How to create the perfect resume format?

The first step when you are looking for a job is to submit your resume to companies. Whether a company offers you the chance for an interview depends on the impression your resume leaves on them. Therefore, you must keep in mind that to get a perfect job, you must work on your resume writing skills. It is common to see candidates make certain mistakes, especially when it comes to formatting.

In this article, you will see all the information you need to know about the different formats to write a resume. In addition, we will provide you with some advice and recommendations for your resume writing.

1. What is resume?
2. Why is it important to present a good resume?
3. What are the different types of resume writing formats?
4. When is it right to use each format?
5. What elements should you include in your resume writing?
6. Some extra recommendations for you to do the best resume writing in 2022
7. Upload your CV to The Talent Point and apply for the best jobs in the Middle East

1. What is a resume?

A resume is a summary of your education, work experience, and professional skills. Information about yourself considered important to know can also be included in it. It is also key to write it in a simple way to understand and with only the most relevant information about you. Preferably, it should contain details related to the position you are applying for.

The resume is the candidate’s way of showing employers the skills they have for the role. Recruiters look forward to selecting a great resume that stands out from all the applicants when they post a job opening. This means that having a poorly structured resume can mean not obtaining the job.

Resumes must be constantly updated, either by adding more recent information or by modifying it to highlight relevant skills and education for a particular position. A professional resume writing is considered crucial in the labor market; it can help the recruiter determine how professional a candidate appears to be for the role.

In this way, when you are writing your resume, keep in mind which skills you want to highlight and leave out the ones that are irrelevant for the position. Keep your resume short and precise.

This presentation document can be in physical or digital format, depending on the requirement of the company in which you apply. However, you should know that format does not have much relevance when companies choose candidates. Having this in mind, note that a digital format is preferable as it is easier to modify its content at any time.

2. Why is it important to present a good resume?

Being the first impression a candidate can leave, it must be of outstanding quality. A good resume can be the key to getting a job, but a poorly-made one can mean you may not even receive a response. Therefore, this marks the difference between landing a job and sending unsuccessful applications over and over.

Companies choose candidates based on the skills and experience they display on their resume. For this reason, you must demonstrate that you are the most suitable for the job with a concise resume writing.

Many believe that having the skills and experience necessary for their job search is enough to land an interview. However, a resume filled with irrelevant information and mistakes is likely to be quickly rejected by recruiters; sometimes even without fully reading the information in it.

You should note that larger companies even have staff solely dedicated to detecting this type of resume. This is with the intention of filtering good quality applications and saving time invested on job interviews.

The importance of a good resume writing lies in the fact that they are -almost- a letter of introduction. Showing companies how useful your skills can be to the company, and also a brief demonstration of your professionalism. If you would like to receive our help with your resume writing, check out our resume writing packages. On the other hand, our job packages can be of great help to boost your job hunt.

3. What are the different types of resume writing formats?

Depending on your career, there are different types of resume writing formats. Below, you will see a brief description of each of them, so you can choose the one that best suits you.

3.1 Chronological resume format

This resume format is the most common one. It consists of placing all your work experience in chronological order, as its name says. Generally, this type of resume writing is highly recommended for professionals with a long career. It allows them to keep their entire professional path detailed in order, preventing the employer from getting lost when reading it.

3.2 Functional resume format

In this type of resume format, the applicant’s skills and abilities are a priority. Unlike the previous format, your entire career is not as relevant. In contrast, you must emphasize what you are capable of doing. If you have the right skills for the position, but your education does not match the field in which you intend to work, this format is right for you.

3.3 Hybrid or combination resume format

Now that you know the previous structures, it may be easier for you to understand this format. On a hybrid resume, you can include your skills and abilities along with your work experience. ​Design and arts professionals are the most common users of this type of resume.

4. When is it right to use each resume format?

As we briefly mentioned above, each type of resume is intended for a specific purpose. Now, let us define those situations and when to use each one of them.

4.1 Using a chronological resume writing format

Sorting information in chronological order is useful and practical for almost every purpose. If you are a recent college graduate with numerous academic achievements, feel free to use this format on your resume writing. It will help you organize all your academical achievements to catch the employer’s attention.

On the other hand, if you already have extensive work experience, a good resume writing tip is to also use this format. And if you have been working in the same area for many years, it is equally useful to use this model. In this way, you will be able to show your future employer all the positions you have held in the different companies.

4.2 Using a functional resume writing format

A functional resume format is more recommended for candidates with little experience. This does not only include work experience but also academical achievements. The reason why it is better for them is that it allows them to highlight their skills and abilities -which they did not necessarily acquire by attending college or working for a similar company- making it possible for recruiters to quickly check if the applicant can be helpful for the company. 

If you have not worked or practiced for a long time, use this format for your resume. In this type of resume writing, your skills are highlighted while drawing attention away from your experience and education. With this, you can even prevent certain uncomfortable questions at the time of the interview.

4.3 Using a hybrid or combination resume writing format

As we explained, this resume writing format contains both work experience, education and skills. However, you do not need to highlight every single skill, achievement, or experience. Instead, keep the most relevant aspects about each one of them without necessarily sorting them chronologically.

This model is also very useful if you want to describe the mentioned aspects with equal importance.

5. What elements should you include in your resume writing?

Now, since you already have the necessary information about the types of formats for your resume, it is time to write it. Next, you will see the most important elements that every good CV must have in the proper order.

5.1 Personal data

No matter what format you choose, personal data should always be included. This is important because it is the company’s way of contacting you and differentiating you from other candidates. This includes your first and last name, email, phone number, and mailing address.

5.2 A brief description of yourself

Offer a brief description of who you are. This description can be seen as a small introduction to the rest of the content. It should not be too long, try to be under 300 words to prioritize other important things. It is crucial that when writing this, you are completely objective. 

5.3 Education

This is one of the key points of any good CV, since it is one of the most important elements for any company. Mainly, you must include university studies, postgraduate studies, and additional courses that are of interest to the position.

5.4 Work experience

For many companies, this is the most important thing to consider when recruiting staff. If you are one of those people who have gone through many jobs and have extensive work experience; Write only the positions that have been related to the job you are applying for. As with academic training, the type of format you choose will tell you how far to go.

5.5 Other aspects

To finalize your best CV, write about skills that every company will be interested in. For example, languages ​​or computer skills. Include all the languages ​​you speak, and if possible, include where you received that training. Regarding computer skills, write about applications useful in the workplace that you know how to use.

6. Some extra recommendations for you to do the best resume writing in 2022

Once you have defined the perfect resume format for your circumstances; it is good that you know some things, so you can have the best resume writing in the UAE. Now, you will find some resume writing tips to achieve the goal.

• The writing should be clear and concise. Avoid giving irrelevant information that will make recruiters pass on to the next CV.
• To have a professional resume, you must pay attention to the photograph you choose to include. It should be recent, and you must look your best. Preferably, use a white background.
• You must express the content of your resume in a positive and sincere way. Do not exaggerate on any of the aspects; this could lead recruiters to instantly assume you are lying.
• You must be very careful with grammar and spelling. You can instantly lose a job offer because of this bad impression.
• The resume should not be too extensive. It does not matter how much experience you have or your many skills; if you use more than two pages, they may not read it in its entirety.
• Pay attention to the font you use. This can make it more or less readable.

7. Upload your CV to The Talent Point and apply for the best jobs in the Middle East

Knowing everything important about writing a good CV and the different formats available, you are now ready to write yours. Get a job in the Middle East with the best resume writing and show recruiters that you are their best option. If you need professional help to get that dream job, you can count on the team of The Talent Point.

Our platform is actively connecting hundreds of professionals with recruiters from diverse countries and cultures. In this way, potential employers and candidates can easily register and get started.

Additionally, we offer jobseekers the resources and tools they need to thrive in the current competitive labor market. For example, with our motivation tips and career advice, we aim to encourage professionals to finally land the perfect position they were looking for.

Would you like to discover all the job opportunities available in the Middle East for professionals like you? Send an email to [email protected] and our team will offer you an answer for any question you may have. Call us at +971 43 316 688 for quick inquiries! Our representatives are more than glad to assist you in this journey. Contact us!