False starts, knuckle-cracking, hair-pulling, and groaning are no way to spend an afternoon. Learn how to start a resume so you feel good, finish fast, and land the interview.
Here’s a quick rundown of how to start a resume. Why is knowing how to begin a resume so forehead-sweating tough?
Because it’s so important. It’s your dream job. It’s your ticket to a better life.
You can’t botch it.
That’s why you fill your trash can with false-starts. It’s why you pulled out half your hair. Take heart. You’re just starting in the wrong place. Let’s make it easy.
In this guide:
A step-by-step process for how to start a resume for a job.
How to begin a resume so you get it done fast.
How to start writing a resume in the middle so there’s zero stress.
How to start off a resume so employers notice you.
I had an interview yesterday and the first thing they said on the phone was: “Wow! I love your resume.” Patrick
I love the variety of templates. Good job guys, keep up the good work! Dylan
My previous resume was really weak and I used to spend hours adjusting it in Word. Now, I can introduce any changes within minutes. Absolutely wonderful! George
The combination resume format starts with skills. It works for career-changers, high-level professionals, and job-hunters with employment gaps.
The functional resume format is heavy on skills but light on work history. That sounds good for employment gaps, but employers despise it.
Expert Hint: Know why most resumes get trashed? Typos! When you start your resume, plan to have a friend proofread it so you can zap the spelling errors.
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3. Start with Your Resume Experience Section
Start your resume with experience.
Why?
Because it’s the most important part. It’s the resume section that will get you hired—or ignored.
How to Start Your Resume if You Have Experience
List your last job first. Add city & state, dates, and a bullet-list of achievements to impress the hiring team.
Let’s say the job ad wants skills in front-end development, HTML5, collaboration, training, prototyping.
Front-End Developer Job Description for Resume [Sample]
See that?
You used the skills in the ad, plus results you earned.
How to Start Your Resume if You Lack Experience?
If you lack experience in the job you’re applying for, list relevant accomplishments from “unrelated” jobs.
If you’ve got zero experience, start your resume with the education section.
Employers care about your schooling. But not the way you think. Go back to the job ad. What education requirements does it list? Put those in your resume.
Include:
School Name
Degree
Attendance Dates
Add bullet points with classes you excelled in, honors, and projects. Include your GPA if it’s high or recent.
Those extras could be the one detail that makes employers notice you.
Expert Hint: Does your resume need every qualification in the job ad? Not according to a survey of 2,000 hiring managers. Meeting 3 out of 5 “must haves” is often plenty.
5. Finish Your Resume with “Other” Sections
Let’s make the hiring team say, “Wow!”
Do it with a couple added sections in your resume.
Skills Section
Your skills section will be short and sweet. Don’t kitchen-sink it with every skill in the book.
Bonus Sections
What else should you list in your resume? That depends on your achievements. You could list volunteer work, interests, certifications, foreign languages, or other sections.
Expert Hint: Start your resume before you write it, by creating a professional email address. 35% of hiring managers say an unprofessional address is a mistake.
7. Write a Cover Letter to Boost Your Odds of Getting Hired
Does anyone write cover letters anymore?
Only if they want the job.
Most recruiters won’t read them.
But almost half won’t read your resume without one.
Your goal? To make them pay attention to your resume.
Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.
Key Points
Here’s how to start a resume:
Start with the job posting. It’s the blueprint for your resume.
Choose the perfect format. For most people, that’s the reverse-chronological resume format. It puts your last job first.
Write your experience section first. Show the big achievements that would look good in the new job.
Add your education section, then some bonus sections. Write your resume heading statement last.
Got questions about how to start a resume so it doesn’t take a year? Need more advice on how to begin a resume? Shoot us a note in the comments. We’ll be happy to reply!
About ResumeLab’s Editorial Process
At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members.
His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.
Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.