Guide to crafting tailored resumes for job positions, optimizing summaries, skills, experiences, and achievements to increase visibility and success in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
- ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems)
- Underline and Bold Words
- Where to Use Capital Letters
- Tailoring Your Resume
- Having Multiple Resumes
- Resume Length
ATS stands for Applicant Tracking Systems, which are software applications used by employers to manage and automate the hiring process. When submitting a resume, it's important to consider the following points regarding ATS:
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Automatic Rejection: ATS systems can automatically reject resumes that do not meet specific criteria or match the desired qualifications. Resumes are typically filtered and ranked based on keywords, qualifications, and other requirements set by the employer.
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Machine Readability: To optimize your resume for ATS, ensure that it is machine-readable. Use a PDF format when submitting your resume to maintain formatting and ensure that the content is accessible to the ATS.
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Recommended Websites: If you need assistance in creating a well-formatted resume, there are several websites you can consider. Here are two popular options:
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novoresume.com: Novoresume provides a user-friendly platform with pre-designed templates that are ATS-friendly. It offers customization options and allows you to export your resume in PDF format.
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overleaf.com: Overleaf is a collaborative LaTeX editor that allows you to create professional-looking resumes with LaTeX templates. LaTeX resumes are often favored by ATSs for their clean structure. You can export your resume from Overleaf as a PDF.
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Machine Readability Check: To ensure that your resume is machine-readable, you can use tools like resumeworded.com. It helps analyze and assess the readability of your resume by ATS. However, note that while resumeworded.com can provide insights, it may not be the best tool to assess overall resume quality or suggest improvements.
Remember, optimizing your resume for ATS is crucial to increase the chances of getting past the initial screening process. By ensuring machine readability, proper formatting, and keyword optimization, you can enhance your resume's chances of being selected by the ATS for further consideration by hiring managers.
Use capital letters for titles and names, such as "Software Engineer" or "John Smith." Avoid using all caps for important words within sentences. Instead, consider using underline or bold for emphasis. Be cautious not to overuse underline or bold formatting, as it can diminish their effectiveness. Maintain consistency in formatting choices for a professional appearance. Use underline sparingly to enhance your resume's presentation and draw attention to key details. Remember, the goal is to make your resume visually appealing and easy to read. Use underline and bold judiciously to strike the right balance and avoid making them ineffective.
When writing your resume, it's important to use capital letters appropriately. Follow these guidelines:
- Titles and Names: Capitalize the first letter of titles, such as "Software Engineer" or "Project Manager," and proper names, such as "John Smith" or "Google Inc."
- Important Words: Avoid using all capital letters for important words or phrases within sentences. Instead, consider using other formatting options like underline or bold to highlight essential information.
Developers can benefit from having multiple resumes when applying for different positions that require specific skill sets. If you are a full stack developer, it's recommended to have three separate resumes tailored to three different roles: front-end, back-end, and full stack.
Each resume should be customized to emphasize the relevant skills, technologies, and experience for the specific role you are targeting. This includes adjusting the summary section and skills section to highlight the most relevant qualifications and achievements.
By creating distinct resumes for each position, you can ensure that you present yourself as the ideal candidate for the specific job requirements. This approach allows you to showcase your expertise in a focused manner and increase your chances of getting noticed by recruiters.
Remember to carefully review and modify your summary and skills section for each resume, removing any non-relevant skills or experiences.
Tailoring your resume for each job position is a highly effective strategy that increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters and securing job interviews. Here are three key areas to focus on when tailoring your resume:
- Summary: Craft a summary section that aligns with the job description. Use placeholders to highlight the most relevant points from the job requirements. By customizing your summary, you can immediately capture the attention of recruiters and show them that you possess the key qualifications they are seeking.
Example: Results-driven software engineer with over 10 years of experience in full-stack development, specializing in [front-end technologies]. Proficient in [HTML], [CSS], and [JavaScript frameworks] such as [React.js] and [Angular]. Strong problem-solving abilities and a track record of delivering high-quality code [on time and within budget]. Passionate about creating [intuitive user interfaces] and optimizing [user experiences].
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Skills: Review the job description and identify the skills and qualifications that are specifically mentioned or highly valued by the employer. Adjust your skills section accordingly, adding, removing, or reordering skills to highlight those that are most relevant to the position. This demonstrates your suitability for the role and increases the likelihood of getting shortlisted.
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Job Experience: When describing your job experience, carefully analyze the job description to identify the most critical responsibilities and requirements. Tailor the bullet points in your job experience section by emphasizing the accomplishments and experiences that closely align with the job description. Consider rearranging the order of bullet points to showcase the most relevant experiences first, ensuring that your resume immediately demonstrates your fit for the role.
By tailoring your resume to each job position, you demonstrate a strong understanding of the employer's needs and present yourself as an ideal candidate. This personalized approach significantly increases your chances of getting selected for interviews and ultimately securing the desired job opportunities.
The ideal length of a resume depends on your experience level and the specific requirements of the job. However, as a general guideline:
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For entry-level positions or recent graduates, a one-page resume is usually sufficient to highlight relevant skills and education.
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For mid-level professionals with several years of experience, a two-page resume is commonly used to provide a comprehensive overview of skills, experience, and achievements.
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For senior-level or executive positions, a longer resume may be acceptable, but it should still be concise and focused on the most relevant information.
Remember, it's important to prioritize quality over quantity and ensure that every section of your resume adds value to your application.
Your LinkedIn profile should mirror your resume, serving as an online representation of your professional identity. Ensure that the information on your LinkedIn profile aligns with your resume, including your work experience, skills, and accomplishments. Keep your profile updated, engage with professional connections, and utilize LinkedIn's features to enhance your visibility and explore career opportunities.
Each resume has multiple parts:
- Head (including Summary/Objective)
- Skills
- Job Experience
- Interests
- Education (optional)
- Projects (optional)
- Awards/Achievements (optional)
Let's say your first name is "Mamad Reza" and your last name is "Gholipor Gol Mamadi". While it's not necessary to use your full name, it's often recommended to use a combination of one word from each name, such as "Mamad Gholipor". Another option is to use a given name for the first name, for example, "Mickle".
Remember, the goal is to present your name in a way that is easily recognizable and professional, ensuring it aligns with your personal preferences and the professional image you want to convey.
You should clearly present your professional title, such as "Front-End Developer", to accurately represent your expertise. It's important to be specific about your role to avoid confusion. For example, if you are applying for front-end development positions, it's better not to present yourself as a "Software Engineer".
Remember, you want to make it easy for recruiters or anyone reviewing your resume to quickly identify your profession without having to search for it within your skills section.
Include the following contact details in your resume:
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Email: Provide your professional email address, ideally using your full name (e.g., john.doe@example.com). Using a professional email address helps create a positive impression on potential employers.
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LinkedIn: Create a custom LinkedIn profile URL that includes your name (e.g., linkedin.com/in/johndoe). Customizing your LinkedIn URL adds a professional touch to your online presence. Refer to this document for instructions on how to customize your LinkedIn URL.
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Phone: Include your phone number, preferably with the country code (+XX) at the beginning. This ensures that potential employers from different regions can contact you easily.
Optional:
- GitHub: [Your GitHub Profile URL]
- Personal Website: [Your Personal Website URL]
- Portfolio: [Your Online Portfolio URL]
- Stack Overflow: [Your Stack Overflow Profile URL]
The summary section is a crucial part of your resume as it provides a concise overview of your professional profile. Pay attention to the following key points when crafting your summary:
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Indicate Total Years of Experience: Start your summary by mentioning your total years of experience in the relevant field. If you have over 5 years of experience, use the format "Results-driven software engineer with over [X] years of experience." For less than 5 years of experience, use the format "Results-driven software engineer with [+X] years of experience." This helps recruiters quickly gauge your level of expertise.
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Use Third-Person Grammar: Write your summary in the third person to maintain a professional tone throughout your resume.
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Highlight Priorities: Clearly state your priorities, emphasizing the key skills, expertise, and qualities that set you apart in your industry.
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Focus on Achievements: Highlight your significant accomplishments and contributions, showcasing tangible results whenever possible.
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Concise and Engaging: Keep your summary concise and engaging, using powerful language and dynamic descriptions to capture the attention of hiring managers.
Remember, the summary is your chance to make a strong first impression. Craft it carefully to highlight your unique value proposition and entice employers to delve further into your resume.
- Results-driven software engineer with over 6 years of experience in full-stack development. Proven track record of designing and implementing scalable solutions for complex business challenges. Skilled in JavaScript, Python, and modern frameworks. Collaborative team player with strong problem-solving abilities and a passion for creating efficient and user-friendly software applications.
- Results-driven software engineer with +3 years of experience in full-stack development. Proven track record of designing and implementing scalable solutions for complex business challenges. Skilled in JavaScript, Python, and modern frameworks. Collaborative team player with strong problem-solving abilities and a passion for creating efficient and user-friendly software applications.
Note: Customize the years of experience based on your actual experience and use the appropriate format as mentioned above.
The "Skills" section is often one of the key sections recruiters pay attention to. To make this section effective, keep the following points in mind:
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Be Specific: Avoid using generic skills like "Front-End Development" or "Programming". Instead, be specific and provide detailed skills relevant to the position you are applying for. For example, mention specific languages, frameworks, tools, methodologies, or domain-specific skills.
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Highlight Key Skills: Focus on the skills that are most important and sought after in your field. Research the job requirements and industry trends to identify the skills that will make your resume stand out.
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Prioritize Relevant Skills: Order your skills strategically, placing the most relevant and in-demand skills at the top. Consider the job requirements and industry trends to identify the skills that hiring managers are seeking for the position. Highlight skills such as JavaScript, TypeScript, React.js, etc., prominently to capture immediate attention.
Note: The skills section should be placed right after the head (summary/objective) section. This allows hiring managers to quickly assess your relevant skills and qualifications early in the resume, making a strong first impression.
Note: It's generally better not to include soft skills in the skills section. Soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and time management, are better showcased in the summary and work experience sections. Instead, focus on highlighting technical skills and specific expertise relevant to the job.
Good Example:
- JavaScript
- TypeScript
- React.js
- Redux
- HTML
- CSS
- Responsive Web Design
- Git
- Agile Methodologies
- RESTful APIs
Bad Example:
- Programming
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Time Management
- Docker
- HTML
- CSS
- Microsoft Office
- Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
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Position: Include the exact name of the position you held, such as "Senior Back-End Developer," to provide a clear understanding of your role and level of expertise.
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Company Name: Mention the name of the company or organization you worked for, highlighting the industry or sector if relevant.
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Dates: Specify the duration of your employment, including the start and end dates (or use "Present" if it is your current position) to provide a timeline of your experience. For example, "MM/YYYY - MM/YYYY." It's important to ensure that the dates of your job experiences do not conflict with each other. In case of conflicts or gaps in your resume, you can use the year format instead of the exact month and year.
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Company Description: Provide a brief description of the company or organization you worked for, focusing on its industry, size, and any notable accomplishments or specialties. This helps provide context for your role within the organization.
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Bullet Points Resume: List your key responsibilities, achievements, and contributions in bullet point format. Start each bullet point with an action verb and highlight measurable results or notable outcomes whenever possible. Quantify your achievements and use specific examples to showcase your impact and skills.
Remember, the job experience section is an essential part of your resume, allowing you to demonstrate your expertise, accomplishments, and contributions in previous roles.
When listing your responsibilities, achievements, and contributions in bullet point format, follow these guidelines:
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Use the
ed (past)format for the verbs to describe what you have done in each bullet point. For example, use "Developed," "Implemented," "Managed," etc., to indicate past actions. -
Each bullet point should consist of two parts:
- The first part describes what you have done, highlighting specific tasks or responsibilities.
- The second part indicates the impact or results of your actions, showcasing measurable outcomes or achievements.
- Example: Developed a responsive web application using React.js and Redux, improving user experience and reducing load time by 30%.
Prioritize your bullet points effectively. Place the most important and impactful bullet points at the beginning to capture the reader's attention. Start with the most relevant and significant achievements that align with the job requirements and highlight your expertise. By following a logical order and sorting your bullet points effectively, you can make a strong impression on hiring managers and showcase your capabilities.
Remember, bullet points provide an opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and the value you have brought to your previous roles. Focus on highlighting the specific actions you took and the measurable impact you made. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to provide tangible evidence of your contributions.
Additionally, ensure that your bullet points are clear and do not leave the hiring manager with unanswered questions. Avoid bullet points that prompt question marks or require further clarification, as they may create confusion or uncertainty. Be concise, yet descriptive, in your bullet points to provide a clear understanding of your responsibilities and achievements.
Good Example:
- Developed a responsive web application using React.js and Redux, improving user experience and reducing load time by 30%.
- Implemented automated testing strategies, resulting in a 50% reduction in software bugs and improving overall product quality.
- Led a cross-functional team of developers, designers, and QA analysts to successfully deliver a complex project within a tight deadline.
- Collaborated with clients to gather requirements and provided technical guidance, resulting in the successful completion of multiple projects.
- Optimized database queries and improved server response time by 40% through query optimization techniques.
Bad Example:
- Worked on web development projects.
- Participated in team meetings and provided input.
- Developed software solutions using various technologies.
- Managed project timelines and delivered tasks on time.
- Collaborated with colleagues on project-related activities.
The Interests section is an opportunity to showcase your personality and provide hiring managers with a glimpse into your life outside of the computer world. Including interests that are separate from your professional field helps to humanize you and can serve as a conversation starter during interviews.
Good Examples:
- Chess
- History
- Photography
- Hiking
- Cooking
Bad Examples:
- Computers
- Watching TV
- Sports
- Reading
- Traveling
Remember, the Interests section provides an opportunity to showcase your unique personality and interests beyond the computer world. By including diverse and engaging activities, you can pique the curiosity of hiring managers and create a connection beyond technical qualifications.
In the Education section, include the following three parts:
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Name of the Branch: Mention the specific field or branch of study you pursued during your education, such as Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Business Administration.
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University: Provide the name of the university or educational institution where you completed your degree.
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Year of Graduation: Specify the year when you graduated from your program.
Note: While education is an important aspect, it may not carry as much weight as your work experience or practical skills in the software engineering field. Employers often prioritize relevant experience, skills, and demonstrated abilities over formal education. However, including your educational background can still be beneficial, especially for recent graduates or if you have notable achievements or experiences during your studies.
Note: Place the Education section at the bottom of your resume, as it is generally considered less significant than other sections for software engineering roles.
In the Projects section, include the following four parts for each project:
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Name: Provide a concise and descriptive name for each project you want to showcase.
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Description: Write a brief description of the project, highlighting its purpose, technologies used, and any notable features or accomplishments.
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Link to the Repository/Website: Include a link to the project's repository on platforms like GitHub or a website where the project can be accessed or explored.
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Bullet Points: Use bullet points to highlight the key features, functionalities, and contributions you made to the project. Instead of focusing on specific tasks or responsibilities like in the Job Experience section, emphasize the unique aspects of the project and any notable achievements or outcomes.
Good Example:
- Implemented a responsive web application using React.js and Redux, resulting in improved user experience and increased engagement.
- Integrated a RESTful API into the project, allowing seamless data retrieval and updating for real-time functionality.
- Collaborated with a team of developers to refactor the codebase, improving code quality, maintainability, and scalability.
- Implemented automated testing strategies, resulting in enhanced reliability and reduced regression issues.
- Open-sourced the project on GitHub, gaining traction within the developer community and receiving positive feedback and contributions.
Bad Example:
- Worked on a web application project.
- Fixed bugs and added new features.
- Used various technologies for development.
- Attended team meetings and provided input.
- Deployed the project to a server.
Note: Open-source projects are highly regarded in the software engineering community. If you have contributed to or created any open-source projects, be sure to highlight them in this section. Open-source projects demonstrate your collaborative skills, willingness to learn, and ability to work with a larger development community.
Remember to choose projects that are relevant to the position you are applying for and showcase your skills and expertise in a particular area. Focus on the impact and value you brought to the project, highlighting the technologies used, challenges overcome, and any measurable results or achievements.
When it comes to open-source projects on GitHub, several factors contribute to a good project:
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Clear and Concise Documentation: A good open-source project should have well-documented instructions on how to set up the project, contribute to it, and use its features. Clear documentation helps new contributors understand the project quickly and encourages their active participation.
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Engaging and Fun Readme: Avoid a boring readme! A good open-source project should have an engaging readme that captures the attention of potential contributors. Consider using emojis, creative section headings, and a friendly tone to make the readme more inviting.
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Clean Instructions for Working and Developing: Provide clear and concise instructions on how to work with and develop the project. This includes setting up the development environment, running tests, and contributing code. Make it easy for contributors to get started and contribute effectively to the project.
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Dockerization (If Applicable): If the nature of the project allows, consider dockerizing the application. Dockerization simplifies the deployment and development process, making it easier for contributors to work with the project in different environments.
Remember, a good open-source project not only provides valuable functionality but also creates an inclusive and enjoyable experience for contributors. By following these guidelines, you can attract more contributors and foster an active and thriving open-source community around your project.
Good Examples:
- Developed a mobile application that reached 100,000 downloads within the first month of launch.
- Received the "Innovation Award" for implementing a novel machine learning algorithm that improved product recommendation accuracy by 30%.
- Led a cross-functional team to successfully deliver a complex project ahead of schedule, resulting in cost savings of $500,000.
Bad Examples:
- Won multiple coding competitions.
- Achieved top grades in college.
- Received Employee of the Month award.