As an HR professional with years of experience in recruitment and selection, I believe that an excellent resume requires more than just a neat layout; the content – such as education, work experience, and project experience – is of decisive importance. Whether your resume is selected from a large pool of applicants depends largely on its content.
Once you have chosen a clean, professional resume template, the next step is to write the actual content.
I. Basic Information (Resume Header)
Mobile Number:
Is this mandatory? Yes. Use a number that you check regularly and verify that it is correct. For English resumes, it is advisable to include the country code (e.g., +1 555-0199).
Photo:
European companies usually recommend adding a photo, while North American companies often prefer that you do not. Specifically for the Netherlands, a photo is usually included on the resume, whereas it is generally not the case for English resumes. If you decide to add a photo, make sure it is a professional portrait photo; avoid informal snapshots.
Email Address:
For job applications, it is recommended to use common providers such as Gmail or Outlook.
File Name & Email Subject Line:
Never use generic file names like "Personal Resume" or "Application Resume" that lack the specific position or your name; clearly stating the position and your name is a basic requirement. If the job description specifies a particular naming format, follow it strictly. Otherwise, consider this format: "Application [Company Name] Operations Manager - [Name] - [Phone Number]" or "Application Product Manager Intern - [Name] - University of Amsterdam - [Phone Number]."
II. Target Position
Desired Position:
Ideally, tailor your resume to a specific position. This shows HR recruiters a clear career plan and genuine interest.
The entire resume should align with the requirements of the target position. Avoid the "spray and pray" approach – where you use the exact same resume for widely differing positions – as this typically yields little success.
III. Education
Chronology:
List your education in reverse chronological order: start with your highest degree and work back to your bachelor's degree. If you are about to graduate or are still completing your studies, mention the expected graduation date (month and year) instead of simply writing "20xx–present".
Relevant Courses:
Briefly mention courses that are highly relevant to the job requirements; emphasize the academic background that best matches the position you aspire to. If you achieved good academic results, you can mention your grade point average (GPA) and ranking (e.g., top 10% of the class).
To better highlight your educational background, you can also include relevant elective courses or specialized training in the education section.
Example:
Core Courses: (List key courses that are highly relevant to the position);
GPA: 3.7/4.0; ranked in the top 10% of the class throughout the entire four-year program;
Honors: National Scholar, University Scholarship for Outstanding Performance.
IV. Work Experience
1. Chronology: List experiences in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent position.
2. Emphasize key points. Recent graduates with limited work experience should focus on internships. Experienced professionals should provide detailed descriptions of positions that closely align with the target role, while briefly mentioning less relevant experiences.
3. Use data and focus on results. Emphasize specific achievements from previous positions instead of just listing duties. Duties describe what you did, while achievements describe the actual outcomes. Using objective, specific data to quantify your achievements makes your experience more convincing.
Example:
Option 1:
Responsible for the implementation of marketing plans.
Option 2:
- Developed and executed marketing strategies that increased brand awareness within the target group by 50%.
- Led a successful influencer marketing campaign that resulted in a 60% increase in engagement on social media platforms.
- Managed cross-channel marketing campaigns and coordinated collaboration between PR, online marketing, and event marketing, increasing overall campaign effectiveness by 30%.
- Conducted market research to identify new market opportunities, leading to the launch of two new product lines.
- Managed the redesign of the company website, which improved user experience and increased website traffic by 20%.
4. Use keywords effectively. HR professionals use keywords to quickly assess how well a candidate fits the position; therefore, read the job description and requirements carefully to identify keywords and incorporate them into your work experience section.
V. Project Experience
When selecting projects to include, prioritize their alignment with the target position, the client's reputation, and the scale of the project.
Project details (name, timeframe, and description) should be concise and to the point;
Your role: Clarify your role and responsibilities; highlight the main challenges and the methods used to solve them; Project results: Use specific, objective numbers to illustrate the results achieved. Example:
Role in IT Development
- Lead Developer for ID photo app: Developed an app that allows users to generate digital passport photos within two minutes; this enables them to easily obtain professional-quality photos without having to leave their homes.
- Led the development of critical and complex modules; aligned functionalities with product requirements and user needs to achieve comprehensive, user-centric improvements.
- Analyzed user data to implement targeted feature improvements, significantly enhancing user experience; reached 860,000 installations and successfully released two product versions.
VI. How to Write a "Professional Summary" for Your Resume?
The "professional summary" section is usually placed at the beginning or end of a resume and allows the candidate to briefly express (in 3 to 5 sentences) the value they bring to the company. It is advisable to research the specific responsibilities and requirements of the position, so you understand exactly what the HR manager is looking for. Tailor your summary so that when the recruiter reads it, they think: "This is exactly the person I need!" – this increases your chances of successfully passing the initial screening.
Example:
Application for a Math Teacher Position
Right Approach:
- Three years of experience as a math teacher; dedicated and conscientious with a commitment to excellence; achieved outstanding teaching results, with students regularly winning prizes in competitions; approachable and highly popular among students. (Summary of work experience and achievements)
- Possesses a teaching certification; has the essential teaching skills and professional competencies required for the position. (Summary of hard skills/qualifications)
- Friendly and cheerful personality; actively participated in volunteer work and community projects during university; possesses strong collaboration and organizational skills. (Summary of personality and capabilities)
- Deep passion for the teaching profession (often described as "engineers of the soul"); driven by a strong desire to dedicate myself selflessly to education. (Summary of career ambitions)