Have you come to the peak of job hunting recently, do you have many questions about resume production? The resume is not about creating a very powerful appearance, but focusing on " knowing yourself and marketing yourself " and then letting the other party know you, giving the other party what they want to know, and creating an opportunity for an interview.

 Outline 1. Introduction 2. Resume / CV
3. Preparations and reminders for making a resume

foreword

In addition to many convenient and ready-made resume layouts and resume templates, the job search and matching platforms have complete functions for online resume production, which improves the efficiency of resume production. Many newcomers will focus on making a beautiful resume, but ignore the most important thing in the resume is the content.

In this article, you will share the relevant instructions for your resume, prepare the resume content for the key points, and finally give some suggestions on layout design, make a high-level resume, and build your personal brand.

Resume / CV

Resume and CV are both translated into CV, but they will be different depending on the context of use. I will distinguish between "Resume ─ CV" and "CV ─ CV". Most job seekers in Taiwan charge Resume, and they are almost called "CV". More detailed distinctions may take different forms by country, nature (job search, academic research, scholarship, etc.).

Resume (Résumé)

• Shorter content, usually less than one page in length.
• Outline a summary of experience, experience, professional skills, etc. relevant to the job search.
• The purpose of Resume is to convince the company to get a job.

 Resume is mostly used for job hunting in Taiwan.

CV (Curriculum Vitae)

• For more detailed content, the length is usually more than two pages.
• It focuses on education level and learning, and has information related to personal life course, which is usually linked to the job content that you want to apply for and find a job.
• The CV is usually an academic-related position or related application (eg: studying abroad, applying for a scholarship).

 In some countries, the CV is used as a job search.

Regarding the difference between CV and Resume, you can search and watch more detailed explanations by yourself. This article will focus on the production of Resume. In order to adapt to the job search culture in Taiwan, it will be referred to as resume.

If you are not sure which form to prepare, you can reconfirm with HR. For a specific unit, there will also be a resume in a specific format, which needs to be filled in according to the regulations.

Preparation and reminder for making resumes

The content of the resume is similar, but it is more important to understand why you need to prepare this content? What do these contents represent?

Basic InformationInformation

• Name
• Briefly introduce yourself
• Headshots, clean and clear personal frontal photos
• ❌ Please avoid placing family background, this is not a personal career survey

 Most companies will require the placement of a headshot, which can be at the discretion of the company.

EducationEducation

• Arranged in order from the highest degree
• Please write the full name of the school

 In fact, in the design industry, I think that education is unimportant information, and it is of little significance whether it is released or not. I even thought that if the other party chooses design talents based on education, the pattern is really very narrow. However, in other fields, education is still very important, because I haven't set foot in other fields, I can't judge~

Work experience
Sort by timeline, or by nature of work

• The sequential timeline, sorted from the most recent time down, can also meet the principle of "the more important items are placed in the front", the viewer can focus more on watching, and the closer the time point, the closer Current state
• List the work period and job title, and appropriately supplement the work content, or the projects that have participated in it. For more detailed content about the project or the results, you can also place relevant links.

Work experience is a very important part of the resume, from which we can see the change of work content, and detect the correlation between these work experiences and the content of the job search . The connections between each experience and the lessons learned are important, as well as concrete evidence of personal traits.

 Fresh people may lack work experience, don't forget to put internship experience.

Expertise Skill

• In the case of design, programming and other related fields, list the skills you have
• software that operates
• ❌ Please avoid placing "skill/software proficiency" because it is difficult to quantify and therefore meaningless

Awards and AchievementsAward

• Work-related licenses, awards
• If it is a freshman, it can be placed in the school cadre, or the experience of other cadres

 It is recommended that these contents be presented in a column-like format, and there is no need to display certificates and awards photos.

Related Links

• Portable Portfolio Site

Contact InformationContact

• Contact number
• Contact mailbox

Replenish

It is recommended to make a complete and general resume, and then adjust the resume according to the nature of the work. When writing your resume, you also need to pay attention to whether it is related to the job content you want to apply for, or whether you comply with the special requirements of the company's resume.

Some resume teaching committees suggest to write about the expectations, treatment, etc. of the position you are applying for. The reason why this part is not included is that you have less experience in applying for a job in the initial stage. It is recommended to discuss these contents with the company during the interview, and train yourself to respond on the spot. , communication skills, but before the interview, think about and prepare for these questions, and do your homework on the company and understand the company's culture.

Be careful when writing your resume

Pay attention to the following points, which can help optimize the content of the resume. Since the resume is a more formal self-introduction to the company, it should be formal and avoid seriousness.

• Clear and concise <br class="smart">resume should be limited to one page of A4, no more than two pages at most. Use concise sentences to write paragraph descriptions and avoid redundant words . Please refrain from placing content unrelated to your resume unless the company requests it.
• Column presentation <br class="smart">In addition to keeping the content concise, it can also quickly see the key points, properly present the highlights of the work, and improve the reading experience.
• Correctly proofread <br class="smart">avoid text errors, data errors, and link errors, and can be repeatedly checked for confirmation.
• Relevant <br class="smart">Regardless of work experience, skills, etc., it is appropriate to place a description that is related to the content of the job search and create a suitable job vacancy.
• Proper Typography <br class="smart">The typography design maintains the principles of legibility and clarity, and avoids over-design and loss of focus.

Recommended reading: A good guide to typography

tool for creating resumes

Many existing job search and matchmaking platforms have the complete function of online resume production, and there are many open source resume templates on the Internet, which can improve the efficiency of resume production. If you have requirements for typesetting or have a clear plan, you can also design your own resume.

Job search and matching platform online resume function

It is the most commonly used way of making resumes recently. e.g. CakeResume   With enough templates and flexible typesetting blocks, the production speed can be improved a lot, and it can be used without a design foundation. If you have a design foundation, you can also adjust the details from more settings.

The advantage of this type of online resume is that it can achieve the effect of exposure without sending a letter to the company. Human resources can be quickly browsed online, and an interview invitation can be issued, or further chat through the contact mailbox.

I myself use my resume as part of the exposure pipeline, my CakeResume   Put only a few simple items, and put the introduction of the project in the lower part. From this resume, it is not very orthodox presentation, it is more like what I want to present, not for a specific object.

Open source resume template / self-designed resume

The open source resume template is also an option, which can be separated from the common format resumes, but the disadvantage is that it is not compatible with the resume format of job search and matchmaking platforms. It is placed in the personal file as a link.

However, in the design field, most people still tend to design resumes with their own style, customize the design version and present their personal styles, and at the same time attach their portfolios to show their design capabilities from their resumes.

online production tool

For example, Canva provides a variety of resume templates, and the content is also very flexible. However, it should be noted that most of the template colors are a bit fancy, you can avoid using them, and try to choose a comfortable template.

Self-made resume page

This part is biased towards the later gameplay, and has a clearly defined role with itself. Some designers and engineers will choose to make their resumes into websites with more personal characteristics. At this time, they will find that whether they are resumes, resumes, or works, they are all part of their own brand.

Layout design of resume

Since the resume strives to be concise and the focus is on the content, the reading experience is still the primary focus.

Proportion

Most of the common sizes are A4 or take the ratio of A4 to make.

 It should be noted that if you use the online resume creation service, the content may exceed one page when outputting as a PDF file. The size referred to here means "the size of each page" and not the overall size.

layout

The layout is single-column and two-column, try to control it within two columns, and the layout of more than two columns is easy to be crowded. The spacing between the two columns can be adjusted to avoid dullness. Examples will be attached later.

leave blank

The space between pages and text areas is left blank, which can improve the comfort of the layout.

Recommended reading: Learn Easy Layout Concepts Painlessly

color

Considering that the resume still needs to be presented in the form of paper, and the reading is mostly light-colored and dark-colored text is more comfortable, so the background is mostly light-colored. However, there are also colors used in special cases, but these are less common in formal job searches.

Usually I will set one color as the main color, and the rest of the colors are achromatic (black gray and white). The rest will put more thought into adjusting the content spacing and reading experience.

resume presentation example

Sort out the relevant examples mentioned. When referring to examples or other people's resumes, you can also think in a different position, read the content, and feel with your heart.

• CakeResume
• Canva
• Wozber
• Dribbble

Precautions when sending resumes

Finally got to this point~ Please check again before sending your resume!

Final proof

According to the major points mentioned in the previous paragraph of the article, let us review it again:

• Clear and concise : control the end of one page of A4, avoid redundant words.
• Column rendering : Use column rendering to improve the reading experience.
• Proofreading : Confirm whether the text, data, and links are correct.
• Relevant : Preference is given to descriptions that are relevant to the job search content.
• Proper Typography : Maintain legibility, clarity, and avoid overdesign and loss of focus.

Resume format and naming

• The file format is preferably PDF to avoid problems such as running version and incompatibility.
• Use the official name to name the file, I usually use the date as the prefix: 220706_Lin Meihua's resume.

clear letter subject

When sending it to the company, you can clearly let the company know that this is a cover letter. If the company has clearly stipulated the subject of the letter, you can write it directly according to the regulations.

In the subject, you can see the position to be applied for and the name of the applicant, for example: applying for marketing staff_Lin Meihua.

polite text

Please avoid sending a blank letter with only attachments - it doesn't need to be too honorable, but at least basic greetings and instructions are still available.

 Rough letter structure:
. Start greeting. Self-introduction (experience, skills, etc. can be considered, but not much)
. Learn about the channels for vacancies and the reasons for applying. Contact information, signature file resume attachment

In fact, the content does not need to be much, as long as the basic opening greetings and the main reason for sending this letter, and remember to attach a resume attachment. And I am used to adding a thank you note (thank the other party for taking the time to read, etc., or feel free to contact me if you have any questions) and a signature file of related information in the letter, in case I miss it~

About encrypted resume files

Some people pay attention to information security and will output the resume as a PDF with a password. Please remember to write the password in the letter and inform the other party, otherwise the resume cannot be opened!

Send it to yourself and check again

Before sending it, you can send it to yourself to see if there is any part of the letter that you want to adjust. Please remember to use your mobile phone and computer to open the letter check to ensure that the format is not out of print or weird.

Multiple submissions in one draft

If there are a number of similar positions that need to be submitted for resumes, remember to check whether the subject and content of each letter are correct when performing the "multiple submissions with one draft" letter. It will be embarrassing, and the other party will also indirectly know which company you are applying for at the same time.

Supplementary differences between copies and blind copies

Usually we only need to send to the human resources or company window, occasionally a copy is required.

• Copy Carbon Copy, referred to as CC
  Copy means that in addition to the recipient, there are other objects to be notified. After entering the workplace, I sometimes hear the other party say "Remember CC me~", indicating that in addition to the recipient, another recipient of the copy should be added when sending the letter, so that the message will not be missed.
• Blind carbon copy Blind Carbon Copy, referred to as BCC
  Blind copy means that in addition to the recipient, there are other people who need to be notified, but these people do not need to know who has also received the letter . Blind copies are often used when sending a large number of letters, otherwise it would be embarrassing to see a long list of recipients.

If you find that the other party replied with a copy or related personnel, you can click "Reply to All" when replying to avoid missing the message.

 If you select "Reply" instead of "Reply to All", only the recipient will receive the letter, and other relevant personnel will not receive the letter.

The last thought

By understanding yourself, discovering value, planning and implementing your goals as early as possible, and accumulating more experience and abilities. Focus on " knowing yourself and marketing yourself " and then let the other party know you, give the other party what they want to know, and create an opportunity for an interview.

I wish you all to create a high-level resume and create your own personal brand! Successful job search~

The article was first published on Medium , and the version I'm currently reading is the synchronous version.

Thank you for your reading and support, any questions are welcome to communicate with us｜ imjhanemi@gmail.com

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