You can’t deny the fact that the job market is competitive. There are a lot of people looking for jobs, so it can be hard to stand out from the crowd. But one of the best ways to set yourself apart is with a great resume. 

While there are a lot of resume tips and tricks out there, not all of them can create an impact. It still depends on your degree of expertise and the position you’re looking for. That means if you’re looking for data analyst jobs then your educational qualification and projects could matter a lot. Whereas, for a job in the medical field, experience is given priority.

To help you put your best foot forward, here is a list of things to include on your resume. From clear and concise writing to quantifiable achievements, read on for our top resume tips!

Where to Look For a Job?

There’s no use in writing a great resume if you don’t know where to look for a job. Some of the information you need in your resume depends on the position you’re applying for. 

For example, different companies define data analytics jobs in different ways. What a company looks for in a data analyst may be different from what another company does. So before you craft your resume, check the required qualifications and job description for the specific position.

Here are some of the places you can find a job and know which companies have relevant open positions.

Your Contacts

Inform all of your contacts about your job search so they can help you identify others with similar career interests. Networking is a good way to find a new job since employers love to get a referral from a dependable employee. 

If you’re not aware, most companies fill job positions internally. Meaning to say, they ask their employees if there is anyone they know who is fit for the job. So it’s important to leverage this fact and contact your friends and family. This way, you can get as many recommendations from your network as you can.

Job Search Platforms

Some job-seekers still don’t know which company to apply for. If you’re one of them, introduce yourself to job search platforms. These websites let you search for jobs depending on the position, salary, and location you prefer. 

Some websites cater to specific professions to make your job hunt easier. If you are a data analyst looking for only data jobs, you can find websites that are niche job boards specializing in Data and Analytics positions. 

These niche job boards have the advantage of providing search criteria specific to the industry. This can help with identifying the best opportunity for your specialization with speed and ease. 

Some also let you upload your resume to make the process smooth for both applicants and employers. That means you don’t have to visit the premises to submit your resume. It also means that employers can filter unqualified applicants before the interview stage.

The Company You’re Applying For

Now that most companies have websites, they often post job positions that they’re trying to fill in. This way, you can directly apply to the company, which makes the job hunt process faster.

Reach out to a company you’re interested in to check if they have any positions that match your skills and expertise. Even if they aren’t actively hiring for your position, they can keep your resume on file just in case.

Job Fairs

A job fair lets businesses and workers connect. Big companies that are hiring a lot of people and recent graduates often attend these events. So it’s best to go to one if you’re looking for a job. This increases your chances of finding the right job for you since you’ll be talking with employers firsthand. Just make sure to bring a resume with you.

Social Media

Social media has been a powerful tool to connect with people across the globe. So much so that recruiters often use it to look for potential applicants. 

You can connect with companies you’d want to work for on different social media channels. No matter where they are, you can find their profiles on websites like Facebook and Instagram. Most of the time, they post their job listings on social media as well as the position’s duties and responsibilities.

You can also learn a lot about the company’s tone, interests, and working style through its social media handles. This way, you’ll have leverage on how to write your cover letter and behave during interviews.

What to Include in Your Resume?

Your resume shows employers why you’re the right person for the job. So it’s important to take a lot of time to create one. But for this to happen, you need to include relevant information about yourself on your resume. It should be concise and arranged to highlight the right qualifications for the job.

Important details that your resume must have

Your Contact Information

Aside from your name, include how employers can contact you on your resume. Even if you apply online, give them your active contact information. To be specific, your resume should include the following details:

  • Active phone number
  • Active professional email address
  • Social media handles
  • Link to your website, blog, or portfolio

Whether it’s your phone number or email address, employers will be thrilled to have options to contact you. You can also receive details about your application quickly with your preferred way of communication.

Relevant Skills

Start with a brief overview of your skills and experience. Make sure you add both technical and soft skills that most employers are looking for. Of course, adding these skills should mean that you actually possess them. Lying on your resume will only do more harm than good.

In the example of looking for a job as a data analyst, you can increase your chances of getting hired by building up on some important data analyst skills, such as:

  • Data visualization and cleaning
  • Big data analytics
  • Python and R Programming
  • Machine Learning
  • SQL and NoSQL
  • MATLAB

If you’re applying for entry-level data analyst jobs, you don’t need advanced skills. At most, companies only expect you to know basic data analytics skills, such as SQL and data visualization. 

On another note, data scientists require more skills and even a Ph.D. in statistics. Any relevant certification and courses for data science can also add value to your profile. 

Make sure you know what skills are qualified for what jobs.

Work History

This section will make up the body of your resume. It’s important to know that you don’t have to include every job you have ever held. Only include those that you had within the last 10 to 15 years. 

Put in previous jobs that are relevant to the position you’re looking for. So if your goal is to land data analytics jobs, only include jobs you’ve had in the field. Just be careful not to have too many employment gaps.

So what should your work history section look like?

  • Relevant job positions. You should arrange this in reverse chronological order, starting with your present employment.
  • Your duties and responsibilities for each position. Include at most six bullet points for this.
  • Your accomplishments together with numbers and statistics.
  • Your internships if you have limited work experience.

Education and Training

Some employers value your degrees and training when checking your resume. This will be the perfect place to list some of the relevant ones you had. Here, outline your academic background and highlight any noteworthy accomplishments.

Your education and training section should have the following details:

These will help you impress recruiters and consider you as a potential candidate.

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Other Relevant Information

Some would argue that the first four items in the list are the only details you need for your resume. But it won’t hurt to include other information about you and your qualifications. Just make sure that they are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Here are some of the things you can include in your resume:

Final Thoughts

When you are looking for a job, your resume is one of the most important tools you have. It is the summary of your qualifications for the job you’re applying for. That’s why you need to include certain information so that employers will know who you are and what you can do. 

We hope these tips have helped you understand what to include on your resume when applying for jobs. With a little effort, you can put together a great resume that will help you land the job of your dreams.

Further Reading:

How to impress your interviewer and get hired quickly.

Want to crack your next technical interview? Check out this blog for 5 most important tips.

Create free online resume with pre-defined templates

Free Resume Builder Tool