How to Start a Resume

How to Start a Resume How To Start A Resume Starting a resume from scratch can be an absolute nightmare. Sure, adding your name, address, phone number, and email are easy enough, but then what? Build My Resume Now Writing your resume can feel overwhelming. Using a single page to summarize your career isnt something that comes naturally to most people. Like many things in life, getting started is the most difficult part. In this guide, our career experts provide a step-by-step walk-through on how to start a resume, so you can move things forward with your job hunt. Table of Contents Choosing  a Resume Introduction Writing a Resume Introduction Additional Resources Choosinga Resume Introduction A great resume must begin with an intriguing introduction because its the first thing hiring managers see (check out our how to write a good resume guide for tips on this). Specifically, it acts as your resume opening statement, and sets the tone of your entire application. The resume introduction you choose could be the difference between landing an interview and being skipped over by the hiring manager. An effective resume introduction gives recruiters a quick overview of what makes you the perfect candidate for the job. It essentially functions as an elevator pitch. The problem is that job seekers have four resume introductions to choose from: the resume summary, professional profile, career objective, and qualifications summary. The introduction you choose could be the difference between landing an interview and being skipped over by the hiring manager. Tip Struggling to fit everything you need on your resume onto one page? Learn how to hit the perfect resume length while still highlighting all your strengths. Not sure which resume introduction is for you? Simply follow our How To Start Your Resume flow chart below and find out which resume intro maximizes your chances of getting a job: Now that youve used our flow chart and know which introduction is best for you, youre undoubtedly wondering how to write it. Luckily, we have everything you need. Tip Thinking of drawing the hiring managers eye with a resume photo? Our resume tips will teach you why thats a bad idea. Writing a Resume Introduction Our flow chart breaks down the four styles of resume introductions and provides examples of how they differ from one another. Now lets dive a little deeper into how you can adapt each resume intro to effectively promote your experience and skills. Below we describe each resume introduction and give tips on how to write them. You can also follow the link to a writing guide for each if youre looking for more information on how to start a resume yourself. We also provide several resume introduction examples at the bottom. Tip Before you launch into your resume introduction, you might want to introduce yourself with a single-line resume headline a short, snappy insight into your professional background. Career Objective Tips Career objectives are great for those who are just entering the workforce or who only have 12 years of experience under their belt. They tell the hiring manager what youre looking for and what you have to offer. A career objective consists of three basic parts: Years of work/internship experience and the job duties performed The major qualities, skills, and abilities that you will apply to the specific position to meet the companys goals. (You must be able to prove these skills in the professional experience section) Relevant degrees, licenses, and certificatesyou hold When you combine the three points above, you establish a solid argument for why you deserve the position. Tip Check out our resume objective writing guide for more tips and examples. Resume Summary Tips A resume summary is the right option if you have many work-related accomplishments to showcase. Its also versatile since it can be used by people seeking work in the same industry and those trying to enter a different one. It comprises 56 bullet points, a keyword (usually a relevant skill or achievement), and a sentence explaining what youve accomplished. You then tie this all together with quantifiable data, like a statistic, to back up your claims. Tip Want to create a powerful resume summary? Check out our resume summary examples and writing guide. Qualifications Summary Tips A qualifications summary is best for those who have numerous skillsorachievements and are looking to work in a different field. As the flow chart explains, a qualifications summary usually contains 56 bullet points emphasizing a candidates: Authority Creativity Efficiency Recognition Management Communication The order of the bullet points is completely up to you, but we suggest listing the most relevant and impressive first. This way, you are more likely to bait recruiters and reel in their interest. Tip If youd like more help with your qualifications summary, read our in-depth breakdown on how to write a qualifications summary. Professional Profile Tips The professional profile is a mix of the best of both a career objective and qualifications summary. This introduction should include four main points: Years of experience Specialty or job duty you excel at Transferable skills Career achievements Tip Did you know professional profiles can be transferred to your LinkedIn page? Visit our professional profile writing guide to find out how. Additional Resources In a hurry? Head over to our new-and-improved resume builder and create your own resume in just minutes. Good luck on the job hunt!