(2024) What Is a Resume? Explore the Latest Resume Examples & Templates, Standard Formats & Writing Tips

A resume, sometimes also known as a Curriculum Vitae (CV), is a necessary formal document for job seeking process. A strong resume can help grab the attention of employers and can be the key to landing an interview. But "what is a resume?" you might ask.

In this blog post, we'll share with you all-thing resumes, from its definition and types to writing tips and best practices for creating a compelling one, whether you are a recent graduate or already an experienced professional, or even someone who wants to transition to a new career, this blog will provide you with the essential knowledge and resume builder tools to create a standout resume. 

What Is a Resume?

The term resume (or résumé) is a French-derive word that means a summary, and that's essentially what a resume is: a one-page document summarizing applicants' skills, work experience, educational background, and information that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

With that being said, “what is the primary purpose of a resume,” then, you might ask? 

Straightforwardly, a resume is often used to help you get a job, isn't it?

True, but not really. While it won't guarantee employment, a well-crafted resume can help you secure an interview by showcasing your skills and qualifications. This one-page document is your opportunity to make a positive first impression, sell yourself, and convince your potential employers that you're the most suitable candidate for the vacancy, and demonstrate what you can bring to the table. Although it's recommended to tailor your resume to each job you apply for, some core elements should always be present.

How to Choose the Best Resume Format

There are three main resume formats—chronological, functional, and combination resume. Each format serves different purposes based on work history and the job applied for. Let's break down the definition of each so that you can pick the most suitable format that suits your needs best.

1. Reverse chronological resume

A chronological resume, also known as a reverse chronological resume, is a resume format that lists your work experience from the latest to the oldest. By highlighting the most recent experience, employers can check if you've been working in the same industry or a similar position so that they can save training effort after hire. The more relevant you are, the more competitive edge you gain.

This resume is most suitable for those who have been working in the same industry or the same profession and have years of experience. Fresh grads who have several internship experiences can also leverage this resume format, as it's one of the most common resume types.

2. Functional resume

If you want to highlight your skills, then a functional resume format is what you should consider. Instead of focusing on the work experience, a functional resume helps highlight your skills and how they'll benefit the job you're applying for.

Unlike the chronological resume format, the functional one lists your skills as the main section, with work and experience and other details following afterward. One tip for writing an effective functional resume is that the details of the skills mentioned should also be included as sub-points. If you're a job hopper or someone who's planning to change careers, change industry or has an employment gap that you prefer not to show the employer, a functional resume will be the perfect choice for you.

3. Combination resume

As the name suggests, a combination resume is a format that combines elements of both chronological and functional resumes, including work experience and relevant skills. It is also commonly referred to as a hybrid resume.

This type of resume format is very flexible as it allows you to adjust to the job vacancy's requirements. It doesn't matter if you have much or negligible working experience; this hybrid resume format can balance out the information to present yourself better.

11 Essential Resume Elements & Sections

A resume serves as your first impression to potential employers before any face-to-face interaction, so understanding what to include is crucial. Here are the key elements that should be on your resume and how to write them:

Resume Header

Resume header is the top section that contains your essential information. Typically, it includes your full name, phone number, professional email address. You can also consider adding your LinkedIn profile and other relevant professional social media handles. Having these details prominently displayed allows employers to contact you for further information quickly or to schedule an interview. 

Make sure that this information is accurate and up-to-date, as it is the primary means employers will communicate with you.

Resume Summary

A resume summary or bio often follows a resume header. While the header contains your basic information, the summary or bio section provides a brief overview of your professional background, fundamental skills, and career objectives (sometimes people like to opt out of the resume summary but only keep the career objectives; again, this is entirely up to you and your goals).

This summary should be concise and tailored to the job you are applying for, offering a snapshot of what makes you a strong candidate.

By placing the summary below the header, you create a logical flow that quickly informs employers about who you are and what you bring to the table. Here are some examples of good resume summary paragraph:

Educational background

If you are a fresher, your educational background will be fundamental as it helps recruiters to have a general idea of who you are, based on your majors and GPA/grades. When listing education in your resume, make sure to include the school name, the attendance year, degree, and GPA.

Here are some examples of how you should format the educational background section:

Work Experience

The working experience section is the main part of your resume (most of the time). When employers review the working experience section, they typically focus on four main things: your previous job title, the company you worked for, your primary responsibilities and the duration of your employment. But extra information about your achievement will gain you competitive edge.

For instance, if you assisted your previous employers in acquiring 10,000 potential customers from their most recent conference, you may want to provide a brief overview of the event and outline the actions you took to achieve this result.

Here is an example of how you can include work experience on your resume:

Skills

One thing you can do to make your resume go from ordinary to exceptional is to include relevant skills. The selected skills need to be pertinent to who you are and the jobs you're applying for.

The skills included should categorize into hard skills and soft skills.

Hard skills are technical knowledge that you can acquire through training and practice. These skills are often measurable; for example, proficiency in specific software applications or programming languages qualifies as hard skills.

Meanwhile, soft skills are personality traits that make you a good fit for the position. These traits are subjective and may be challenging to quantify in terms of proficiency. Examples of soft skills include strong leadership, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate seamlessly within a team.

Certifications & licenses

Certain professions, such as accountant, teacher, and civil engineer require official certifications or licenses. These credentials are not only regulatory requirements but also serve as powerful indicators of your credibility and qualifications for roles with high-level education prerequisites.

Here are examples of how to can include certifications and licenses on your resume:

Language skills

Being bilingual or multilingual is beneficial because employers want someone who can represent the company overseas or work with foreign partners and clients. Including your language skills on your resume can greatly enhance your appeal to employers. 

Don't forget to include your proficiency level: native, bilingual proficiency, professional working proficiency, or elementary level. Be sure to specify your proficiency level—whether native, bilingual proficiency, professional working proficiency, or elementary level—providing valuable insight into your language abilities. This demonstrates your capacity to navigate diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes, underscoring your readiness for cross-border responsibilities.

Awards & honors

Awards and honors from competitions can be an impressive addition to your resume, especially if you’re a fresh graduate looking for a job. If you received any awards or honors for either outstanding academic or non-academic performance, mention them both.

Volunteer

Volunteer work shows your kind-hearted personality and how you apply certain skills to practice. You can list volunteer work experiences on your resume and details of what you've done. Remember that the skills applied in volunteer work should be related to the position you're applying for.

Here's how you can include volunteer experience on your resume:

Publications

If you've written a thesis, contributed to a journal or research, or published books, articles, or news, you can provide information about these publications on your resume. This illustrates professional knowledge of a certain topic and can be part of your portfolio.

Projects

Including details of projects you've worked on on your resume provides employers with valuable insights into your accomplishments and practical application of skills. This not only showcases your abilities but also offers employers a clearer understanding of your level of experience.

Which Resume Templates Should I Use?

When applying for a job, having a well-crafted resume can help you stand out among other applicants. The layout and design of a resume can make a significant difference in how potential employers receive it. Therefore, it's crucial to choose a resume template that is both visually appealing and functional. 

Opt for a resume template that:

1) Clear and Easy-to-Read Format: 

• Utilizes clean and modern design elements to enhance readability.
• Consistent formatting and organization for a professional appearance.
• Adequate white space to avoid clutter and improve visual appeal.

2) Sections for Key Information:

• Education: Includes details of academic qualifications, such as degrees, diplomas, and certifications.
• Work Experience: Highlights professional background, with clear details of your job titles, company names, dates of employment, and key responsibilities.
• Skills: Showcases relevant technical and soft skills essential for the targeted job role.
• Accomplishments: Provides space to highlight notable achievements and contributions in previous roles.

3) Emphasis on Skills and Experience:

• Prioritizes showcasing relevant skills and experiences tailored to the job requirements.
• Utilizes action verbs and quantifiable achievements to demonstrate competency and effectiveness.
• Highlights transferable skills and experiences applicable across various roles and industries.

4) Customizable and Versatile:

• Allows for easy customization to tailor the resume to specific job applications.
• Adaptable to showcase diverse skill sets and experiences for different career paths.
• Compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS) for seamless resume submission and parsing.

Cake offers a diverse selection of 50+ free ATS-friendly resume templates and snippets designed to meet your needs. With our intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily customize your resume by rearranging sections to your liking. The best part? You can download your finalized resume in PDF format at no cost or share it online with ease. Ready to elevate your job application? Sign up for Cake today!

5 Writing Tips for a Good Resume 

Here are some tips that not only create an outstanding resume but will also help you look good on a resume:

1. Customize your resume to match the job description

While your resume is meant to showcase who you are as a potential employee, employers also have specific requirements they seek in candidates. As such, it's crucial to tailor your resume to include relevant information that aligns with the job description while excluding those that don't.

2. Proofread again and again

Given the high number of resumes that hiring managers receive, they can easily spot even the slightest error. Thus, to avoid such mistakes, always proofread your resume before submitting it.

3. Utilize action words

Action words are constructive in showcasing what you have done in previous jobs. Thus, utilizing them when highlighting your skills and achievements is advisable as they can significantly impact how employers view and understand you.

4. Use relevant keywords

For big companies that receive thousands of resumes, Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) can help filter out applications by identifying keywords that match the job requirements. Therefore, incorporating relevant keywords is crucial. The best way to identify relevant keywords is by referring to the job description for skill-related keywords and incorporating them accordingly.

5. Maintain a clean and well-organized resume format

A well-organized resume format can enhance readability and help hiring managers locate information quickly. Here are some guidelines to follow:

• Maintain 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
• Use an appropriate font size (11pt or 12pt) and style.
• Group related information under different sections for better viewing.
• Use bullet points to highlight key details.

Resume Example

Now that you know what to include in a resume, all about resume templates and format, it’s time for us to show you what a concise resume should look like! Check this out:

Key Takeaways

Now that you know the resume definition, here are some key takeaways that you should keep in mind: a resume is a critical document that summarizes your education, work experience, skills, and achievements. It is an essential tool that helps you present yourself to potential employers and showcase your suitability for a specific job position. The information presented in your resume should be tailored to the job description to demonstrate how you can add value to the organization. 

Cake is a free online resume builder that is useful for anyone looking to create an online presence, whether you’re a recent graduate, a freelancer, or an established professional looking to showcase your work. With the help of Cake’s rich library of resume templates and online resources, crafting an outstanding, ATS-friendly resume has never been easier. Following the tips and guidelines outlined in this blog, you can create a compelling resume highlighting your unique skills and experience, increasing your chances of landing your dream job.

--- Originally written by Ryan Goh ---