that, I honed my leadership and management skills on top of my skills as a scientist., which is what a Clinical Research Assistant should possess." “What are your strengths?” Be confident yet humble when answering questions about your strengths and weaknesses for an interview. Although your resume or CV should already highlight your strengths, when the hiring manager asks this particular common interview question, you should also provide a concrete experience to better illustrate it. They want to know if you acknowledge your own strengths, if they are realistic, and if they match the job. In this case, implementing the interview STAR technique is highly recommended. This general interview question can be answered like so: "I consider my critical thinking skill and ability to work under pressure as my greatest strengths. As a scientist at MediCo, we had to design, monitor, and collect data on multiple drug trials simultaneously within set timelines. There was one trial that went wrong and I had to come up with a new set of procedures to keep up with the agenda. I managed to identify the issue and deliver the data before the deadline." “What are your weaknesses?” Questions about strengths and weaknesses in an interview are undoubtedly tough, especially answering about weaknesses. You don't want to cause yourself to be disqualified if you disclose too many weaknesses, but also don't want to seem arrogant if you say you have none. The key to answering this tricky job interview question is knowing you have weak points but you are also determined to improve. Here’s how to properly answer this interview question: "I have a tendency to be overly critical of myself. When it comes to my work, I would always think that I could do a better job even when my work received positive feedback. This tendency often leads to unnecessary stress and pressure which had caused burnout in the past. Since then I have been practicing meditation, self-reflection. They have helped me to take a step back and be more mindful when it comes to self-criticism." “What is your greatest work achievement? Another commonly asked interview question where you can use the interview STAR technique is this through this question. Elaborate your answer using a specific situation. Here, hiring managers would like to learn: What YOU consider as achievement or success is,How down to earth you are, andIf you are a success-oriented person. A tricky interview question like this can be answered like so: Situation – “The last project I worked on at MediCo had a major setback in funding. We lost one of our partners due to the pandemic.”Task – “We had to come up with new partnership proposals to cover the remaining funding for this trial to move forward.”Action – “Cooperating with the marketing team, I came up with a new deck to pitch to potential partners, focusing on how their business would benefit through this research.”Result – “After collaboratively working with the marketing team, we successfully brought a new partner and exceeded our target by 15%.” “Tell me about a time you failed.” Talking about failure is never a fun topic. But we can learn a lot more through failures. Thus, don't be ashamed when answering this particular interview question. Show the interviewer that you learn from your mistakes and continuously strive to improve. This is also a good opportunity to use the interview STAR technique to answer the question: Situation – “As a scientist, I consider failure as an opportunity to correct and come up with a better methodology. On one of the projects I worked on, there was a flaw in the documentation system and it tampered with the data collected.”Task – “With a cool head, we had to re-do the whole trial from the top.”Action Result – “We managed to find the problem, within 1 month we completed the new methodology, and proceeded with the project.” “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” No one can predict where you'll end up, neither does the hiring manager. This typical interview question has a sole purpose to see if your career goals and aspirations match with the position. Keep in mind that you're not obligated to reveal all your plans, but being honest might save you in the long run. When answering this daunting interview question, remember to stay a little bit general. Here’s an example: "With the projects that your company is working on right now, I strongly believe that plant-based drugs will emerge stronger than ever. I would love to co-head research for cancer drug projects and work with some of the greatest minds in the field." “How do you handle stress?” No one can get out of stress regardless of their position and where they work. Thus, it only suits that the hiring manager asks this basic interview question. They want to see if you thrive or fall when the first sign of trouble shows up. Exude confidence when answering this interview question, like so: “I have to say that I don't enjoy working in a stressful environment. However, I can manage time and effort quite well if necessary. In my last year of graduate school, I worked on my thesis and simultaneously did an internship. That experience helped me to optimize my agenda planning skills which enabled me to not get overwhelmed easily.” “What motivates you?” Though this might sound like a rather existential or philosophical question, this question is actually pretty general in a job interview. By throwing you this general interview question, the hiring manager wants to know what makes you excited about this job at their company. Simple as that! An answer like this would be sufficient to answer this common interview question: "Knowing that when I go to work I will be working on something that might help the community and improve health excites me. I'd like to contribute my knowledge and expertise to society by facilitating the development of pharmaceuticals." “What do you know about us?” Now it's the time to impress the interviewer with your knowledge of the company. To answer this basic interview question, do your due diligence and research thoroughly. Nevertheless, don't go too overboard with the details, because they might be incorrect and you can always ask the interviewer this at the end of your interview. Or if you're recommended by a friend who works at the company, don't spill any tea about office rumors (because it won't look good on you). Here’s an example answer for this interview question: "As I have been following your company's progress for a while, I know that your most popular products are all-natural and plant-derived. I've also read the press releases that you've been developing a new approach combining AI and your traditional pharmaceutical practices, which led to the first clinical trial on the aloe-based drug." “What do you look for in this position?” This top interview question is an extension of the one asking why you want to apply for this job. The difference is, when the interviewer asks this common interview question, they want to know if what they have in mind and what you perceive this role to be are aligned. A sample response to this interview question should look like this: "On top of putting my scientific knowledge and passion into practice, I'm excited to work along with one of the pioneers in the pharmaceutical industry." “What kind of work environment do you prefer?” Employers want to look for people with ambition and who can get along with other employees. Hence, it's important to search for what they value most to get the business going. By hearing your response to this typical interview question, hiring managers would know if you can adapt to their company culture. You can do research about the organization prior to the interview, but if not, stay true to yourself when giving an answer to this interview question: "Personally, I prefer a fast-paced work environment. It allows me to be quick on my feet and keep growing. But, I also enjoy cooperating with my team members and cross-department." “Do you prefer to work independently or with a team?” A majority number of jobs require you to work collaboratively with other departments. The objective of this interview question is obvious, to know whether you can work with their existing employees or not. You can answer this interview question like so: "I enjoy brainstorming and having discussions with the team. Moreover, I'm also comfortable completing assignments on my own." “Are you applying for other jobs?” Although hiring managers know that candidates mostly apply to other jobs, they want to know how serious you are about your application. Thus this is also one of the most commonly asked interview questions out there. Telling them where exactly you apply for is unnecessary, but addressing your response well is crucial. This is how you wrap this interview question's answer nicely: "I have applied to other places, however, to be completely honest with you this role is the one I'm the most excited about. In addition, your company's value is the most suited to and aligns with my passion." “Why did you leave your last job?” This is a typical interview question where a potential employer can assess your performance in your previous role. The answer to this common interview question could indicate if you will perform well in the next role. You want to avoid painting a negative impression on yourself, but you must remain truthful. You can focus your answer on your objective and hopes from joining the new company. The answer to a common interview question like this one should be somewhat like this: "I've always wanted to work on plant-based drugs. In the last 1.5 years of working at MediCo, they shifted focus towards a different direction, which I couldn't disclose. Therefore, I decided to leave my role and pursue something that aligns with what I want to do." “Why have you changed jobs so frequently?” If the interviewer asks you this question, most likely you have a lot of experiences of short durations listed on your resume. When someone jumps from one company to another too quickly, there ought to be some questions for the future employer. They might wonder if you'll stick with them for a long time or not. Here’s a sample answer to this job interview question: "The company that I interned for during my last year of studying couldn't afford to hire more people as they are still a start-up company. Then the first full-time position that I got turned out differently than what I was initially told. Although the industry is relevant, the role that I was doing for the first 3 months was mostly procurement instead of being in the research." “What are your salary expectations?” You should already know how much the salary range is for the position before you go into the interview. This basic question for a job interview is to see if your expected salary is within their budget. If there are 2 candidates with equal qualifications and the hiring manager likes both, the position might go to someone who has a lower expected salary. There's only a straightforward answer for this interview question: "Based on my experience, skillset, and industry rate, I'm looking at a salary around $80,000 - $95,000 per year." “Do you have any questions for us?” After the hiring manager has the information they need to make an informed decision, it's time for you to ask some interview questions and get answers from the company side. They want to know if you are actually interested in working in the company. There's no limitation on how many questions you should have for the interviewer, as long as you have all your doubts answered. But, remember to be attentive, the answer might already exist before you ask the question. For example, the last part of a job interview questions can be answered like so: "Yes, I do. I was wondering what type of performance review process the company does on the employees?" 📚 You can also read more about 50+ Good Questions to Ask in a Job Interview (Interview Hack)Cake provides the best resume making tools templates to help you create the perfect resume for your job hunt. Take your career journeyto new heights - create a resume online (free download) now!Create Resume--- Originally written by Teresa Edria---
Resume & CV
Sep 7th 2021

Entry-Level IT Resume Examples: Complete Writing Guide

Created by CakeYou'll learn: Step 1: Pick the best layout for your entry-level IT resume.Step 2: Choose the right format for your entry-level IT resume.Step 3: Start with contact information and basic personal details.Step 4: Create an intriguing resume title.Step 5: Craft a professional resume summary statement.Step 6: Include skills and abilities relevant to the job.Step 7: Highlight your best experience and accomplishments.Step 8: List educational qualifications and background.Step 9: Add an extra section to highlight achievements. Step 10: Craft a convincing entry-level IT cover letter for your resume.Entry Level IT Resume SampleInformation technology is the field of computer systems, including software and hardware operation or data management. An entry-level IT job is not a specific position but a category of IT jobs. For instance, entry-level IT jobs include web developer, help desk technician, computer system administrator, and database administrator (DBA). The often mentioned job duties and responsibilities on an entry-level IT resume includes: Ability to troubleshootHTML/CSS/Javascript programming abilitiesSoft skills, such as strong communication and collaboration skillsAnalytical problem-solving skillsFamiliar with networking and hardware functions to coordinate solutionsProficient in routine maintenance for computer systems. Although the listed duties are important, they are not necessary for all entry-level IT jobs. Some entry-level IT roles emphasize software, while others emphasize hardware or computer system maintenance. For those writing an entry-level IT job resume with no experience, it is better to confirm interest in which type of entry-level IT. Moreover, be careful not to apply for jobs demanding skills exceeding your abilities. For instance, a web developer is different from a software engineer. Although both include programming knowledge, the latter works as a team and on a larger-scale project, and the former requires specific programming skills and can complete work individually. In the era where technological development is on the rise, there has been an increase in entry-level IT job seekers. An exceptional entry-level IT resume is essential for securing your dream job.Step 1: Pick the best layout for your entry-level IT resume.How long should aresume be? An entry-level IT job resume, unlike an entry-level IT CV, has a length of a maximum of two pages. In other words, an entry-level IT resume should be concise, easy to read, and only include information relevant to the applied position.Further reading:How to write a good resume What is the best font (size style) to use in a resume? The standard professional font is Times News Roman with the size of twelve. Other fonts such as Amiri, Ariel, and Cambria are also appropriate. However, you may change fonts according to your entry-level IT resume style. Remember to refer to some sample entry-level IT resumes before deciding. What is the standard margin for a resume? Going over some entry-level IT resume templates will give you a good idea of what margin makes an entry-level IT resume clean and readable. The key is to ensure balance in substance. Most entry-level IT resume examples have a standard margin of 1 inch. Align your entry-level IT resume to them. Not too crowded and not too spread out is the standard. What spacing should a resume be in? Line spacing of single and double are both extreme and not applicable. An appropriate line spacing is between 1.15 and 1.5, but the latter should be used in situations of insufficient content and avoiding the entry-level IT job resume appearing as too empty.What format should a resume be in, Word or PDF? Entry-level IT resume pdf and entry-level IT resume word suits different situations. Research on what type of format the companies you are applying to prefer before proceeding. If that information is not accessible, PDF is oftentimes more preferred since most computer systems have Adobe Acrobat Reader.Step 2: Choose the right format for your entry-level IT resume.Chronological Resume Format A chronological entry-level IT job resume format lists out work experience from latest to oldest. When writing an entry-level IT resume with no experience, you may want to avoid choosing this format as this approach may stress your weakness. Otherwise, this entry-level IT resume format is effective. Functional Resume Format A functional resume format emphasizes skills and abilities. If you are writing an entry-level IT resume with no experience, you might not be familiar with entry-level IT responsibilities. In that case, a functional resume is a great choice as it emphasizes what you are knowledgeable in. Further reading:How to pick the right resume format? Combinational Resume Format A combinational resume format, like its name, is an entry-level IT resume format that takes the strengths of both chronological resume format and functional resume format. You can choose the section of your work history that highlights your ability and is most relevant to an entry-level IT job description. Also, you can outline your most prominent skills. 💡Reminder:While this resume format has its benefits and suits people writing an entry-level IT resume with no experience, be careful to avoid repetitive descriptions in the work experience and entry-level IT skills for the resume section.Step 3: Start with contact information and basic personal details.You might think that this is a simple section. Indeed, personal details are neutral information needless of polishing. However, make sure you insert this section at the most effective location on your entry-level IT resume. Moreover, make sure to review the following to know the information to avoid, since irrelevant information might make you look unprofessional. Essential:Full NameEmail addressPhone NumberAddress (optional)LinkedIn URL (optional)Personal Website(optional)Avoid:Date of BirthSexual OrientationReligion or BeliefMarital Status and DependencyExpected/Current salaryStep 4: Create an intriguing resume title.The resume title, also known as the resume headline, is the concise statement that highlights your most prominent achievement and conveys a powerful message on who you are and what you can offer. A successful resume title is one including catchy descriptions and strong action words. The purpose of an entry-level IT resume headline is for the recruiter to decide whether to continue reading your entry-level IT job resume. Read the following tips to draft your own phenomenal entry-level IT resume headline. Avoid Generic language: Be specific. Your resume headline should allow the recruiters to visualize the words. Avoid complex language that gives the recruiters a hard time understanding your message.Use the simplification approach: Instead of writing a concise entry-level IT resume headline from the start, you might first want to jot down all your thoughts without constraint. After you clear your mind, review what you wrote, select the most important phrases, and construct a resume headline with the chosen parts.Refer to powerful descriptions: Search for entry-level IT resume samples and read through them with a recruiter mindset. Take notes of the phrases that gave you a “wow” effect. Internalize the strategy and apply it to your entry-level IT resume. 💡 For more tips, check out how to write a good resume headline. Entry-level IT resume headline examples:A Professional IT Problem Solver With High Proficiency in Microsoft and Mac SystemsAnalytical Engineer Familiar with 20+ Companies' Computer SystemsDigital Expert Familiar with C++, Javascript, and Python Step 5: Craft a professional resume summary statement.Entry-level IT resume summary is the longer resume headline. However, having a resume summary is not redundant as it has a different purpose. It serves to draw a good impression and focuses on objectively presenting your qualifications through summarizing your abilities and experience. Following are three crucial elements for writing a good resume summary. No exaggeration: Polish your experience and skills moderately is necessary. However, exaggerating will create a counter effect that jeopardizes your chances of admission.Practice makes perfect: We suggest you start by imagining responding to the question “Tell me more about you.” and write down the possible answers. Refine the responses to one that includes the main achievements. The final result should be your entry-level IT resume summary.Good balance: Ensure you have a little bit of everything, including personality, skills, work experience, or achievements. Avoid overemphasizing a particular aspect, as that will make your profile less diverse. 🙋‍♀️ Note: Take note that a career objective and a resume summary are different. Career objective emphasizes explaining how this job role fits into your career trajectory and lets the recruiter understand why you apply for this particular job and not others. As you can tell, a career objective focuses on intention and motivation, whereas a resume summary is solely about your practical ability and what you can offer. For those writing an entry-level IT resume with no experience, we suggest you include a career objective as you are the type of applicant who most likely gets hired for your potential rather than your experience.Examples of entry-level IT resume summary:Educator with phenomenal software problem-solving skills. Formerly an elementary school computer teacher who was promoted to manage the school computer and software system. Specializes in hardware design and is familiar with Javascript.Digital Design Engineer who managed circuit performance for 10+ chip architecture projects. Excels at debugging with analytical skills and is familiar with collaborating with the product and testing team.Engineer who has solved 5,000+ computer-related problems and is proficient in basic computer terminology. Exceptional in translating computer concepts into understandable descriptions for non-technicians. Step 6: Include skills and abilities relevant to the job.Writing the entry-level IT skills for a resume is the key to crafting a successful entry-level IT job resume. For an entry-level IT job seeker, this section of entry-level IT duties requires you to share the programming languages or computer systems you are familiar with.Example of skills for entry-level IT resume:Hard Skills: Programming Languages:PythonRubyC++JavaJavascriptHTML/CSS.Computer System: Apple MacintoshMicrosoftTablet and SmartphoneData CentersArea of expertise: Hardware troubleshootingSoftware program debuggingWebsite and APP developmentIntranet managementDesign engineering blueprintsData analyzingOperating system integration assistanceData security policiesSoftware installationSystem configuration Soft Skills Communication skillsPerseveranceExceptional analytical skillsPhenomenal Problem-solving skillsSuperb enduranceOutstanding design abilityEfficient implementationClear computer terminology explanationHigh EQPatience Cake provides the right entry-level IT resume templates formats for you to showcase your skills and experiences. Sign up to create and download the best entry-level ITresume now for FREE!Start NowStep 7: Highlight your best experience and accomplishments. The recruiters, via this section, learn about your background, career phase, and accumulated abilities. Through understanding the actual entry-level IT duties you have carried out, the recruiters can infer your qualification. Thus, the work and experience section is critical, and please remember to include entry-level IT resume keywords in this section to increase the chances of admission.Five essential elements of the work experience sectionTitleName of the companyWorking durationResponsibility and duties descriptionHighlight accomplishments Tips for writing a good work experience and accomplishments section:Tailor to the job:Polish your work experience to align with the entry-level IT job descriptions. Use the selective or the chronological approach for tailoring to the job.Add quantifiable results:Use data, statistics, and real experiences to back up your qualification. Avoid generic information that does not add to your profile.Use action verbs:Use powerful words to elaborate on skills evidencing you are qualified for executing entry-level IT duties. Examples of work experiences accomplishments onentry-level IT resumes:Desktop Support Technician TTEC Holdings, Inc. September 2016 - February 2020-Troubleshot PC hardware and software.- Assisted senior technician in desktop management.Remote Technical Support Engineer Change Healthcare January 2013 - March 2016-Scheduled monthly preventative maintenance.- Diagnosed malfunctions of hardware (IMB, HP, DELL), and resolved the problems.Step 8: List educational qualifications and background.Five essential elements of the education section:Name of the university, school.Your major, minor, study track.GPAExtracurricular activitiesSpecial awards.Where to put the education section on your entry-level IT resume? For students/freshers:Please put it at the top of your entry-level IT intern resume, right after the objective or summary section. For experienced applicants:Please put it at the bottom of the resume, after the work experience section. Example of high school education:(Please omit this portion if you acquire a higher education degree)Harrison High School, Oakland, USA2013-2017 Graduated with a 3.6 GPAAP US History 5AP Calculus AB 5 Example of education in progress:UC BerkeleyOngoing electrical engineering degree2019-Present Example of incomplete education:Yonsei University Economics incomplete degree 2016-2017 Step 9: Add extra sections to stand out. ✅ Hobbies and interests: Entry-level IT job descriptions include familiarity with computer languages or systems. Share your hobbies and interests that present your passion for computer work. For example, share your Youtube channel that shows the hardware you design during your free time. This way, the recruiters can sense your genuine interest in the job. ✅ Volunteer work: This bonus section conveys to recruiters that you understand human relationships. If you have done work such as teaching kids to learn more about technologies, show it. This additional information demonstrates that you are not a robotic sense technician but someone with the ability to maneuver in human interaction. ✅ Certifications and awards: The more, the better. An indirect way to demonstrate your ability is through winning awards and obtaining certificates. If you have received certifications from MOOCs such as Google or edX, share them. If you have won awards, even if they are slightly related to technological fields, such as receiving a startup competition award as the CTO in the startup team, include them. The recruiters may see a more diverse side of you. ✅ Projects: If you have done some independent or freelance projects, compile them onto platforms such as GitHub and paste them along with your entry-level IT job resume. ✅ References: Include references that may boost your chances. Include your previous jobs’ managers’ name, title, and contact details. Step 10: Craft a convincing entry-level IT cover letter.A cover letter is a critical piece that the recruiters will first receive from you. Set a good impression via a good entry-level IT cover letter. 1. Contact Details Basic and necessary. You may place it at the top but not interfering with the letter’s consent or leave this at the end of your entry-level IT cover letter. The rule is your contact details are important only when the recruiters view you as a qualified candidate. 2. Introduction:Concisely share your up-to-date title, a prominent achievement, and your general background. 3. Motivation (Intention to apply):Explain why you want to apply for this job and how this role aligns with your value or fits into your career trajectory. 4. Qualifications:Include entry-level IT resume keywords in demonstrating your qualifications, showing the recruiters that you understand entry-level IT duties and are knowledgeable in performing the required tasks. 5. Closing:Show politeness and appreciation. Finally, write your full name at the end. Further reading:Cover letter all in one tutorialCONCLUSION:Through understanding what the entry-level IT resume headline, objective, summary, skills, work experience, and education sections are about, you are ready to craft a successful entry-level IT resume. Even if you are writing an entry-level IT resume with no experience, you can still have advantages using the mentioned strategies. In addition, we suggest you review some samples entry-level IT resume to get inspiration for the appropriate resume templates. Resume templates determine the structure of your entry-level IT resume. Use the online resume builder to create and download a customized, clean, and professional entry-level IT resume pdf.Entry Level IT Resume SamplePhilip NguyenA debugging expert having resolved 500+ hardware and software problems12-5245-9081 [email protected]Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam Professional Summary IT desk technician knowledgeable in information technology, software and hardware systems. Familiar with HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Python. Exceptional at critical thinking and analytical problem-solving. Work Experience IT Support Engineer Cultivar Asia PTE. LTD. 12/2009 - 06/2014 Remotely supported customers with IT issues.Troubleshot hardware.Identified problems of desktop, notebook, printer, and tablet. Technical Support Engineer Assa Abloy09/2014 - 10/2016 Held product usage training for staff.Drafted guidelines to common technical problems.Developed product mock-up and display. Education Class of 2009University of California San Diego Computer Science major GPA 3.6 Skills Hard Skills: Software debugging.Hardware repair.Intranet maintenance.Upgrade computer system.Troubleshoot copier and scanner. Soft Skills: Communication skillsPatienceEffective problem-solving procedure.Provide helpful customer service.Attentive attitude. Certifications CompTIA A+ certification --- Originally written by Rebecca Huang ---
Resume & CV
May 17th 2021

Business Manager Resume to Advance Your Career [Best Tips!]

Created by CakeYou'll learn:How to write a business manager resume? What to put on a resume for a business manager?Tips for Writing the Best Business Manager Resume How to write a business manager cover letter? Business Manager Resume Sample (Text Format) The duty of a business manager covers all parts that are related to business in the company. One may wonder what are the differences between a business manager and a business development manager. A business development manager focuses more on developing partnerships and opportunities with other companies, while a business manager needs to handle a broader business field to create business value for the company. When writing a business manager resume, your target aims at the recruiters who only have 2 minutes to glance through your business manager resume and business manager cover letter. Therefore, make thoughtful planning before you start, then write in precise descriptions during crafting, and double-check before sending it out. In the following content, you can find complete resume guidance and a business manager resume sample for you as a reference. Let’s start and write the best business manager resume! How to write a business manager resume? In the beginning, start with understanding the steps to write a business manager resume. Step 1: Understand the Differences between a CV and a Resume. A business manager CV (curriculum vitae) and a business manager resume both aim for presenting the best about you to the recruiter. By collecting your past experiences and organizing them, the structure and content are quite similar. Here’s what a business manager CV and a business manager resume should contain: A business manager CV: Lists all your professional experiences with a simple and clean design.A business manager resume: Puts emphasis on relevant information for a specific job position with multiple types of design. 📜Note: Different regions may have preferences for either one. Do follow their requirements! Step 2: Choose the Right Resume Format. Different business manager resume formats emphasize different aspects of you as a professional. The most common 4 types of format include chronological, functional, hybrid, and targeted resume format. Check out4 Popular Resume Formats Templateswith detailed explanations of each business manager resume format. Step 3: Look Up Resume Templates Resume Examples Online as References. There are a lot of online resources which provide a complete business manager resume template. You can also start crafting your business manager resume while reading that information. For example, Cake provides various types of free business manager resume templates! Step 4: Tailor Your Resume for the Job Position. One easy way to upgrade your business manager resume is to tailor it for each application. For example, you can make customization, or list the required business manager skill set in bullet points with extra description. Step 5: Craft a Cover Letter. Don’t neglect the power of the application letter for a business manager. A persuasive business manager cover letter wins you a higher chance of earning an interview. Step 6: Proofread. Proofread is the last step you do before hitting the submit button. Make sure that everything looks perfect and has no typos or mistakes. What to put on a resume for a business manager? A business manager is familiar with organizing all kinds of functions in the company. Writing a business manager resume is just like planning another project, with the main goal of organizing your experiences and selling yourself. Follow the structure below and create a competitive business manager resume in no time. 1. Resume Profile (Personal Information) Start with providing your personal information in the business manager resume. ✔️ Required information: full name, professional title, contact information.🚫 Information to avoid: current salary, national insurance number, sexual orientation. 2. Resume HeadlineHow do you want the recruiter to remember you for the first time? A well-designed business manager resume headline can leave an unforgettable first impression. Write a one-line sentence that can represent yourself with your overall work experiences.Business manager resume headline example: Self-motivated business manager with 8 years of experience in the financial industryGoal-oriented business manager with 2 years of leading business plan in a mid-size retail store 3. Resume Summary A business manager resume summary is a short description of your work experiences and business background. Write about 3-4 sentences and connect your past experiences with the job you will be applying for.Business manager resume summary example:Result-oriented business manager with 8+ years of experience. Skilled in business development and strategic planning. Increased sales revenue by 30% in less than 2 years by implementing new sales strategies. 4. Resume ObjectiveA business manager resume objective is also a short description of yourself but focuses more on the career goal and future pursuits. If you have little experience as a business manager, then go with the business manager resume objective instead of the resume summary.Business manager resume objective example:An initiative business manager with 1-year experience in the e-commerce field. Promoted online events and increased sales revenue by 25% in 6 months. Seeking an opportunity for the position of business manager in the retailing industry.5. Skills Categorize your skills into hard and soft skills. Show what you possess, but remember to list the ones that relate to the job description the most. Examples of business manager resume skills list: Hard skills: financemarketingbusiness strategyMS officesupply chainSoft skills: negotiationcoachingleadershipcollaborationcommunication 6. Work Experience Whether you are writing a small business manager resume or a junior business manager resume, presenting what you’ve achieved in the past is very important. List down the job description in bullet points and use action verbs to show your proactive side. Work experience example of a business manager resume:Business Manager, SST Company USA Nov 2013 - June 2017 Reduce 20% costs by executing a new business plan.Analyzed statistical data and presented solutions for periodic problems.Developed collaboration with 3 overseas companies, created win-win situations and earned 2M in total. 7. Education Don’t ignore the education section in the business manager resume. You can write down relevant courses that you enrolled in school to show the effort you have made. Business manager resume education example:Bachelor degree in Finance | Longman University, China Graduation: 2008 Related coursework: business development, economics, accounting, risk assessment 8. Additional information: Awards and internships Awards of business competitions or a relevant internship experience could add bonus points to your business manager resume.Business manager resume additional information example: Awarded 1st place in the BTCC business competition, 2019Interned for a year at ABC Company, 2012 Tips for Writing the Best Business Manager Resume Writing a good business manager resume takes a lot of effort. Take notes of these five useful tips to save you some time from struggling with your business manager resume!📎Tip 1: Customize the Resume for the JobCustomization elevates your chance of getting the job. Match the job requirements and link your experience with them to stand out from other candidates.📎 Tip 2:Quantify Results on ResumeMeasurable accomplishments speak for themselves. When writing a business manager resume summary or business manager resume objective, using numbers and figures can also increase professionality.📎 Tip 3: Craft an ATS-friendly ResumeKeep the business manager resume template simple and text-based so it can pass the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) test in the beginning.📎 Tip 4: Adopt Resume Action Words (Verbs)Action words present the initiative and proactive side of you in the work. Thus, use action words when writing each business manager job description for your resume.📎 Tip 5: Provide a Project/Portfolio Link in the ResumeTo present your business knowledge and practical application, you can add a business project portfolio link to the business manager resume. If you have made achievements in past business projects, this is a great chance for you to explain the project in detail. How to write a business manager cover letter? As a business manager, email communication is very common. Writing a business manager cover letter is similar to writing a business cooperation letter. The only difference is that you are not promoting the product but yourself. Here are some content that you should include in a business manager cover letter:Contact DetailsThe first part of the business manager cover letter is to provide basic contact information. Including full name, email address, and phone number. IntroductionOpen the letter with a warm greeting and quickly state the position you’re applying for. Motivation (Intention to Apply)Why did you choose this company? In this section, tell the recruiter what you love about the company. Is it the product, the culture, or the vision that drives you to apply for the job? QualificationWhy should the company hire you? Elaborate on 2-3 skills and accomplishments that speak directly to the position to convince the recruiter that you are the best candidate. ClosingLastly, always end the business manager cover letter with a sincere thank you. Business Manager Resume Sample (Text Format) Amber PetersonSelf-motivated business manager with 8 years of experience in the financial industry Mobile: (+02) 1234-9876 Email: [email protected] Resume Summary Result-oriented business manager skilled in business development and strategic planning. Increased sales revenue by 30% in less than 2 years by implementing new sales strategies. Work Experience Business Manager | SST Company, USANov. 2013 - Jun. 2017 Reduce 20% costs by executing a new business plan.Analyzed statistical data and presented solutions for periodic problems.Developed collaboration with 3 overseas companies, created win-win situations and earned 2M in total. Business Manager | LRB Co., USA Feb. 2009 - Oct. 2013 Increased sales revenue by 25% in 6 months.Led a 10-people team, developed and launched a new sales system in 3 months.Increased 55% new users by cold calling and promoting offline events. SkillsHard SkillsFinanceMarketingBusiness StrategyMs OfficeSupply ChainSoft SkillsNegotiationCoachingLeadershipCollaborationCommunication Education Longman University, China | Graduated in 2008Bachelor Degree in FinanceRelated Coursework: Business Development, Economics, Accounting, Risk Assessment --- Originally written by Annie Chao ---
Portfolio
Mar 13th 2026

Best Tips to Create and Promote Your Logo Design Portfolio

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, you will learn about:What Is a Logo DesignPortfolio?How to Make a Logo Design Portfolio - What to IncludeBest Websites for Logo Design PortfolioTips on How to Make a Logo Design PortfolioLogo Design Portfolio ExamplesA logo design portfolio is like a resume for logo graphic designers. It is a place for logo designers to assemble their best work and exhibit their creative style and skills. A logo portfolio is used for showcasing the designer’s abilities, thought processes, and real-world applications (case studies). Common types of logo portfolio presentations include online websites, social media, or (printed) slides.What Is aLogo Design Portfolio?A logo design portfolio is a collection of logo design work that showcases a graphic designer’s experience and ability. Like any graphic design portfolio, it exhibits the best works made by the artist – except they consist of logo designs only. The purpose of having a portfolio for logo design is to attract clients that are searching specifically for logo designers to help with their brand establishment or renewal. If you are a graphic designer with specialized talent and experience creating commercial or personalized logos, creating a dedicated logo portfolio would open doors for opportunities.How to Make a Logo Design Portfolio - What to Include Whether you are making a sophisticated print logo portfolio or establishing your own website or social media, there are a few elements that you should include: 1. About me/Biography An “About Me” page is crucial for your logo portfolio as it sets the tone and tells the story of who you are – your interests, your inspirations, and how you started your career. Show your personality in your biography to give the clients a glimpse of who you are to work with. It might distinguish you from other designers with similar abilities and styles. 2. Resume or CV Include your resume or CV that details your experience, skills, education, and any relevant information you would want a potential employer to know. Add a downloadable link to your resume or CV on your logo portfolio website, social media, or presentation so your potential employer or client could save your information for future reference. 3. Quality images of the logo designs. Your logo portfolio is all about your logo creations. The images should be high quality over quantity. Keep the website design clean and simple, and emphasize your 10-20 best logo designs. Place your utmost best project on the top of the page to attract the viewers to keep scrolling. You don’t want distractions that would prevent your website visitors from viewing the work itself, so avoid any unnecessary pop-up screens or animations that would take time to load. Best Websites for Logo Design Portfolio If you are wondering where to start, don’t worry. There are many free website builders and social media nowadays that would assist you in creating and sharing your first online logo portfolio. Here are 5 common websites to make a logo design portfolio: 1. Cake Cake is a free portfolio and resume builder with an easy-to-navigate interface and community-sharing platform. You can either choose pictures wider than 1400 pixels to show full-width images or create combos of grid images to show the logos side-by-side. Either way, there are many features you can try out to create a simple yet unique logo portfolio presentation. Afterward, you can share the result with other job seekers or potential clients on the “Portfolio Ideas” page, or apply for jobs in the job portal with your portfolio and resume linked together. Create your online presence and personal branding by creating your very own online logo design portfolio. Check out these creative logo designportfolio designs and portfolio examples, and create your very own online logo design portfolio for free on Cake!Create Portfolio 2. Behance Behance is Adobe’s free portfolio service where designers inspire each other by sharing their work. It is best for sharing case studies and documenting the process behind the scenes. Unlike Instagram where viewers focus more on beautiful pictures and spend less time reading captions; on Behance, you can expect to get more client inquiries who care about both the process and result of your work. If you are looking to build a logo portfolio website, you can also check out Adobe Portfolio, which is available through a paid subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. 3. Pixpa Pixpa is another all-in-one platform where you can build an online presence by creating your logo portfolio website while growing a business with e-commerce features. One can also integrate client-proofing and blogging tools in their portfolio website with no coding needed. 4. Wix Wix is a relatively well-known website builder among all professions. Its user-friendly drag-and-drop tools have helped many beginners to build their first website. There are also many portfolio templates for logo design on Wix to give you a quick start. The only downside is the limitations of the free version, including the Wix ad banner and web address that might make your website appear less unique or professional. 5. Dribbble Dribbble is a go-to creative community where logo designers share, grow, and get exposed to job opportunities. Unlike the previous examples, you can’t build a portfolio or website directly from Dribbble. Instead, you can upload files called “shots” with a maximum size of 10MB, and in PNG, JPG, or GIF format. The portfolio would be the social media profile you maintain on Dribbble to communicate with other designers and get exposed to freelance or contract work.Tips onHow to Make a Logo Design PortfolioTo make a great logo design portfolio, here are five tips you should follow: ✅ Check for broken links or images periodically. Sign in periodically to check if any links or images are not functioning properly. Sometimes an image or animation may fail to load (or load too slow), or a link may lose access due to changed permission or address. So always make sure to inspect the UX of your logo portfolio to maintain a professional online presence. ✅ Update your logo portfolio with your newest works frequently. Regularly updating your portfolio for logo design would help you build a steady following and gain more exposure as you make richer content. It is also a sign to potential employers or clients that you are still working in this field and are open up for opportunities or connections. ✅ Use a consistent layout and design for your logo design portfolio. While you may want to showcase your design skills when making your portfolio, it is advised to keep the layout simple and consistent. You may already have a great logo design collection to display, so don’t overshadow it or distract the viewer's focus to the portfolio design itself. ✅ Include case studies to present the process behind your work. Besides a clean gallery of logo designs that you made, you should include some case studies to spice things up. Potential clients and other logo designers may be interested in learning about the behind-the-scenes. Presenting your thought process and the actions you took could also make a stronger impression on the audience. Mention the following for your case studies: the client’s problem, the problem-solving process, and the impact you made. ✅ Promote your online logo design portfolio. After you create your logo portfolio, take an important next step to promote it online. Your online logo portfolio won’t get the exposure it deserves unless you share it on multiple platforms first. An easy way to start is to add your portfolio link to whatever social media you already have, like LinkedIn, Instagram, or Pinterest. In addition, share it on creative communities like Behance or Dribbble to gain more connections with people in the industry.Logo Design Portfolio ExamplesFor reference, here are 4 websites where you can find good logo design portfolio examples: 1. DribbbleDribbble is a go-to platform for finding inspiration on logo execution and current trends, such as 3D gradients, minimalist line art, and even kinetic (animated) logos. You can browse through a designer's profile to explore their past work and see how they use professional mockups to show their logos in real-world settings. It’s a great place to learn how to make a design look premium and modern with just a single, high-impact image. See logo design portfolio examples at Dribbble2. BehanceWhile you can find snapshots of logo design in Dribbble, you can find the full story of Behance. In Behance, portfolios usually feature the whole logo case studies. You'll find examples that show the grid system used to build the logo, the drafts, and how the logo looks across different placements. It's the best resource for learning how to prove to a client that your logo is more than just a drawing.See logo design portfolio examples at Behance3. LogoLoungeLogoLounge is the library collection for brand identity. It is a massive, professional research tool featuring over 400,000 searchable logos, making it the largest treasury of logo design in the world. It's the ultimate place to find industry-specific inspiration and stay ahead of the curve with their famous Annual Logo Trend Reports.By studying the award-winning work here, you can master the golden rules of logo construction and see exactly which styles are currently defining the international design scene.See logo design portfolio examples at LogoLounge4. CakeWhile other sites focus on the art, Cake shows examples of portfolios that helps you land the job. You can find portfolio examples that link visual case studies and performance results in the portfolio, highlighting your project progress. It is the ultimate platform for proving that your design decisions are backed by strategy, not just style.See logo design portfolio examples at Cake 🔑 Key Takeaways: As you can see, there are no definite rules or a step-by-step guide on how you can create your logo portfolio. In the end, you can design however you want as a creator.But, keep in mind that where you start will likely influence the client type, quantity, and quality you will get connected with. Research and choose the media platforms that best suit your needs, and avoid over-spending time on opening up multiple accounts to build your logo design portfolio. Start Crafting Your Logo Design Portfolio with CakeCake is your all-in-one career solution. Use our online resume builder for an ATS-friendly resume, complete with hundreds of free, professional resume templates and examples. Optimize your application instantly with Cake AI Resume Checker and generate a compelling cover letter with Cake Cover letter AI. Beyond documents, Cake helps you grow: build an online portfolio, find opportunities on our job portal, and establish your personal brand. Ready to simplify your job search and make success a piece of cake? Start using Cake now! --- Originally written by Sandy Tuo ---
Portfolio
Mar 13th 2026

How to Create a Stunning Video Portfolio [Tips + Examples]

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, you'll read about:What Is a Video Portfolio?How to Make a Video PortfolioBest Websites to Showcase Your Video PortfolioTips to Create a Video PortfolioVideo Portfolio ExamplesWhenever you are on social media, be it Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc., with every few scrolls there will be a video that pops up on your screen. According to HubSpot, 86% of businesses use video as a marketing tool and video is the primary form of media used in content marketing. It's not surprising since our brain responds to images faster than text. With that said, although a traditional full-text resume is still highly favorable by many employers and necessary to review candidates' qualifications, having a video portfolio will increase your chance to be remembered. If you're wondering if video portfolios are only for photography or videography-related roles (in the form of a videographer's website or videographer portfolio) we'll say you shouldn't limit yourself. Any of these professions below can benefit greatly from a video reel portfolio: ArchitectsInterior DesignersGraphic DesignersIllustratorUX/UI DesignersProducerContent CreatorDirectorMachine Learning or AI EngineersActorsNews Anchor/PresentersModelsWhat Is a Video Portfolio?A video portfolio is essentially a collection of your best work/projects in a video format. It is a branding tool and also a space to display the body of work of a creative professional. Regardless of the niche, there are some key components that a video portfolio can't miss. A video portfolio website should at least contain a resume (it can also be in the form of a video resume, like Elle Woods' Harvard entrance essay), past works, links to social media, and contacts. If you have won any awards or your work has been recognized, it's a selling point that can be included in your video portfolio. There are many mediums to host your video portfolio. Let's dig into where you can create your video reel portfolio. 🎬 Website A personal video portfolio website is perfect for someone who has been building their brand or is considering starting one. Although they take more time to construct, personal video portfolio sites allow more flexibility, especially for freelancers who need to showcase their individuality. 🎬 Online portfolio Portfolio services such as CakeResume, Behance, and Carbonmade provide a great starting point for those who want less hustle in crafting their free video portfolio.📝 Note: Online portfolio builders offer simplicity in documenting your video portfolio, they are the platform where you upload your videos. Meanwhile, a "portfolio website" is your personal website where you can also embed your video portfolio in. 🎬 YouTube or other video sharing sites Dedicated to sharing videos, platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion are suitable for showcasing your video reel portfolio. These free video portfolio channels allow your video portfolio to be discovered by more than just potential clients or employers. 🎬 Social media With the rise of social media usage, Instagram, Facebook, even LinkedIn can be an extension for your online video portfolio. For instance, if you are a videographer who already has a professional videographer website, you can take advantage of your Instagram account to post some other video reel portfolio materials that didn't make it on your website. How to Make a Video PortfolioIn this article, we will guide you through making, specifically, an online video portfolio. Now, here's what you need to do in order to set up your professional video portfolio. 1. Find your niche. Deciding on your target audience or your niche can either be the easiest or hardest thing to do. You might be a jack of all trades and can thrive in many industries, but having a specific audience will help you to be noticed faster. For instance, if you love weddings and your style encaptures an ethereal and romantic mood, your portfolio as a videographer should focus on wedding ceremonies, pre-wedding events, and wedding receptions. Hence, the wedding industry is your niche. 2. Choose the medium for your video portfolio. As we explained above, you can choose to host your video portfolio on your own website, such as using a free video portfolio website like WordPress, Wix, etc. You can also make use of online video portfolio services like CakeResume for free or a paid service like Carbonmade to present your video reel portfolio. 3. Design your online video portfolio page or website. Your video portfolio design should optimize how the information is consumed by viewers. Aim for easy navigation, high visibility, and conciseness. Put a splash of your personality and style into your video portfolio design. 4. Show off works with different styles and skills that are relevant to the targeted audience. Carefully select the video reel for your portfolio and show some variety. They can comprise shorts or features for big corporations, non-profits, personal projects, etc. But everything you put on your video portfolio has to be intentional and relevant to your niche, including the skills and services you offer. 5. Upload the videos. Make sure your demo reels are the correct ones and have high-quality images and sound before uploading them to your video portfolio website. If you resort to a portfolio service maker, check the file restrictions for the online video portfolio first, as they might only accept certain formats or have file size limitations. 6. Include the behind-the-scenes (BTS). This video production part for your portfolio is important to show potential collaborators or employers how you work and provides some insight on what they can expect from you. Show them how you rig your lighting and equipment, direct the model or subject, frame a shot, and others. 7. Include a CTA and your contact details. A strong, persuasive call-to-action (CTA) is as vital as your video portfolio content, if not more important. Whoever is watching your video portfolio needs to know what to do next. Provide them with your email, phone number, or ask them to fill out the contact form on your video portfolio website. 8. Make copies. Copy your video reel portfolio into a flash drive or burn it to a DVD. Taking this extra step as a precautionary action will save you the trouble of not being able to connect to the internet or having a laptop to present your online video portfolio. Best Websites to Showcase Your Video PortfolioSince we mentioned there are many amazing platforms where you can build your video portfolio, we've narrowed it down to the 7 best video portfolio websites for you to choose from. Let's take a look! ✨ CakeResume CakeResume offers a clean yet comprehensive platform to build a free online video portfolio. It's a 3-in-1 online portfolio service, portfolio-resume combo, and a job search channel that is completely free for registered users. However, you can't directly upload your video reel to your portfolio on CakeResume. Your video should already be uploaded on YouTube or Vimeo, for instance, and then you can connect your demo reel to your free video portfolio on CakeResume. ✨ Carbonmade A simple video portfolio platform, Carbonmande's aesthetic is definitely made for creative creators. Its modern templates and layouts are customizable and you can definitely put your personal style from top to bottom. Although Carbonmade offers a free trial, if you want your video portfolio to look professional with HD video and audio, the monthly fee starts at USD 12. The cheapest subscription only provides SD video and audio, probably not the best for your buck if you're planning on creating a superb video portfolio. ✨ Wix The drag-and-drop feature from Wix makes it one of the easiest free website builders. Either selecting from their templates or starting from scratch, the possibility for your video portfolio design is unlimited and left to your imagination. The free plan, unfortunately, only provides an assigned URL, limited storage, and bandwidth. If you want to use a personalized URL (for example, your name as the domain) for a more professional-looking video portfolio website, it's only available for Wix's premium subscriptions. ✨ Squarespace Also a top-runner website builder, Squarespace offers extensive services that can meet your videographer portfolio website needs. They have portfolio templates catered for videographers that can optimize your video portfolio design. With Squarespace, they offer a 30-day free trial. But after 30 days, you need to pay to create a video portfolio website (or any website for that matter), and Squarespace doesn't have complete flexibility for their templates. ✨ Vimeo Pro Vimeo is not only for video sharing. It's also a video making, video editing, and live streaming platform. They have templates for you to choose to create a stunning video portfolio. However, call-to-action and Google SEO discoverable features are only available starting from their Business plan, which can be quite pricey, especially for those who are just starting out. ✨ Youtube As one of the most popular video hosting platforms, YouTube is free and has unlimited storage. You can upload the highest quality video reel for your portfolio on this platform. With its popularity, you can also attract people that aren't necessarily potential clients or employers who can be potential fans and build your branding. But you should also be aware that YouTube can take down your videos at any moment.So, what is the best website for a video portfolio?The answer really depends on what your needs are and how much money and time you are willing to invest in creating your video portfolio. Tips to Create a Video PortfolioWe've covered how you can create a video portfolio. Next, let's dive into the things that will get you seen. 💡 Regularly update your online video portfolio or video portfolio website. Maintaining your video portfolio is essential to let prospective clients or employers know what your recent projects are. On the flip side, you can also check if your video portfolio is getting enough traffic or if anything should be tweaked. 💡 Compress the video files for a smoother viewing experience. High-quality files tend to load slower because they consume more storage. You want to make sure that your video reels are compressed so they can be viewed as effortlessly as possible while browsing through your video portfolio. 💡 List the gears and software used during the production. Giving details on the equipment and tools in the description of your video portfolio will help your future clients or employers gauge your skills and proficiency. Additionally, they would know what kind of output they can expect from you. 💡 Include your favorite projects. Your favorite project might be something that's fun to work on or something that holds a certain place in your heart. By elaborating on a favorite project on your video portfolio, viewers can understand what your values are. 💡 Include the projects that were challenging for you. A challenging project demonstrates your determination, which is a great thing to show on your online video portfolio. You can elaborate how you've learned new things by overcoming that challenge, and that could add to your skill sets. 💡 Include the projects that you are most proud of. You've worked night and day to create exquisite videos. It's only appropriate if you give yourself some credit for your hard work. Giving recognition to the work you're most proud of shows that you are confident in your abilities and ready to tackle what's next! 💡 Shoot your family, friends, or yourself if you don’t have much experience yet. You can always find inspiration anywhere. As a starting point, you can produce some video reels for your portfolio with the help of your family and friends. Video Portfolio ExamplesWhether you're a cinematographer, motion designer, or colorist, your reels needs to prove you can grab an audience's attention from the first frame. Here is where you can find the best inspiration for video portfolios:1. YoutubeFor videographers and creators, YouTube is an essential platform to build a public portfolio and reach a global audience. You can find top creators and production houses on the platform and study their "Video Essays" or "Project Breakdowns" to learn how to structure your own channel. It’s arguably the best place to see how pros use Playlists to categorize their work, grouping their "Commercials," "Music Videos," and "Short Films" so that potential clients can easily navigate their range. See video portfolio examples on YouTube 2. ArtStationIf your interest lies in VFX, 3D Animation, or Video Game Cinematics, ArtStation is the industry standard. You’ll find technical reels that show breakdowns, where the artist peels back the layers of a shot to show the raw 3D models versus the final composited image. It’s the best place to see how to prove your technical mastery of complex software. See video portfolio examples on Artstation3. BehanceBehance is a goldmine for Motion Designers and Video Artists. It allows you to build a full "Case Study" around a video. Instead of just a play button, you can show your storyboards, style frames, and 3D wireframes right next to the finished clip. This proves to a client that you’re a deep thinker who understands the entire creative process from the first sketch to the final render. See video portfolio examples on BehanceYou can also see other potfolio examples at Cake. Check out Cake's portfolio collection for professional, job-ready portfolios for your reference!YourGo-To Platform for Career SolutionsCake is your all-in-one career solution. Use our online resume builder for an ATS-friendly resume, complete with hundreds of free, professional resume templates and examples. Optimize your application instantly with Cake AI Resume Checker and generate a compelling cover letter with Cake Cover letter AI. Beyond documents, Cake helps you grow: build an online portfolio, find opportunities on our job portal, and establish your personal brand. Ready to simplify your job search and make success a piece of cake? Start using Cake now! --- Originally written by Teresa Edria--
Resume & CV
Feb 22nd 2022

Technical Support Resume: Templates & Sample

Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn about:Step 1: Pick the best technical support resume template format.Step 2:Start with contact information and basic personal details.Step 3: Create an intriguing technical support resume title.Step 4: Craft a technical support resume summary.Step 5: Include related skills and abilities.Step 6: Highlight your best experience and accomplishments.Step 7: List educational qualifications and background.Step 8: Highlight your personal traits with an extra section.Step 9: Craft a convincing technical support cover letter.How to make a technical support resume with no experience?Technical support resume sampleWhat does a technical support do? To put it simply, a technical support is asked to maintain both the company's software and hardware systems. If you want to impress the hiring manager, try to make the perfect resume for technical support. To make yourself stand out among various competitors, craft your technical support resume to convince the hiring manager that your experience would make you the most suitable candidate. Step 1:Pick the best technical support resume template format.Before starting writing your IT technical support resume, be sure that you are familiar with the format and template of a resume. 🖋 How long should a resume be? Unlike CVs, a technical support analyst’s resume usually takes up only one page. A resume focuses on your key skills while a CV should include a more thorough background. Since the recruiter might be viewing thousands of resumes in a month, it is crucial to keep your resume short. Therefore, a technical support resume should be a one-page document reflecting your experience. 🖋 What is the best font to use in a resume? Once again, because the hiring manager may be facing lots of resumes, remember to use an easy-to-read font in your technical support specialist resume. Here are some suitable fonts:CalibriVerdanaHelveticaCambriaGill Sans After picking your font, don’t forget to choose an appropriate font size in a technical support resume as well. Normally, a 10-12 pt for the body text would be suitable, and a 14-16 pt for headings would be perfect. 🖋 What is the standard margin for a resume? It is recommended to add a one-inch margin on each side to make your IT technical support resume more readable. 🖋 What is the best line spacing for a resume? Line spacing for your technical support resume should be at least 1.15 between each line so that the hiring manager can read your resume with ease. Make headings double-spaced to highlight them. 🖋 What format should a resume be submitted in, Word or PDF? Export your technical support resume as a PDF file to keep the layout and design intact. Although MS Word is a popular tool, a resume in Word format may display differently on different devices.Step 2: Start with contact information and basic personal details.First and foremost, write your contact details onto your IT support resume. Your contact information is vital but is often neglected.You should include these:Full nameEmail addressPhone numberAddress (optional)LinkedIn URL (optional)Personal website (optional)You should not include these:Date of birthSexual orientationReligion or beliefMarital status and dependencyExpected/current salary Step 3: Create an intriguing technical support resume title.To catch the recruiter’s eye immediately, add a catchy headline to your technical support resume. Try to show your strengths, abilities, and expertise with a single sentence. Therefore, the hiring manager’s interest would be piqued. 👍 3 tips to write an IT technical support resume title: 1.Capitalize letters: When you’re writing down a technical support resume title, be sure to make the first letter of each word capitalized except for articles, conjunctions, and prepositions. 2. Place it on top:Since you would want the recruiter to be attracted, remember to put the title on the top of your IT technical support resume. 3. Exclude objectives:A technical support resume title is used to show the recruiter your potential and the benefits you could make. An objective that presents the vision of your career is, thus, unnecessary.Exampletechnical support resume titles: Well-organized technical support who devised protective strategies over 20 companiesExperienced technical support who assisted managers in various levels of user accessJunior technical support skilled in software and hardware support Step 4:Craft a technical support resume summary.When applying for your dream job, you will have to compete with other candidates. Hence, it is vital to give the hiring manager a great first impression by adding the perfect summary for your technical support resume. You would likely catch the recruiter’s attention and would get a better chance of getting the job. 3 tips for writing a perfect technical support resume summary 1. Customize the resume summary for each job:Since each job requires different qualifications, remember to tailor your technical support resume summary for each application. 2. Be specific:Remember to make your technical support resume summary clear. If your resume summary is rather vague, it would not show your potential well. This also works for technical support resume objectives. 3. Keep it concise:Try not to make your technical support resume summary too long. It could make the recruiter lose interest in the information you’ve included in other sections. However, write too little for the summary on your resume for technical support jobs either. Make it 2-3 sentences including important details.Technical support resume summary vs objective While a resume summary means to make your past experience into a shorter version, a technical support resume objective concerns your future. A resume objective is to present your aspirations.Normally, a resume summary would be better if you’re already a senior job seeker or have a lot of experience in the past. A technical support resume objective would be more suitable when you’re writing an entry-level technical support resume or you have less or no relevant experience. Technical support resume summary examples: Senior technical support with 9 years of experience in maintaining hardware and software of over 50 companies. Team player and led a team of 5 to solve network problems.Well-organized IT technical support with extensive experience in supporting desk teams. led a team in seeking infrastructure issues and provided support towards Microsoft user servers.Technical support engineer with 5 years experience in assisting with server builds. Assisted over 20 companies with senior engineers to build software supports. 💁‍♀️ Reminder:Try to put your top skills and experience into 2-3 sentences. By doing so, you could highlight your strengths and would outperform the competitors.Step 5: Include related skills and abilities.Technical support skills for resumes are extremely important. While reviewing your technical support resume, most employers first look at your relevant skills and decide whether you’re qualified for the job. It is vital to make your recruiter know that you have the abilities to fulfill the job. 4 ways to list your skills Here are four different ways you could consider using when you’re listing skills on your technical support resume: (Want to know more about skills on a resume? Read Skills for Resume|Examples List, Templates, Formats.) 1. Use a simple bullet list. A simple bullet list is rather straightforward. You would write down your skills without explanation. However, it may not fully and properly demonstrate your skills on the resume for a technical support job. 2. Use an expanded bullet list. Many choose an expanded bullet list as a way to explain their past experience and skills. The recruiter could better understand the scope of your skills with explanations and details. But on the other hand, it could take up too much space. So it is better to fit in 5 bullet points maximum. 3. Include skills in the work experience section. This format suits the ones who have extensive experience. Since the skills would also be listed in reverse chronological order on your resume for a technical support job, your hiring manager could understand at what stage you applied your skills and how well you managed to use your skills. Nonetheless, it isn’t preferable for freshers to mention technical support skills since they might not have enough experience to put on the resume. 4. List skills in a categorized skills section. Some love this format because it is more organized. This format is more suitable if you’re about to apply for jobs with a rather broad scope of skill sets. It could give your employer a better understanding of what you are capable of. Examples of skills for a technical support resume Hard skillsTechnical troubleshootingLAN expertiseIT performance tuningDiverse PC knowledgeTechnical issue analysisSecurity, recovery solutions backupVirus detection, prevention removalQuality assuranceNetworkingPC hardware Soft skillsDetail-orientedProblem-solvingMotivatedSelf-disciplinedTeamworkCreative thinkingNegotiationPatienceCommunicationWell-organized Step 6:Highlight your best experience and accomplishments.When you’re crafting your senior technical support engineer resumes, putting in related experience and accomplishments is crucial. Past experiences could best show your competence and distinguish you from various candidates. Therefore, remember to add all the past experiences you’ve had that are relevant to your technical support resume. 5 essential elements of the work experience sectionName of the companyLocation of the companyEmployment datesJob titleYour role and responsibilities 👍 3 tips to write work experience accomplishments 1.Tailor to the job. Each job may require different abilities. Beware that the work experience and accomplishments you put in should be related to the job. 2. Add quantifiable results. Give numerical results to highlight your strength. 3. Use action verbs. Verbs could be more important since they could boost your abilities. Work experience for a technical support resume example #1 Technical Support Engineer at ABC Corp.03/2017 to presentProviding technical support to computer hardware and software.Keeping the company’s software system up-to-date to ensure work efficiency.Assisting in maintaining the inventory of the company’s PC hardware. Work experience for a technical support resume example #2 Technical Support Analyst at DEF Company02/2019 to presentRunning routine tests to ensure the operation of the company’s software system.Monitoring the escalated tickets which are handed to groups. Step 7:List educational qualifications and background. 5 elements that you should add to the education section:School’s/University’s NameDegree Types/Major: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral DegreesYear of GraduationHonor AwardsOptional: Minor, GPA, and Extracurricular ActivitiesWhere to put the education section on your technical support resume?➡️ Freshers/students For fresh graduates writing an entry-level technical support resume, most of the content would focus on educational background, same for those who are still studying and are seeking internships. It is preferable to put your education background right after the objective or summary section. Since the hiring manager may be eager to know the skills you’ve learned from school more as they review your resume for entry-level technical support analyst. ➡️ Experienced job seekers If you have already worked in the field, it would be more suitable to put your education section at the bottom after work experience section. Since you’re already experienced, the employer may pay more attention to your work experience. Hence, when writing a technical support resume for experienced job seekers, put your education section below your work experience.Example of high school education: Academic Magnet High School2012 - 2016GPA: 4.0/4.3Awards:National Merit ScholarshipFirst Price in Science Project CompetitionExtracurricular activities:Basketball team captain Example of education in progress: B.S. in Management Information Systems (in progress)Carnegie Mellon University2018 - PresentGPA: 3.8/4.3Program designing club, vice president ➡️ Incomplete education Some may consider putting incomplete education unsuitable, but it is still a crucial fact you could show the employer. Remember to add the start and end date so your recruiter would know that you’re not currently enrolled. Step 8:Highlight your personal traits with an extra section.You may wonder whether you should put in additional information on your technical support resume. The answer depends. Additional information is not necessary but you could still put it in if you find it useful. Here are 5 additional pieces of information you could add: 1. Hobbies and interests Normally, your hobbies and interests are not recommended to be listed in your technical support resume. However, if your hobbies are highly relevant to the job you’re applying for, add them in your technical support resume. Another circumstance under which you can add your interest is that it can demonstrate your skills, either job related technical support skills or transferable and interpersonal skills. Examples of hobbies interests: Programming with co-workersStrategy games 2. Volunteer work For some freshers who do not have any work experience, they may also put in volunteer work to show some soft skills earned. If the volunteer work is related to the position, don’t hesitate to put it in your technical support resume! Example of volunteer work: Protected and maintained a charity foundation website from virus. 3. Certifications Awards If you’ve not gained much experience, related certifications and awards could show your talent in the field, especially when you’re a fresh grad crafting an entry-level technical support resume, an award could be a plus for your resume! Examples of certifications and awards: Google Professional Certificates: IT SupportCertificate for AppleCare Mac Technician 4. Projects For students who have done various projects, the projects that are related to the job could make up for the lack of work experience. If you’ve done projects related to the position you’re applying for, write them down in your IT technical support resume with some details to let your employer know your capability. Examples of projects: Led a group of three and constructed a maintenance system project to protect online shopping websites.Wrote a project based on a secure Cisco VLAN network for large enterprises. 5. References A reference is not required in your technical support resume. Nevertheless, you could still add one if it would give the recruiter a precise and objective view of you. Examples of references: Referee’s name: Sabrina ChengRelationship: Former managerReferee’s job title: Senior technical supportReferee’s company: ABC EnterpriseContact info: +1-1234-5678 Cake provides the right technical supportresume templates formats for you to showcase your skills and experience. Try itnow for FREE!Create Resume Step 9:Craft a convincing technical support cover letter.A cover letter is similar to a self-introduction. Therefore, writing the perfect technical support cover letter is essential. Impress your employer and have a better chance of getting the job. A technical support cover letter should include: Contact details: include your full name, email address, and mobile number, and put it at top of your cover letter.Introduction: warm greetings and the hiring manager’s name would show the employer that you’ve done your research (if applicable).Motivation/Intention to apply: make your hiring manager understand the reason you are enthusiastic about the position. It may be that you are fond of their core values, company culture, and/or products.Qualification: persuade the employer with strong educational and professional background and experience.Closing: don’t forget to thank them for viewing your cover letter.How to make a technical support resume with no experience? If you’re writing a technical support resume for a fresher, you probably have a lot of questions. So here is some advice that you may want to take note of: 👍 Advice 1: Choose the correct format. 3 different technical support resume formats you could use: Chronological (Reverse-Chronological): A chronological resume is to write your work experience in reverse chronological order. By using this format in your technical support resume, the employer would get to know your latest experience first and could read through it more easily. Functional (Skill-based): If you want to focus more on your skills, a functional resume would suit your technical support resume the best. Other than work history, this would show your skills more. Hence, a functional format would be a great way if you want to highlight your skills. Combinational (Hybrid): If you think your experiences and skills are both crucial, then you could try using a combinational resume format in your IT technical support resume. Using this format, you would put your experiences in reverse-chronological order and include a section of your skill summary. 👍 Advice 2: Write a good career objective. A clear future objective could show your ambition and aspiration. A career objective would be rather helpful for a technical support resume for freshers since it would give your employer an understanding of your goal and make up for the lack of work experience. 👍 Advice 3: Highlight your education. Your educational background would be seen as an essential point if you’re a fresh grad. Therefore, remember to write down details for your entry-level technical support resume.Technical support resume sampleAngela Su Fully dedicated technical support analyst who has experience in maintaining Microsoft and macOS systems. Mobile: (+1)123-9999Location: Madrid, SpainEmail: [email protected]LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/angelasu Resume summary Motivated technical support and has five years of Desk maintenance experience. Prominent problem-solver who has successfully collaborated with 450+ users. Skills Hard skillsEnd-user trainingTechnical documentationTechnical troubleshootingIT infrastructureSystem optimizationSoft skillsProblem-solvingCommunicationEffective listening skillsTeamworkProactive Work experience Technical Support Analyst | CBA09/2016 to 12/2021 Improved hardware performance by identifying issues.Collaborated with other teams to maintain software systems and protect user account documents. Summer Intern | ZYX07/2016 to 08/2016 Assisted the senior technical support in the maintenance.Assisted in identifying issues with the clients’ devices. Education Universidad Complutense de MadridBachelor in Computer Engineering2014-2018 GPA: 3.9/4.3 --- Originally written byElianaTschang---
Industry & Job Overview
Nov 28th 2025

Want to Know How To Become a Graphic Designer? Read This!

Created by CakeResumeIn this article, we'll cover: Types of Graphic DesignersHow to Become a Graphic DesignerTips on How to Become a Graphic Designer Without ExperienceGraphic Designer FAQsDemand for high quality and unique designs is increasing as brands desire to maintain a strong presence in social media, traditional media, and advertisements. In fact, careers in graphic design are increasing in popularity, as successful professional graphic designers can make over six figures a year by working with big brands or a reasonable side income from freelancing. Luckily, graphic design is a skill which can be learnt, and you too can become a graphic designer with effort and motivation.Types of Graphic DesignersDepending on the working hours you desire, your level of expertise, graphic design training and interests, there are a few options for careers in graphic design. Think of your ideal day as a graphic designer and consider one of these options to work towards: #Type 1: In-house Graphic Designer As an in-house graphic designer, you will be working within the marketing or advertising department of a company. Your designs and projects will solely be for the company’s industry, so variation might be limited. Companies usually employ qualified, professional graphic designers for these roles. Depending on the size of the company, you will work either individually or with a small team to build designs to build company branding. In-house designers are usually proficient in general graphic skills, and have the ability to work on long-term projects. #Type 2: Agency Graphic Designer Companies, businesses or brands without an in-house graphic designer will employ professional graphic designers from a graphic design agency. This means you will be tasked with making designs for a range of industries, products or campaigns. However, agency graphic designers will be limited to making one-off or short term projects. #Type 3: Freelance Graphic Designer Freelance graphic designers are self-employed and offer their services on a piecework basis. Freelance graphic designers can work on projects as big or as small as they’d like, set their own hours, and charge their own prices. You don’t need any formal graphic design training to be a freelancer. If you are looking to build a portfolio, small freelancing jobs would be a great way to show off your skills. Likewise, freelancing can be used as side work to bring in extra income. How to Become a Graphic DesignerBecoming a graphic designer involves a bit of training, skill building and practice. Here are the steps to get you started in your graphic design career: 🧑🏻‍🎨 Learn Graphic Design Principles There are fundamental graphic design concepts which need to be learnt in order to properly design and build skills. There are a range of ways to learn graphic design principles, such as: Degrees: Creative degrees will normally offer graphic design as a major, and usually can be studied in a Bachelor of Arts (BA), at an arts university, or vocational institution. Graphic design degrees will also teach you more theory of design and art, as well as offer hands-on tutorials in design software. Degrees will most certainly provide you with qualifications to be a graphic designer; research these majors to see what type of graphic design education is on offer:Graphic DesignVisual CommunicationAdvertising MarketingPublication DesignWeb Design Development Bootcamps: If you’re not too interested in the theory part of graphic design education, you can try a bootcamp. Bootcamps are a type of intense short course, designed to build your skills and knowledge on the essentials quickly. Bootcamps will usually pick one type of graphic design software and get you to a proficient level so you can use the tools independently for your own designs. Websites which host a range of bootcamps include:UdemyCourseraEdXSkillShareNobleDesktop Courses: If you’re looking to learn graphic design at a reasonable pace, but don’t want to do a whole degree, you can try learning graphic design through a short course. Courses can set you up with the principles of graphic design, as well as explore options in graphic design careers. Many of these courses you can learn online at your own pace, such as:The Graphic Design SchoolCourses from Creative LiveKadenzeCanva Design CourseGareth David on Youtube Whatever option you pick, you will learn graphic design principles which you can put into practice in your work. Ultimately, an understanding of graphic design will allow you to build a professional graphic design portfolio and help make client ideas come to fruition. Graphic design training will go over principles such as:BalanceRepetitionUsing Negative SpaceContrast and colorsPatterns and Rhythm 🧑🏻‍🎨 Learn Graphic Design Tools Whatever graphic design educational program you choose, they might recommend a certain software to use. However, having a broad range of skills in different software will help you make professional graphic designs. Likewise, becoming a professional graphic designer in an agency will require you to be able to use a range of tools. Graphic design tools to try include:Adobe IllustratorProcreateCanvaAffinityGIMPInkscapeLunacyFigmaVistaCreateBlender 🧑🏻‍🎨 Develop A Graphic Designer Portfolio Once you start making your own designs, or complete assignments from graphic design degrees or courses, you can build a portfolio. All professional graphic designers have a portfolio where they can showcase their skills and niche. You can have the best quality graphic design training, but without a professional graphic design portfolio, you won’t be hired. Make a few designs which demonstrate your niche and include the tools or software used in an online portfolio.🔖 Further reading:How to Make a Graphic Design Portfolio [What to Include Examples] 🧑🏻‍🎨 Write a Good Resume Professional graphic design jobs require a traditional resume alongside an impressive portfolio. If you are changing careers to become a graphic designer, use your resume as an opportunity to showcase your existing industry experience as well as the graphic design qualifications you have.As a headstart, check out our graphic designer resume example for both entry-level and senior professionals. You can also use the examples as a template to start building your resume. 🧑🏻‍🎨 Prepare for Common Interview Questions Think of how you view graphic design, the role of graphic design, and your motivation behind becoming a graphic designer to answer interview questions. Also, think of how to explain your graphic design training and experience, and be ready to list graphic design tools you can use. Show the interviewer how you can build a successful campaign and brand identity by mixing creativity with design principles. Tips on How to Become a Graphic Designer Without ExperienceSo, you want to get into graphic design, but have never worked as one before. As with many creative disciplines, becoming a graphic designer involves working a bit harder to find the right people and companies to start a career. If you have the right graphic design training and have practiced your skills on your own, there are ways to become a graphic designer. ✅ Internship or Volunteer Experience Search for internship programs offered to university students to gain experience as a professional graphic designer. This is the typical way to start as a graphic designer. If you aren’t in university or can’t do an internship, you can volunteer your skills to a local business and help them build a campaign, logo or advertisement. ✅ Personal Projects If you have an idea for a project, or want to build skills in a certain software while learning graphic design, making personal projects can help you build your portfolio. If you have no professional graphic design experience, use your portfolio to explore your unique graphic design style. ✅Networking If you can’t find a traditional internship, try networking online or in your local community to find people who need graphic designs. If you used a course or bootcamp to learn graphic design, you can post your portfolio on your LinkedIn and share that you are looking for design work. Or, if working with small businesses, try being referred to other businesses who might need your help. You could also reach out to professional graphic designers or design agencies and ask if you can be referred to anyone who is looking for a graphic designer. ✅ Design Agencies As mentioned earlier, design agencies will be employed for short term projects from businesses. Agencies have larger teams than in-house graphic designers, and will have junior roles available. Design agencies have experienced, professional graphic designers to learn from, providing high-quality graphic design training. Design agencies might require more experience, or qualifications in graphic design. ✅ Certificates Obviously studying graphic design at university will provide you with a degree. However, many of the courses and bootcamps mentioned will provide you with a certificate at the end. If your portfolio is limited, or you have little professional graphic design experience, being certified will help you get started as a graphic designer. Graphic Designer FAQs1. How long does it take to become a graphic designer? How long it takes to become a graphic designer depends on your degree, bootcamp, or course length. Depending on how quickly you build your portfolio and skills, becoming a professional graphic designer can take between 6 months and 4 years. 2. How much does it cost to become a graphic designer? This depends on what level of graphic design education you choose. Likewise, graphic design software can be free, or cost up to $1000! However, you can certainly build skills with free courses and design software. 3. What is the career path for graphic designers? The professional graphic designer career path will start with a junior or graduate role, working in an agency or company. From there you can become a midweight designer, senior designer, working up to creative director. Alternatively, you can work as a freelance graphic designer, independently making designs for clients who hire you.🔑 Key TakeawaysNow you know how to become a graphic designer, make a choice on how you want to learn graphic design, and get practicing! Learning graphic design involves combining graphic design principles and skills to build designs with purpose. Even if you have no experience, you can get into a graphic design career by having a strong portfolio. Start building your graphic designer resume with Cake. Use our ATS-friendly template and download your resume in PDF for FREE!Create My ResumeReady to Become a Graphic Designer?Cake is your all-in-one career solution. Use our online resume builder for an ATS-friendly resume, complete with hundreds of free, professional resume templates and examples. Optimize your application instantly with Cake AI Resume Checker and generate a compelling cover letter with Cake Cover letter AI.Beyond documents, Cake helps you grow: build an online portfolio, find opportunities on our job portal, and establish your personal brand.Ready to simplify your job search and make success a piece of cake? Start using Cake now! --- Originally written by Bronte McNamara---
Resume & CV
Sep 10th 2024

Business Development Resume—15 Resume Examples & Writing Guide

Business Development - 15 Resume Examples Writing GuideIf you're thinking about finding a job in business development, you're in luck. In this article, we'll share all you need to know to create an impressive resume that makes hiring managers want to keep reading.Table of ContentsWhat is a Business Development Job?How to Write a Resume for Business DevelopmentHow to Format a Business Development ResumeTips for Writing a Business Development ResumeResume Samples for Business Development PositionsConclusions What is a Business Development Job?Before learning how to write business development resumes, let's first understand the scope of work of a standard business development professional. A business development role focuses on identifying and creating growth opportunities for a company. This role involves conducting market research to spot emerging trends and potential areas for market expansion, building strategic partnerships, being involved in customer relationship management, and pursuing new clients. Business development professionals play a key role in generating leads, developing strategies for market entry or product launches, and supporting sales teams to close deals. They also engage in networking to establish valuable industry connections. Some key business development skills for success in this role include strong communication and negotiation abilities, strategic thinking, and analytical skills. Business development professionals must also be adept at project management and possess a good understanding of the sales process. Their work directly impacts a company’s long-term value, making this role vital for driving sustainable growth and ensuring the company stays competitive in its industry. There are several opportunities for growth and advancement in a business development career. As professionals gain experience and demonstrate success in driving company growth, they can move into higher-level positions with greater responsibilities. Entry-Level: As Business Development Representatives (BDRs) or Sales Development Representatives (SDRs), individuals focus on lead generation and building initial client relationships.Mid-Level: With experience, professionals can advance to roles such as Business Development Manager or Account Manager, where they oversee client accounts, develop strategic plans, and manage partnerships.Senior-Level: Further growth can lead to titles like Senior Business Development Manager, Business Development Director, or Head of Business Development. These roles involve leading a team, setting company-wide growth strategies, and making high-level decisions.Executive-Level: At the top of the ladder, professionals may reach positions like Vice President of Business Development, Director of Business Development, or Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO). These roles are responsible for the overall growth strategy of the company, often working closely with other executives to steer the company’s direction. Business Development vs. Sales Business development and sales are closely related but serve distinct functions within a company. Business development is focused on creating long-term value by identifying new markets, building strategic partnerships, and fostering relationships that can lead to future opportunities. This role is more about looking at the bigger picture, conducting market research, networking, and planning market entry strategies. The outcome of successful business development is often the creation of new revenue streams, expansion into new markets, or the establishment of partnerships that enhance the company's strategic position. In contrast, sales are focused on generating immediate revenue by converting leads into customers. Sales professionals are responsible for prospecting, pitching products or services, handling objections, negotiating contracts, and closing deals. Their primary goal is to meet or exceed sales targets and ensure customer satisfaction. The outcome of sales activities is the acquisition of new customers, the retention of existing ones, and direct revenue generation for the company. The key difference between the two lies in their timeline and scope. Business development has a long-term focus and a broader, more strategic scope involving relationship-building and market exploration. Sales, on the other hand, is more short-term and target-driven, with a focus on closing deals. Despite their differences, business development and sales are complementary functions; when aligned, they drive a company's overall success by laying the groundwork for growth and then capitalizing on those opportunities to generate revenue. Now that you've understood the job essence of a business development professional, let's move on to learn all the writing techniques for an outstanding business development resume.How to Write a Resume for Business Development It requires a discerning eye to know which sections to emphasize when creating a comprehensive Business Development resume. To help you create a resume that will get noticed by recruiters, follow these guidelines: Personal and Contact Information The first step in creating a resume is to fill out your personal information in the resume header. The primary purpose of this section is to provide basic information about you as a candidate. However, it is important to emphasize that there is a limit to what you should and shouldn’t include in a resume.Do'sFull name: Write your name clearly. If you have an unusual name, you can write your official English name.Professional title: Specifically mention the position held in the current or most recent job.Email address: Typically, recruiters choose to communicate about interview schedules or announcements via email, whether the candidates pass or fail.Phone number: Including a phone number is crucial, as it facilitates communication between candidates and the recruiter.LinkedIn: LinkedIn serves as a platform to showcase your work experience, accomplishments, connections, and career development activities. Employers use all the information on this platform to evaluate candidates for consideration.Link to the portfolio: Especially needed for candidates with a creative industry background. To make it easier for recruiters to review your portfolio, it is best to create a dedicated website to organize your portfolio.Domicile (city and country): Information about domicile is necessary to determine if the candidate is located near the company they are applying to. This information is essential for both recruiters and candidates, as the difference in location may require consideration for relocation closer to the company.Dont'sHome address: Companies do not require the full home address during the application process, as it is part of the candidate’s privacy. However, the home address is required if the candidate is hired.Gender: A good company does not discriminate based on gender in its job postings. Candidate evaluation is based on experience and skills, not gender identity.Date of birth: Unless the company specifies an age limit for applicants, avoid including them. Age discrimination occurs in many workplaces, especially in small and medium-sized businesses. By not listing your age on your resume, you can convince hiring managers that your age does not affect your job performance.Religion: The nature of a prospective employee's beliefs is none of the company's business. Including religious status is not relevant to the applicant's skills or qualifications. Listing your social media accounts on your resume is optional. If the job you're applying for involves creating social media content, it's a good idea to include it. But if not, it's best to avoid including them. Job seekers who want to pursue a career in a social media-related field should consider creating a separate account dedicated to showcasing their portfolio. That way, personal and professional aspects are kept separate. Business Development Resume Summary This section provides an overview of your professional identity. The most important part of this section is to convince the hiring manager that you are a strong candidate. Therefore, the resume summary section must include experience and accomplishments, as it becomes the initial focal point for recruiters. Expressing these accomplishments in measurable form can significantly augment their impact. However, there is an exception for fresh graduates. These new job seekers who still lack work experience can highlight their skills (both hard and soft skills) or list internships and volunteer activities. Here are some Business Development resume examples:Fresh Graduate (Junior-level) Business Development Resume ExampleAn ambitious and detail-oriented fresh graduate with the ability to use Google Analytics and SEMRUSH. In 2021, had an internship at XYZ company as a Business Development Associate. Mid-level Business Development Resume ExampleMotivated Business Development Manager with more than five years of experience in sales strategy, team leadership, and market knowledge. Exceed monthly and annual revenue growth goals by 30% by 2022-2023. Senior-level Business Development Resume ExampleAn expert and result-driven professional with more than 15 years of experience. Works closely with top executives to manage and implement market strategies, resulting in 70% year-on-year revenue growth. Key Skills to Include in Your Business Development Resume Two types of key skills are listed on a resume. The first is non-technical skills (soft skills). These skills emphasize character traits and interpersonal skills. Soft skills help you to build effective relationships with your coworkers and superiors. Technical skills, also known as hard skills, are the mastery of tools or systems that support work. In contrast to soft skills, hard skills are also easier to assess than soft skills.Hard SkillsSearch Engine OptimizationDesign SkillsGoogle AnalyticsMarket ResearchCRM ToolsAdobe PremierePresentation SkillsCopywritingWeb developmentEditing and proofreadingSoft SkillsLeadershipAdaptabilityCreativityInnovativeProblem-solvingCommunicationProactiveTeamworkCritical thinkingTime managementPersuasive prowess Working Experience The main purpose of this section is to provide a list of responsibilities, contributions, and accomplishments while working for the previous company. To enhance the readability of your Business Development resume, use concise and clear sentences, and avoid lengthy sentences.Fresh Graduate Business Development Resume - Work Experience SectionJKL Corp.Internship as Business Development Staff, Jan 2021- Aug 2021Handled the general administration of the Business Development Team.Periodically reported to Business Development Managers.Prepared support documents for the team. Mid-Level Business Development Resume - Work Experience SectionWTS FoodBusiness Development, Feb 2022-PresentResponsible for conducting franchise market statistical analysis, identifying business opportunities, and developing franchise market strategies.Maintained communication and cooperative relationships with the franchisor, distributors, and customers.Negotiated and monitored the franchise brand promotions. In 2022, the promotion strategy successfully increased product sales by 30%. Senior-Level Business Development Resume - Work Experience SectionOXL Ltd.Senior Business Development, May 2015-May 2023Developed and executed comprehensive retail strategies aligned with the company’s goal of driving growth in sales and market share. These strategies successfully maintained consistent growth in company revenues.Conducted in-depth research and analysis to identify market opportunities, consumer trends, and potential partners.Managed a team of 10 people to strategize product placement, distribution channels, and retail partnerships to optimize sales.Managed the retail sales pipeline, tracking the progress and providing regular updates for the top executives. The pro tip to make this section more impactful is to use action words. These types of words say a lot about your skills. They also highlight your achievements. Education Is it still relevant to list education on a Business Development resume? The answer depends on your level of experience. For business development managers with more than 10 years of experience) don't need an education section on their resume because the hiring manager primarily focuses on experience and the strength of the references. However, there are exceptions for some positions. For example, the medical and academic sectors still require an education history. These two sectors still require people with advanced degrees (Master’s and PhDs) to apply. Then what about Mid-Level and Fresh Graduates? The most recent academic degree is still required for Mid-Levels. Since you have several years of work experience, it is not necessary to list your GPA unless the grade in question is above 3.0. Academic credentials are important to new graduates. Recruiters sometimes look at the school or college's reputation and alumni network. They also need to know whether the college or school's curriculum can be applied to the company.Education section for Mid-LevelBachelor of ScienceBusiness ManagementUniversity of San Francisco2011-2016 Education section for Mid-LevelBachelor of ScienceCommunication ScienceUniversity of Indonesia2019-2023GPA: 4.0/3.8 Additional Information Occasionally, there is some information that is not matched to include in any of the sections. Additional information will include accomplishments and activities, both on and off the job, that support your skills. Awards: It's important to list your past accomplishments if they match the qualifications the company is looking for. It makes your resume stand out and adds value. Include the context and purpose of each award you want to list. Place the most recent award at the top.Certification: Certification signifies that your professional skills have been standardized and recognized. However, it is crucial to note that not all certifications have the same value. It is advisable to include only certifications issued by reputable and credible institutions.Projects: Writing a list of past projects is important for recent graduates and freelancers. Past projects are part of what recruiters look at when evaluating a candidate's performance. Choose the most relevant project to the position you are applying for. Create a reverse order from the most recent project.References: The advantage of having a strong network of friends and professionals is that it is easy to get referred or recommended. Make sure the referee can explain your skills well.📚 Further reading: What Is a Resume: Resume Formats, Resume Elements, Resume Writing Tips How to Format a Business Development ResumeStep 1: Understand the differences between a CV and a Resume The main difference between a curriculum vitae (CV) and a resume is the number of pages. A complete CV summarizes your educational history, work experience, organizations you have belonged to, projects you have created, and volunteer activities. As a result, resumes are more often used when applying for scholarships or pursuing higher education. Meanwhile, a resume is a concise version of a CV used for job applications with only 1-3 pages. The content is tailored to the position being applied for, so not all experience is suitable to include on a resume. For example, if you are applying for a position in business development at a company, you don't need to include your volunteer work at an animal shelter. In some European countries, a resume is sometimes even part of a CV. However, some companies ask for a CV version instead of a resume. If the company's request is unclear, ask for clarification before sending it. Step 2: Choose the right format for your business development resume There are three commonly used resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination resumes. Each format has its unique advantages, and candidates can choose the format that best suits their resume needs. Chronological: This type of resume lists your work experience, accomplishments, education, and activities, starting with the most recent one and then your previous experience.Functional: A functional resume, on the other hand, focuses more on the candidate's skills, which include both soft and hard skills, rather than their work history. This format is particularly suitable for individuals seeking a career change or recent graduates with limited work experience.Combination: The final format combines chronological and functional resumes. Typically, skills are written at the top after the profile and then go to the work experience section. This type of resume is suitable for those with specific skills and diverse backgrounds. Once you've decided which format you want to use, it's time to pay attention to how you put your business development resume together. Well-formatted resume uses these 4 points: Professional font: ATS-friendly fonts help your resume be more readable for the system. You also show that you are an organized person by using the right font. 0 fonts for your resume or CV are Ariel, Cambria, Calibri, Didot, Garamond, Georgia, Helvetica, Times New Roman, and Trebuchet MS.Proper margins: A one-inch margin on each side of your resume or CV is a good idea. Setting the margin in this format makes your resume more engaging and readable.Use headers and bullet points: The use of headings and bullet points makes each section of the resume neat and clear. Bullet points also make the information consistent, concise, and more structured.Keep their resume under 2 pages: There are no official rules about how many pages a good resume should have. However, some recruiters recommend that 2 pages are long enough to explain your work experience and skills. Remember that a resume is not the same as a CV, which is usually several pages long. Step 3: Use the Business Development Resume Template as a Reference Sometimes putting together a resume can be frustrating and tiring. That's normal because looking for a job can also impact one’s mental state. To overcome this problem, you can try to find a suitable resume template on the Internet. Websites such as CakeResume offer different types of resumes and CVs according to the needs of job seekers. Step 4: Tailor Your Business Development Resume The same position may require different skills for each business. The FnB business needs a business development person who knows how to develop a restaurant franchise. Meanwhile, the manufacturing company may need a business development person who understands the supply chain. Each company may require a different resume. Before you apply, do some research about the company you are applying to so you can determine which parts of your resume to tailor to their qualifications. Step 5: Craft the Business Development Cover Letter The cover letter is an introduction and complement to the resume. The cover letter format is more concise and includes your key strengths, work experience, relevant skills, and reason or motivation for applying. Compared to a resume, a cover letter is more personal and authentic. This type of writing will make your application stand out more. When applying by email, the cover letter is usually written in the body of the email. However, if you are applying directly on the company's website, there is usually a special space for the cover letter. 6. Proofread your resume and cover letter The last step is to check for typos, grammatical errors, incoherent sentences, poor fonts, margins, and layout. Inaccuracies in your resume and cover letter will diminish the recruiter's evaluation of your application. Check out our 15+ ATS-Friendly Resume Templates.Tips for Writing a Business Development Resume Tip 1: Craft for the job According to Forbes, the average number of job seekers who apply to a job opening is 118. However, only 20% of those applicants get an interview. The numbers speak for themselves: competition among job seekers is fierce. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to how well-written and formatted your resume is. A personalized resume will help you stand out from other candidates. It's recommended that it be tailored according to the job description, the main keywords identified, and the information in the Profile and Work Experience sections modified accordingly. This will help your resume be read by the applicant tracking systems. Here's an example: You may find the following details in a business development job description:Able to work in a fast-paced environmentExcellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to build and maintain relationships with clients and partners So, the main keywords mentioned in the job description are fast-paced and build and maintain relationships. Here's what you should include in your resume:A business development professional with over 5 years of experience who is adept at adapting to a fast-paced, agile industry. Particularly adept at cultivating relationships with clients and partners. Note the keywords: fast-paced, clients, partner, and relationship. Tip 2: Make your results quantifiable The hiring manager doesn't just want to know the candidate's scope of work at the previous company. They also want to see how the candidate's work impacted the company's growth. That's why it's important to include quantifiable results on your resume as tangible evidence. Here's an example:Business Development at Shiba (Jan 2021-Jan 2024)Ensure sales growth exceeds the target by 10% in 2021 by collaborating across 4 divisions.Sustained 95% positive feedback from customer satisfaction survey. If you don't have experience or success in business development, or if you're looking to change direction, a lot of training and self-study is key. Include learning activities to show that you are making an effort. Tip 3: Have a professional LinkedIn or Cake profile If you ask a senior business development manager: “what is the most crucial skill a business developer must have," he/she will probably answer, ” Build relationships.” Since a business developer has to keep seeking growth opportunities for companies, a strong network building skill can greatly enhance the probability of getting useful information and resources. Therefore, creating a good Linkedin or CakeResume profile! Resume Samples for Business Development PositionsBusiness Development Associate Resume Sample Business Development Assistant Resume Sample Mid-level Business Development Resume Sample Business Development Manager Resume SampleConclusion Seeking and identifying opportunities for business growth is the mission of Business Development. Their day-to-day tasks include identifying potential markets, building relationships with partners and customers, and designing a business model that meets the company's goals.Different types of BDs include Business Development Associate, Business Development Assistant, and Business Development Manager, each of which has its own role.To pursue a career in business development, the first step that job seekers must take is to build a good resume, which consists of personal information and profile, a list of skills, work experience, educational history, and also other additional information.When creating a resume, it is also important to write carefully and clearly, choosing each sentence to show your accomplishments in the job. Readability and clarity are two points necessary for a resume to be noticed by recruiters. We hope this article will help you put together a good business development resume. If you're looking for a resume builder or tips on applying for jobs, Cake has many insightful articles. Come on, register now! If you would like to build a more customized resume format using an online resume maker, Cake provides rich choices of resume template snippets segmented by sections. By dragging and dropping resume template snippets, building a resume template/format on your own is just like a piece of cake. — Originally written by Erika Rizqi —

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