How to Write a Resume From Scratch

Writing a resume is hard, and it’s often not something that is taught in school, so I wanted to discuss how to write a resume from scratch and where to start.

When you’re figuring out how to write a resume from scratch, it is important to figure out what you want to gain from the document. What are you going to use it for? Will you be applying to higher education programs, internships, or jobs? If you’re already in the workforce, do you want to stay on the same career path or do you want to transition into something different? Your resume will differ greatly depending on what you will be using it for, so it’s crucial to figure this out before getting started. Next, you’ll want to gather your information.

Start with the basics

When you’re figuring out what information to include on a resume, start with the basics. You should always create a header with your contact information including your phone, email address, and location. Just include your city and state; no need to write down your exact address. If you do have a personal website, include that as well, but do not include the link to your LinkedIn profile. If you’re using LinkedIn correctly, you will be easily searchable, so there’s no need to include the direct link on your resume.

List your skills

Putting your skills at the top of the document immediately increases the effectiveness of your resume. Recruiters look at each resume for an average of six seconds each. That means you have six seconds to show that you are qualified and what you can bring to the table. When you put your skills matrix up at the top, this shows the reader exactly what you have to offer and highlights that you are qualified for the position right off the bat.

The quicker you grab someone’s attention and persuade them that you’re the right candidate for the position, the more likely you’ll be to get past the initial influx of applicants.

When you list your skills, do some research to ensure that you’re listing the right skills based on the kind of jobs you’re interested in applying to. You want to list skills that highlight your qualifications that relate to the job(s) you’re trying to obtain. If someone can’t see how you’d excel in the role you’re applying for, your resume won’t be very effective.

Gather your employment information

Depending on what stage you’re at in your career, you might not have traditional employment information. If you do have traditional work experience, gather your dates of employment, (month and year) job description, projects you worked on, and any additional information you can include like how many people you worked with.

If you’re in school, or are just starting out in your career, you’ll want to include volunteer work and/or internship information. If you need to add even more relevant industry experience, include information about relevant school projects you worked on. This will help highlight your ability to work on a given project under constraints, and will help highlight your relevant industry knowledge.

If you’re listing class projects on your resume, use the school name in place of the company name, and include something along the lines of “[Class Title] Project Manager,” “Student Project Manager,” or “[Class Title] Student” in place of a job title.

Want a more in-depth explanation of this? Click here to learn exactly how to craft the perfect job description for your resume.

Gather specific metrics and achievements for each role

The key to a great resume is highlighting exactly what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to a new role. This is not the place to include a general job description that can be used for anyone with that job title. Include specific information about what you did, how many people you worked with or managed, projects you worked on, and project results to ensure that your resume immediately reflects your achievements and what you can bring to the table.

Anyone can say that they’re great at their job, but very few people can actually show it. When you’re noting your achievements, think about how you can quantify what you’ve done.

Gather your education information

Unless it is your highest level of education or you are in your first year of college, do not include information about your high school diploma. Similarly, there is no need to include GPA unless you’re currently in school and have a very high GPA (3.8 or above).

When it comes to listing education, start with the highest level of education at the top and list backwards from there. For example:

PhD information

Master’s information

Bachelor’s information

High School information

Unless you are currently in school or are in a profession where your degree is a key factor, (i.e. medicine, law, etc.) your education will be listed at the bottom of your resume. If you are in school or in one of the professions where your education is very important, your education will go towards the top under your skills list.

Include certifications and specialized training

Including certifications and specialized training on your resume make a huge difference in how impactful your document is. Even if you don’t have specific certifications but you’ve had internal training, taken an online course, or even just an online tutorial, include that in your resume. For example, you can take some online tutorials and training sessions on QuickBooks or Adobe Photoshop via YouTube and list that as specialized training. As long as the training gives you an advantage and further educates you on a subject, you can list it on your resume.

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If you’re struggling with how to write a resume from scratch, relax. You’re not alone! Writing a resume is hard, and it’s often something that people are forced to learn on their own. Just take it one step at a time, gather the required information, and go from there!

And when in doubt, you can always hire a professional to help!