Top Resume Writing Resources Every Professional Needs
It’s time to find a new job, so you must polish up your resume. Or maybe you want to start fresh! Resumes change as the years go on, but one thing stays the same. They need to look and sound professional, which means it’s important to utilize resume writing resources to stand out. Resume writing is a true art; unfortunately, many fail at it. When recruiters and hiring managers read hundreds of resumes daily, it’s not enough to have a good resume. You have to stand out from the crowd.
You’re not alone if you feel like your resume isn’t up to par. Lots of people struggle with crafting a successful resume. But the good news is that many tools are available to help you! Not sure where to start? No worries. We’ve done the work to find the best resume writing resources that every professional needs to know about.
The best assets to use when crafting your resume
1. Our resume samples and recommendations
One of the greatest resume writing resources is our sample resumes! We display multiple resumes by format, experience, and situation. This allows job seekers to have a starting place and utilize these tools to build their own resumes instead of starting from scratch.
The best advice is to have multiple versions of your resume and cater it to the job. Not all resumes are created equal. Different industries will have separate requirements, and you should always rearrange and add or remove information based on the job you’re applying for. A chronological format might be great for some job applications, but with others, it may make sense to group experience by industry or function.
This resume writing resource also includes sample resumes for specific situations, like stay-at-home mom resumes, internal promotions resumes, or career change resumes. Take advice from the experts and start with zengig’s resources.
2. Use the resume builder from BeamJobs
BeamJobs has a fantastic resume writing resource that allows you to choose a template from their professionally designed inventory. The company was created to help job seekers improve the quality of their resumes and have an easier time getting noticed by hiring companies. The service makes it easier to edit and improve your resume as often as needed. It saves users the headache of trying to reformat a Word document each time they want to add or remove something from their resume. Plus, their designs stand out and look incredible.
3. Online instruction from Coursera
Take advantage of the fantastic online courses from Coursera on resume writing. Learn from professionals with tons of experience without even leaving home. Plus, you can log in and take the course anytime and at any pace. Here are two courses that we recommend checking out:
- Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters helps your resume stand out from the pile by using language the organization uses and providing a dynamic asset statement to potential employers. The course covers the real purpose of a resume and helps identify the relevant competencies to showcase and objective statements that align with the position.
- Want to improve the overall look of the resume? Take the course Build a Professional Resume using Canva. The one-hour course will help you create an eye-catching and elegant resume that is also keyword-optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). It’s great for beginners or anyone looking to improve their current format.
4. How to write a resume from Monster
If you’re at a loss for where to start, check out the resume resource on Monster about how to write a successful resume. Not only do they have worksheets that you can use to get all your information down, but they also link out to their articles about resume strategy, keywords, and more.
This is the best resume writing resource if you aren’t sure where to start. However, it can be a bit overwhelming! So much information is offered that you may feel like you can’t absorb it all. Pick one or two articles from each section and try to create your resume based on that. You can return to this resource over and over to continue making improvements.
5. GCF’s resume writing course
Sometimes, learning in a structured environment is best, and you can do just that with GCF’s free resume course. There are 12 separate modules that you’ll work through to find out why resume writing is important, what should be included in every application, and the best tips for crafting a successful, stand-out resume that every employer will want to read.
You get to take this course at your own pace, and you can begin whenever. After the 12 modules, there is a quiz for you to take to really test your knowledge. With this free resume resource, you’ll be writing stellar resumes in no time.
6. Grammar checker from Grammarly
The last thing you need on your resume is a spelling or grammar error. If you get past the thirty-second mark with an employer, you should be in a good position, unless your resume has errors. Unfortunately, this is more common than we think. You get so caught up in the wording and formatting of crafting a perfect resume that you often forget to check for grammar and spelling errors!
Grammarly is completely free and will allow you to dive deep into your resume and find those errors with little to no effort. Before sending it out to any potential employers, make sure to run it through Grammarly.
7. Ask ChatGPT for assistance
This AI tool can be a helpful resume writing resource if you know how to use it properly. The tool can write a resume from scratch if you feed it all the necessary information, but it definitely won’t be in an attractive format. It’s best used to help you update and rework your information to be more customized for a specific job description. Give ChatGPT your current resume and ask it to customize for a specific job description or identity common resume mistakes or weaknesses. Just remember to verify all the information when you’re done to ensure nothing false was added.
FAQs
How do I format my resume to make it visually appealing?
To create a visually appealing resume, it is essential to focus on its layout and overall design. Start by choosing an easy-to-read font and size, such as Calibri or Helvetica. Use bold or italicized text and bullet points to highlight accomplishments and skills. Create a clean and uncluttered look by organizing the content into clear sections, such as education, work experience, and abilities. Also, ensure the formatting is consistent throughout the document and there are no typos.
How long should a resume be?
The standard length of a resume is one page. Customize your experience, skillsets, and background to the job description concisely and simply. Remove anything that isn’t relevant to save space.
Should a resume be tailored to a specific job or position?
Resumes should be reworked for each application submitted. Review the required skills and make sure to tailor your resume to showcase why you would be the best fit for the job. Many companies use software to sort through the applications, so using similar terms will help you reach the right people.
What are the best ways to make my resume stand out?
Take advantage of incredible resume writing resources like BeamJobs and Zengig. Your resume should feature the right information for the job you want and look clean and appealing at the same time. Templates and samples can help you get there.
