RESUME WRITING FORMAT
How to create a resume using MSword
Step 1: Open MS Word and Create a New Document
1. Launch MS Word.
2. Click on File > New.
3. You can either:
o Select Blank Document to start from scratch.
o Search for "Resume" in the search bar to explore MS Word’s pre-designed resume templates.
Step 2: Choose a Template (Optional)
1. If you chose to search for a template:
o Scroll through the options and select a resume design that suits your style or industry.
o Click on the template and select Create.
2. If you are starting from a blank document, proceed to the next step to create the layout manually.
Step 3: Set Up the Page Layout
1. Margins: Go to the Layout tab, click Margins > Normal (1 inch on all sides).
2. Font: Choose a professional font like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman with a font size of 11 pt or 12 pt. This can be done from the Home tab in the Font group.
3. Line Spacing: Set your line spacing to single (Home tab > Paragraph group > Line Spacing > Single).
Step 4: Add Your Contact Information
1. At the top of the page, type your name in a larger font size (14–16 pt) and bold it.
2. Below your name, type your phone number, email address, and optionally, your physical address or LinkedIn profile.
o Example:
John Doe
(123) 456-7890 | john.doe@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johndoe
Step 5: Add a Resume Objective or Summary (Optional)
1. Below your contact information, type your Resume Objective or Summary. This is a 2–3 sentence statement that highlights your career goals or summarizes your qualifications.
o Example:
Objective:
Motivated marketing professional with 3+ years of experience in digital marketing strategies. Seeking to leverage my expertise in SEO, social media marketing, and content creation to drive engagement for XYZ Company.
Step 6: Add Your Work Experience
1. Title this section “Work Experience” or “Professional Experience”.
2. List your work experience starting with your most recent job. Use a reverse chronological order (most recent job first).
3. For each job, include:
o Job Title (bold)
o Company Name, Location, and Employment Dates (month and year)
o A brief description of your key responsibilities and achievements in bullet points.
o Example:
Marketing Manager
XYZ Corporation, City, State
January 2020 – Present
- Developed and implemented SEO strategies that increased website traffic by 35%.
- Managed a team of 5 in executing successful social media campaigns.
4. Use bullet points for clarity and aim to use action verbs (e.g., "managed," "developed," "led," "achieved").
Step 7: Add Your Education
1. Title this section “Education”.
2. List your educational background starting with your highest degree.
3. For each entry, include:
o Degree (e.g., Bachelor of Business Administration)
o School Name, Location, and Graduation Date (or expected date)
o If relevant, you can also include GPA, honors, or notable coursework.
o Example:
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
ABC University, City, State
Graduated: May 2020
GPA: 3.7/4.0
Step 8: Add Skills
1. Title this section “Skills” or “Core Competencies”.
2. List the technical and soft skills relevant to the job you are applying for.
o For example:
Skills:
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- SEO and Social Media Marketing
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Step 9: Add Certifications or Awards (Optional)
1. If you have relevant certifications, licenses, or awards, create a section titled “Certifications and Awards”.
2. List your certifications and awards with details such as the issuing body and the date you obtained them.
o Example:
Google Analytics Certification – Issued by Google, March 2023
Step 10: Add Additional Sections (Optional)
1. Depending on your experience and the job you're applying for, you may want to add other sections such as:
o Volunteer Experience: For community involvement or relevant volunteer work.
o Projects: If you have significant professional or academic projects to showcase.
o Languages: If you are fluent in multiple languages.
Step 11: Format the Resume
1. Use consistent formatting for headings, dates, and bullet points.
o Bold your section titles (e.g., "Work Experience," "Education").
o Use bullet points to list job duties and achievements.
o Align the dates of your work experience and education to the right.
2. Make sure the resume is neat, professional, and easy to read.
3. Use bold or italics sparingly to highlight important information.
Step 12: Proofread and Finalize
1. Proofread your resume carefully for spelling, grammar, and formatting errors.
2. Use MS Word’s spell check feature (go to the Review tab > Spelling & Grammar) to catch any mistakes.
3. Ensure that your resume is clear, concise, and professional.
Step 13: Save and Export the Resume
1. Save your resume by clicking File > Save As, then name your file appropriately (e.g., "John_Doe_Resume").
2. Save as PDF: To ensure that the formatting remains intact when you send the resume electronically, save it as a PDF (File > Save As > select PDF from the dropdown menu).
Sample Resume Layout:
John Doe (123) 456-7890 | john.doe@email.com | LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/johndoe **Objective** Motivated marketing professional with 3+ years of
experience in digital marketing strategies. Seeking to leverage my expertise
in SEO, social media marketing, and content creation to drive engagement for
XYZ Company. **Work Experience** Marketing Manager XYZ Corporation, City, State January 2020 – Present - Developed and implemented SEO strategies that
increased website traffic by 35%. - Managed a team of 5 in executing successful social
media campaigns. Digital Marketing Specialist ABC Inc., City, State June 2018 – December 2019 - Created and managed PPC campaigns that generated a
20% increase in leads. - Conducted market research to improve ad targeting. **Education** Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) ABC University, City, State Graduated: May 2020 GPA: 3.7/4.0 **Skills** - Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint) - SEO and Social Media Marketing - Excellent written and verbal communication skills **Certifications** Google Analytics Certification – Issued by Google,
March 2023 ….. |
Resume Format- 2
Step 1: Open MS Word and Start a New Document
1. Launch MS Word.
2. Click File > New to create a new document.
3. You can:
o Start from scratch using a Blank Document.
o Use a pre-designed resume template by searching "Resume" in the search bar. Select a template that fits your style, and click Create.
Step 2: Set Up Page Layout
1. Go to the Layout tab and set the Margins to Normal (1 inch on all sides).
2. Choose a professional font like Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman with a size of 11 pt or 12 pt for body text and 14–16 pt for your name.
3. Set the line spacing to single for a clean, uncluttered look (Home tab > Paragraph group > Line Spacing > Single).
Step 3: Add Your Contact Information
1. Center or left-align your name at the top of the document. Use a larger font size (14–16 pt) and bold it to make it stand out.
2. Below your name, type your phone number, email address, LinkedIn profile, and optionally your physical address.
o Example:
John Doe
(123) 456-7890 | john.doe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/johndoe
Step 4: Write a Strong Resume Summary or Objective
1. If you're a seasoned professional, write a Resume Summary (2–3 sentences that highlight your career accomplishments).
2. If you're a student or recent graduate, write a Resume Objective (1–2 sentences about your career goals and what you bring to the table).
o Example of a summary:
Results-driven marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in digital marketing strategies, SEO optimization, and social media management. Proven track record of increasing web traffic by 40% and enhancing brand visibility for mid-sized firms.
Step 5: List Your Work Experience (Reverse Chronological Order)
1. Title this section "Work Experience" or "Professional Experience".
2. List your job experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent job first).
3. For each job, include:
o Job Title (bold)
o Company Name, Location, and Employment Dates (month and year)
o Accomplishments and responsibilities written as bullet points. Use action verbs like "developed," "managed," or "achieved."
o Focus on quantifiable achievements (e.g., increased sales by 15%, led a team of 10, reduced costs by 20%).
o Example:
Senior Marketing Manager
XYZ Corporation, City, State
January 2020 – Present
- Led a team of 5 marketing professionals in the development and execution of online marketing campaigns, resulting in a 30% increase in website traffic.
- Developed and implemented SEO strategies that boosted search engine rankings, resulting in a 25% increase in organic traffic.
- Managed a $200K annual budget for paid advertising campaigns.
Step 6: Highlight Your Education
1. Title this section "Education".
2. List your highest degree first, followed by any other relevant academic qualifications.
3. Include:
o Degree (e.g., Bachelor of Business Administration)
o School Name, Location, and Graduation Date (or expected date).
o You may also list relevant honors, GPA (if above 3.5), and notable coursework or projects.
o Example:
Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA)
ABC University, City, State
Graduated: May 2020
GPA: 3.8/4.0, Dean's List (2018–2020)
Step 7: Include a Skills Section
1. Title this section "Skills" or "Core Competencies".
2. List hard skills (technical) and soft skills relevant to the job you're applying for. Use a bullet or column format to make them easily scannable.
o Examples of hard skills:
§ Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
§ SEO and SEM strategies
§ Data analysis (Google Analytics, Tableau)
§ Programming: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
o Examples of soft skills:
§ Leadership
§ Time management
§ Communication skills
Step 8: Add Certifications, Awards, or Honors (Optional)
1. Title this section "Certifications and Awards" (optional but recommended if relevant).
2. List any professional certifications (like Google Analytics Certification) or awards that demonstrate your skills.
3. Include the name of the certification, the issuing organization, and the date of certification or award.
o Example:
Google Analytics Certification – Issued by Google, March 2023
HubSpot Content Marketing Certified – Issued by HubSpot, April 2022
Step 9: Add Additional Sections (Optional)
Depending on your background and the role you're applying for, consider adding the following sections:
1. Volunteer Experience: If you've had significant involvement in any volunteer work.
o Example:
Volunteer Social Media Manager
Local Animal Shelter, City, State
January 2021 – Present
- Increased social media engagement by 50% by creating engaging content and fostering online communities.
2. Projects: Showcase any significant professional or academic projects that are relevant to the role.
3. Languages: If you're proficient in multiple languages, list them (e.g., Fluent in English and Spanish).
Step 10: Use Consistent Formatting
1. Bold section titles (e.g., "Work Experience", "Skills") and job titles.
2. Use bullet points for responsibilities and accomplishments.
3. Align dates to the right and keep formatting consistent across the entire resume.
Step 11: Proofread and Review
1. Proofread your resume for any typos, grammatical errors, or formatting issues. Use MS Word’s Spelling & Grammar checker (Review tab > Spelling & Grammar).
2. Consider asking a trusted friend, mentor, or colleague to review your resume.
3. Ensure clarity: Your resume should be concise, clear, and well-organized.
Step 12: Save and Export
1. Save your document by clicking File > Save As.
2. Name your resume file appropriately (e.g., "John_Doe_Resume").
3. Save as PDF: To ensure your resume retains its formatting when shared, save it as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF).
Pro Resume Tips
- Tailor your resume: Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting relevant skills and experiences that match the job description.
- Use action verbs: Start bullet points with powerful action words like "achieved," "managed," "led," or "improved."
- Quantify achievements: Wherever possible, provide specific numbers or percentages to back up your claims (e.g., "Increased sales by 15%" or "Managed a $50K budget").
Sample Resume Layout:
John Doe (123) 456-7890 | john.doe@email.com |
linkedin.com/in/johndoe **Summary** Results-driven marketing professional with 5+ years
of experience in digital marketing strategies, SEO optimization, and social
media management. Proven track record of increasing web traffic by 40% and
enhancing brand visibility for mid-sized firms. **Work Experience** Senior Marketing Manager XYZ Corporation, City, State January 2020 – Present - Led a team of 5 marketing professionals in the
development and execution of online marketing campaigns, resulting in a 30%
increase in website traffic. - Developed and implemented SEO strategies that
boosted search engine rankings, resulting in a 25% increase in organic
traffic. - Managed a $200K annual budget for paid advertising
campaigns. Marketing Specialist ABC Inc., City, State June 2017 – December 2019 - Created and managed paid search campaigns,
resulting in a 15% reduction in cost per lead. - Conducted comprehensive market research,
identifying key trends and customer needs. **Education** Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) ABC University, City, State Graduated: May 2020 GPA: 3.8/4.0, Dean's List (2018–2020) **Skills** - Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,
PowerPoint) - SEO and SEM strategies - Data analysis (Google Analytics, Tableau) - HTML, CSS, JavaScript **Certifications** Google Analytics Certification – Issued by Google,
March 2023 HubSpot Content Marketing Certified – Issued by
HubSpot, April 2022
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