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How to create a professional resume template

How to write a resume

Learn the difference between a resume and a CV as you discover how to create an effective CV that grabs recruiters’ attention and boosts your chances in the job market.

  • Understand the purpose of a resume

    A resume provides an overview of your professional background, skills, and achievements.

    Its goal is to show employers why you’re the right fit for the job you’re applying for.

    Customise your resume for each job application to highlight the most relevant information.

  • Choose the appropriate resume format

    Pick the resume format that best showcases your experience and skills for the job you want.

    Depending on your work history, career level, and job requirements, you can choose a chronological resume or a skills-based one.

  • Organise your contact information

    Include your name, address (or at least the city of residence), phone number, email, at the top of your resume.

    Make it easy for employers to contact you by making sure your contact details are easy to find on your document.

  • Write a compelling professional summary or personal statement

    Craft a short, impactful personal statement at the beginning of your resume.

    Summarise your experience, skills, and career goals.

    Tailor it to the specific job you’re applying for.

  • Present your work history

    List your work experience in reverse chronological order, meaning start with your most recent experience.

    Include your job title, company name, location, and dates of employment.

    Below this, use bullet points to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in each role.

  • Showcase your skills

    Use a separate section to highlight your skills, including both hard skills (technical abilities) and soft, transferable skills, like problem-solving or communication.

    Include skills relevant to the job description to show you’re a good match.

  • Include your education

    List your education, including degrees, and certifications. If you’re writing a skills-based resume, you can also include any relevant coursework.

    Include the name of the institution, degree earned, and graduation date.

    Highlight any academic achievements or honours.

  • Optionally, you can add an additional information section

    Consider adding extra sections like certifications, awards, or volunteer work.

    Include only information that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for.

    These sections can help you stand out and show your unique qualifications.

  • Proofread and edit

    Proofreading your resume is essential to ensure professionalism, make a positive first impression, and communicate your qualifications clearly and accurately. It helps to avoid errors in spelling, grammar, and formatting, which can impact credibility and hinder job prospects. By investing time in proofreading, you demonstrate attention to detail and commitment to presenting yourself effectively to potential employers.

  • Customise for each job application

    Instead of sending a generic resume to every suitable job offer, tailor your resume for each position by highlighting the most relevant experience and skills. Use keywords from the job description to navigate past automated resume scanners, ensuring your resume directly addresses the requirements specified by the employer.

Create my resume

Example resume

Now let’s combine all these steps into one comprehensive example of a resume template.

Mary James

4 Covington Close
London WC24TF
987654321
mary.james@example.com

Personal statement

Customer-oriented Store Manager offering over 5+ years of experience in retail operations, sales and service team leadership and profitability strategies. Organised and adept at prioritising daily tasks and following through to achieve performance and productivity goals.

Employment history

February 2023 – Current
Aspire – London
Store Manager

  • Understood what drives overall business success and prioritised and delivered quality results.
  • Optimised store performance through continuous evaluation of existing processes and identifying improvement opportunities.
  • Solicited customer feedback to understand customer needs and constantly improve product offerings.

January 2020 – January 2023
Beauties – London
Assistant Store Manager

  • Improved store ability to meet and exceed customer expectations, through careful trend and stock monitoring.
  • Stocked and restocked inventory upon delivery receipt, maintaining accurate supply records.
  • Oversaw daily store cleaning and general store maintenance to keep high company standards.

Skills

Leadership
Time management
Problem-solving
Retail sales
Hiring and training
Employee training
Shift checklists
Customer service
Retail inventory management
Outstanding communication skills
Merchandise planning
Store management

Education

2018
London University
Bachelor of Business Administration

Additional information

  • Member of the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and actively participates in industry conferences and workshops to stay updated on retail trends, best practices, and regulatory changes affecting store operations in the UK.
  • Completed Retail Management Certification (Level 5) from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), enhancing leadership and operational skills essential for effective store management.

Professional resume examples and samples

SEARCH ALL CV EXAMPLES

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    What is a resume and how to tailor it to your profile

    A resume, known in the UK as a curriculum vitae (CV), is a document that summarises a candidate’s education, work experience, skills, achievements and qualifications.

    It serves as a summary of a candidate’s professional profile and capabilities.

    In the UK, a curriculum vitae usually follows a reverse chronological format, with the duties of each job listed (sometimes known as a combination format).

    A standard resume begins with personal details, featuring name, and contact information. This is followed by a brief personal statement or career objective. Next are sections on education, work experience, skills and, optionally, additional information such as certificates or interests.

    References are usually provided upon request and not included in the resume itself.

    Resume for the US job market

    Create my resumeresume template

    Resumes in the United States are concise documents, often limited to one or two pages, highlighting a candidate’s most relevant skills and experiences for a given position.

    They follow a reverse chronological format, starting with the most recent work experience and moving backwards.

    A summary or objective statement at the beginning of the document helps to provide a quick overview of the candidate’s career goals and qualifications. Sections typically include education, work experience, skills and additional information such as certifications or volunteering.

    Resume for the Canadian job market

    Create my resumeresume

    As in the US, Canadian CVs are tailored to the position you are applying for and focus on showcasing relevant skills and achievements. They also follow a reverse chronological format, but may vary in length, typically covering one to three pages. Canadian CVs typically include personal details, a career objective or summary, education, work experience, skills and additional sections such as certifications or language skills. Their purpose is to provide a comprehensive overview of the candidate’s suitability for the role.

    Resume for the Indian job market

    Create my resumeresume
    resume template

    In India, CVs are commonly referred to as curriculum vitae (CV) and tend to be more comprehensive, often covering several pages.

    They provide detailed information about the candidate’s background and achievements. Indian resumes usually include personal details, a career objective or summary, educational qualifications, work experience, skills and additional sections such as projects undertaken, as well as publications or references.

    It is also common to include a passport photo and details of personal interests or hobbies.

    Additionally, Indian CVs may specify that references are available upon request.

    Universal resume template

    Each country and industry has its own specific requirements and standards. This is why there is no one-size-fits-all resume template that is accepted worldwide.

    However, there are some common elements and formatting guidelines that can be easily adapted to different regions and industries.

    Here are some key aspects of creating a globally accepted resume template:

    Create my ResumeCreate my Resume

    • Clear and easy-to-read design

      Make sure your resume is easy to read and has clear, easy-to-locate headings, and bullet points. This helps recruiters to quickly scan your information.

    • Tailored content

      Customise your resume for each job you apply to by highlighting the most relevant skills and experiences. This shows employers that you’re a good fit for their specific needs.

    • Professional look

      Keep your resume polished and professional with consistent formatting. Pay attention to details like spacing and alignment to make a positive impression. Clearly display your information, don’t be afraid of using space to your advantage.

    • Contact information

      Include your name, phone number, and email address at the top of your resume. This makes it easy for recruiters to reach out to you.

    • Education and work experience

      List your education and work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. Provide brief descriptions of your roles and accomplishments.

    • Skills

      Highlight your key skills and achievements relevant to the job you’re applying for. Focus on quantifiable results to stand out from other candidates. Include both hard and soft skills.

    • Additional information

      Consider adding sections like certifications, languages, volunteer experience, or professional memberships if they’re relevant to the position you’re seeking.

    • Concise length

      Aim to keep your resume concise, typically no longer than two pages. This ensures that recruiters can quickly grasp your qualifications and experience.

    Create my CV

    Advantages of using our online Resume builder:

    • User-friendly interface

      myPerfectCV platform offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface, allowing you to create a professional resume quickly and efficiently, even if you’re not tech-savvy.

    • Customisable templates

      Our resume builder comes with a wide range of professionally designed templates tailored to different industries and job roles. You can easily customise these templates to match your personal style and preferences.

    • Time-saving

      Our online resume builder takes away the hassle of formatting and layout design. All ou have to do is input your information into the template by filling out an intuitive and easy-to-follow form, and our platform will handle the rest, saving you valuable time.

    • Expert guidance

      Our resume builder provides expert advice, suggestions for resume content, and examples to assist you in creating a captivating resume that effectively showcases your skills and experience. Additionally, you can utilise our pre-written content to swiftly complete your resume writing.

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    Frequently asked questions about resumes

    What is the UK resume template?

    In the UK, a resume is commonly referred to as a curriculum vitae (CV). The UK CV template typically follows a reverse chronological format, listing education, work experience, skills, and additional sections such as certifications or interests. It’s important to tailor your UK CV to the specific job you’re applying for and highlight relevant qualifications and experiences.

    Is a resume the same as a CV?

    Although “resume” and “CV” are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between them based on where you are. In the US, what’s called a “resume” is similar to what’s known as a “CV” in the UK. Additionally, in academic settings, there’s a more detailed version called an “academic CV”.

    What is an ATS resume?

    ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, which is software used by employers to manage and streamline the recruitment process.

    An ATS resume is a resume that is formatted and optimised to be easily read and parsed by ATS software. To create an ATS-friendly resume, use standard fonts, avoid complex formatting, and include relevant keywords from the job description to increase your chances of passing through the ATS screening process.

    How to write a resume?

    Writing an effective resume involves several key steps:

    1. Understanding the purpose: Know that a resume is a summary of your professional background, skills, and achievements, tailored to showcase why you’re the right fit for the job.
    2. Choosing the appropriate format: Decide whether a chronological or skills-based format best suits your experience and the job you’re applying for.
    3. Organising your information: Include your contact details, a professional summary, work experience, education, skills, and additional relevant sections.
    4. Customising for each application: Tailor your resume to match the job description, highlighting the most relevant qualifications and experiences.
    5. Proofreading and editing: Review your resume carefully to ensure accuracy, clarity, and professionalism, avoiding errors in spelling, grammar, or formatting.

    Key takeaways

    Crafting a compelling resume is essential for anyone seeking to advance their career. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

    • Creating a standout resume involves tailoring it to the specific requirements of each job application. Highlight relevant skills and experiences, and customise the format to match the preferences of the targeted industry or region.

    • A well-designed and professionally presented resume is crucial. Use clear headings, concise language, and consistent formatting to ensure readability and make a positive impression on recruiters.

    • Writing an effective resume is an ongoing process. Regularly update and refine your resume to reflect new skills, experiences, and achievements, and stay informed about industry trends and best practices to maintain its relevance and effectiveness.

    Create my Resume

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