A well-presented resume is vital in the search for a new job. It won't get you the job on its own, but it can make the difference between receiving an invitation to an interview or not. Your resume will be one of many and, because of this, decision makers will only give it a small amount of their time, so it is essential to include your differentiators in a clear and accessible way for the reviewer. 

A resume can be presented in different ways and there is no one right way to present it, but the following tips are sure to help you create an attractive, clear and concise resume, increasing your chances of being invited for an interview.

An effective resume should focus the reader's attention on the criteria you are looking for, highlighting important information that can be easily accessed and interpreted. Try to visualize what the employer is looking for and present evidence that your experience is a match. Good resumes are clear, concise and to the point, with short, direct sentences. It is best to omit words such as "I," "among others," and "etc." as much as possible, making each sentence as meaningful as possible.

When putting together your resume, keep in mind that in an interview you will be asked to develop and justify certain skills and accomplishments, so you should always be honest, accurate and not exaggerate. Correct spelling, punctuation and grammar are vital, as well as a simple, neat and accurate layout.

Structure and presentation

First impressions are crucial. Each section of your resume should have a clear heading for each section, ensuring a clean, organized document that is pleasant to read, which reduces the risk of an employer giving up. Your skills, experience and achievements should be set out logically, detailing all key points. Dates should be included where appropriate and placed in reverse chronological order, i.e., last job first, going backwards to your first job. Two to three pages is the standard length of a good resume. Resumes longer than four pages are almost always instantly discarded. For your resume, use a standard font size and typeface. Using bold or different sized fonts can highlight important information and point the reader to relevant areas. All text should fit completely, so that paragraphs look neat and tidy, and there should be a balance between text and space. 


1. Personal Information

- Full Name 
- Date of Birth 
- Address
- Contact Phone Number
- E-mail address
- It is not recommended to include a personal photo. 


2.    Excerpt

Although it is not a crucial factor, you can optionally include a short excerpt summarizing in a brief paragraph what the reader will be able to review in detail in your resume. If you include an excerpt, mention your relevant undergraduate and graduate education, your years of work experience, the main areas and industries in which you have worked, and your areas of interest. It is not necessary to include in this section an extensive detail of your experiences and achievements, as well as domains of specific work tools you have mastered. 


3.    Work Experience

For the work experience section, detail the dates of each company you have worked for, including the months in which you started and ended. Detail all the positions you have held at each company. It is essential that what you include is relevant and concise, using bullet points to make it easier to read. Make it clear what your contribution was using positive language and include your responsibilities and accomplishments. Back up as much as possible with quantifiable data to make your skills tangible.

 
4.    Academic Background

In this section, include all your undergraduate and graduate education in reverse order from most recent to earliest, including start and end dates. If applicable, include awards, scholarships or distinctions of academic excellence that highlight your skills and achievements.   


5.    Courses and Further Training

It is advisable to add a section of other studies you have taken or certificates you have obtained and that you consider relevant to highlight your academic improvement, whether they are: courses, seminars, licenses, certificates and academic exchanges, among others. 


6.    Software and Language Proficiency 

It is important to add a section detailing your skills and experience using various computer tools and management software. Be sure to include all the tools and the level of expertise you have in them, which you consider relevant to the positions and areas of interest. At the same time, it is important to add the different languages you are fluent in. Specify both your native language and the levels of expertise of the different languages you master. If you have language certifications, include them in this section. 


7.    Activities and Interests

This section should be brief and include information such as memberships and positions of responsibility, whether in sports teams, societies, or community service, among others. All information included should have a purpose, show relevant skills and say something about your interest.


Labor References

It is not necessary to include references on your resume. Recruitment consultants and potential employers will ask you for recommendations only when they need them, at an advanced stage of an eventual hiring process. 

Salary Claims 

It is not advisable to include your salary expectations in your resume, as this should not be a crucial factor in a first review. It is possible that your salary expectations depend on both your interest and the responsibility that different positions you are applying for may have, so it is advisable to leave this conversation for once a contact is established for a potential job opportunity.