Good resume examples: What good resumes look like

Throughout my career working in information technology, I've done a lot of hiring (and, unfortunately, firing). I've interviewed a ton of candidates and looked at countless resumes. Frankly, I was rarely impressed.

Fortunately for hiring managers (but bad for candidates), it's relatively easy to pick out the best resumes because there are so many bad ones. Really, really bad ones.

And with the sheer volume of resumes that most hiring managers look at, only a fraction get a second look. Remember that you won't be the only one applying for your next position. Far from it.

One of the most unexpected side effects of the pandemic is that it has created what is being referred to as a talent shortage. Corporations are struggling to fill open positions ranging from retail and food service all the way up to executive leadership roles. Hence, top CV writing to stand out as the perfect candidate is essential.

There are too many resumes that make you wonder if the candidate actually proof-read it at all. Or just spammed a bunch of companies instead with the same un-tailored piece of junk in the hopes that something will hit.

Over the years, I've become accustomed to the red flags that give hiring managers instant pause, and over time, we've learned to pick them out of resumes almost instantly.

Did you know that, according to Career Builder, 75% of hiring managers have caught a lie on a resume? Or that 4 in 10 managers spend less than a minute reviewing each resume they get? Yes, less than 60 seconds!

You need to set yourself apart by avoiding those red flags that will instantly send your resume into the circular repository.

Resume red flags include:

Typographical errors
Resume is much too long (or short) for the position; try not to make your resume longer than two pages or shorter than one full page
Gaps in employment or education
Lack of attention to detail (missing words, cut and paste error, etc)
Failure to follow directions on the application
Outright lies or inconsistencies

But, good resumes definitely exist.

Resumes that are tailored to the position do the best and, of course, those that are free of errors or strange omissions or gaps are most likely to get a call back.

Good resumes, first and foremost, are tailored to the position and follow any specific directions outlined in the job requisition.

In general, the best resumes include:

Your full name and current position
Personal contact information
A professional-sounding email address (ie: [email protected] is not professional, nor will it get you your next job)
Education and work history (including specific accomplishments or achievements with each
List of specific skills (technical, managerial, etc); for example, MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, GMail Office Suite, etc
Hobbies (optional depending on the position, but this helps the hiring manager know more about YOU as a person)
References (or a mention that references are available upon request)

The anatomy of good resumes

The resumes that stood out at me during my career were always those that were clearly designed (tailored) specifically for the job for which we were hiring). If the job was for a project manager, the objective clearly outlined the candidate's managerial skills and accomplishments.

Your resume should include:

A cover leter

Some job requisitions require a cover letter, but even those that don't, include one. In fact, nearly 10% of hiring managers will disregard resumes outright if they don't include a cover letter. It will also help set you apart from the pack when the job req doesn't require one.

Here is an example of a cover letter from Top Resume:

Your name and contact details

Don't make it tough for the hiring manager to contact you or figure out, you know, who you are. Make this information clear and direct - usually at the very top.

Your reason for applying/objective

I always like to read objectives, even if there's a cover letter included as well. It gives me an indication of why this person is applying for the job and a general feel for where he or she is going. Remember, your objective should be tailored to the position.

Education and Work history

Naturally, you'll need to include education and work history. Place the most impactful parts higher up on the resume.

If you're just starting your career, consider putting education first because that's what will sell your resume. After a long career, your education probably isn't as important, so move that down below your work history.

Be sure to highlight any awards or graduation niceties (like graduating "Summa Cum Laude", etc) in your education history, if applicable.

Skills and Strengths

List your top skills and strengths that relate specifically to the job. For extra credit, include how confident you are about each skill (examples of this are provided below).

References

These are people who will vouch for you. If you are uncomfortable putting references directly on your resume, state that they are available upon request.