What Your Resume Should Look Like

Crafting an impressive resume in today’s competitive job market is crucial to landing your next dream job. And to stand out from the crowd, it is essential to know what your resume should look like and showcase your skills effectively as recruiters look for specific skills that align with the job requirements. 

As the world advances and with the current upgrade in career choices, employers now want to go for the best candidates with a mix of both the hard skills and the soft skills. 

They want to see beyond the hard skills your work experience presents. 

So, your resume should also accommodate the soft skills that are relevant to your responsibilities base on the job requirement. 

Your resume is that crucial document that employers often require during the application process.

And it’s valuable to familiarize yourself with the guidelines and understand the key elements to maximize its impact.

As much as it is easy and not far-fetched to be able to list your hard skills, most times knowing the soft skills to put in your resume may be daunting. 

However, this is not to say it’s really a hard task. 

All it requires is knowing what other qualities you possess, what your resume should look like, and what will be a plus in delivering your responsibilities for the role applied for. 

So, let’s explore some of these top skills that can significantly enhance your resume and increase your chances of landing the job you dream of.

Ready? Let’s get started!

What Your Resume Should Look Like in 2023

Here’s a typical example of what your resume should look like:

And if you are in doubt of what a resume is, here’s a detailed explanation to it:

What is a Resume?

A resume is an official document that showcases a person’s work history and skills. Job seekers use it to apply for new positions, while hiring managers collect resumes from various sources.

Resumes typically include details on work experience, education, a professional summary, and a skillset.

Having known what a resume is and its purpose from that video if you have watched it, let’s get right on to the skills you need to have in your resume to stand out amongst your peers and land your dream job.

What to Include in a Resume

Here are some specific sections that must be included in your resume:

Contact Information: Your full name, phone number, email address, and optionally, your LinkedIn profile or personal website.

Professional Summary or Objective: A brief, impactful statement that highlights your career goals and what you can offer to an employer.

Work Experience: A chronological list of your relevant job positions, including job titles, company names, dates of employment, and concise descriptions of your responsibilities and achievements.

Education: Details of your educational background, including the names of institutions, degrees obtained, graduation dates, and any relevant honors or certifications.

Skills: A section that highlights your key abilities, such as technical skills, languages, software proficiency, or other competencies relevant to the job.

15 Key Skills to Put in Your Resume to Land Your Dream Job

Here are a few skills to guide you to know what your resume should look like and what should be included to land your next digital marketing job:

#1 Communication Skills

Strong communication skills are essential in almost every profession. 

It is your ability to convey ideas clearly, both verbally and in writing. It involves listening, talking, and feeling sometimes. 

They are part of those skills a recruiter is on the lookout for and trust me, you don’t want to leave that out in your resume. 

Ensure to mention any experience with public speaking, presentations, or collaboration with diverse teams.

#2 Leadership Skills

Employers value individuals who can take charge and guide others towards achieving common goals. 

And it is required for both team members and those in top management positions. 

Your employer wants to know what your disposition would be towards situations that demand you act as a leader, they need to know what your response will be at those times and how you will tackle those situations.

And your resume is one of your chances to let them know that you have the skill.

Showcase your leadership skills by describing situations where you successfully led a team, managed projects, or demonstrated initiative.

#3 Problem-Solving Skills

Employers seek candidates who can identify, analyse, and resolve complex issues efficiently. 

They need to see that you can identify the root of a problem and think of the best possible solutions to them and act upon them efficiently.

Ensure to demonstrate your problem-solving skills by discussing challenges you faced and the strategies you employed to overcome them.

#4 Adaptability Skills

In today’s fast-paced work environment, adaptability is crucial. How easily can you adjust to changing situations? How well can you do when situations demand more than you prior bargained for?

To let your employers know you possess this skill, you can talk about your ability to quickly adjust to changing circumstances, learn new technologies, and work well under pressure.

#5 Teamwork and Collaboration Skills

Employers value individuals who can work effectively as part of a team. 

One of the non-negotiable skill required across all industries no matter the management tier or position

You get to cash on this skill by highlighting your experiences in collaborating with others to achieve common objectives, resolving conflicts, and promoting a dynamic positive team.

#6 Time Management Skills

Time management is vital to meeting deadlines and delivering high-quality work. It helps to know how to set the tone for the day and what your schedule should look like when planning. 

Knowing your company goals comes in handy when expressing your time management skill and informs you on how best to use your time.

Focus on your ability to prioritise tasks, organise your workload, and complete assignments efficiently when highlighting this skill to your employer.

#7 Analytical Skills

Analytical skills involve gathering and interpreting data to make informed decisions. 

Provide examples of situations where you applied critical thinking and data analysis, or other related techniques to achieve positive outcomes.

#8 Technical Skills

Depending on the job you are applying for, mention specific technical skills relevant to the role. This could include proficiency in programming languages, software applications, or hardware knowledge.

#9 Creativity Skills

Creativity is highly valued as it promotes innovation and outside-the-box thinking. Describe instances where you utilised your creativity to develop unique solutions or contributed to the success of a project through your innovative ideas.

#10 Customer Service Skills

Customer service skills are crucial in many industries, particularly those focused on client satisfaction. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively, address customer needs, and resolve conflicts in a professional and empathetic manner.

#11 Research Skills

Almost every career is now intercepted with research. Although in varying levels and depths. 

You will do yourself a favour in getting the job if you have this skill included in your resume for your potential employer to see, especially for roles where they are highly relevant.

Demonstrate your research skills by mentioning projects or tasks that required you to gather information, analyze data, and draw meaningful conclusions at your other company/companies. 

Also, highlight your ability to use various research methods and tools effectively to draw out facts and establish truth.

#12 Emotional Intelligence Skills

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand and manage your emotions well and empathise with others. 

Highlight instances where you successfully managed interpersonal relationships or demonstrated empathy.

#13 Marketing Skills

If you are applying for a role in sales or marketing, emphasise your ability to identify customer needs, develop persuasive strategies, and achieve sales targets. 

Mention any successful campaigns or initiatives you have also been involved in that has helped drive sales.

#14 Project Management Skills

Project management skills are highly valued in various industries. 

Showcase your ability to plan, organise, and oversee projects from initiation to completion, including managing resources and meeting deadlines.

#15 Language Skills

In today’s globalized world, proficiency in multiple languages can be a valuable asset. 

If you are fluent in languages other than your native tongue, mention them along with your level of proficiency. 

This might be what your employers are also looking out for in the best candidate for the role.

Hard Skill and Soft Skill Examples Per Job Role

There are soft skills and hard skills employers want to see for each role applied for. So, here are a few examples as a guide that can help you know what qualities to put on your resume or what your resume should look like for your role..

#1 Data Analyst

#2 CopyWriter

#3 Sales Executive

#4 Digital Marketer

Conclusion

Now that you know what your resume should look like, including these top skills in your resume will increase your chances of getting noticed by employers. Also, don’t forget to provide specific examples and quantify your achievements whenever possible using figures.

Ensure to always tailor your resume to each job application, highlighting the skills that are most relevant to the role.

More Resources: 

How To Get A Digital Marketing Job Anywhere In 5 Steps

3 Steps to Land A $1,000 Monthly Remote Digital Marketing Job

Digital Marketing Recruitment in Nigeria: Getting the best job

Digital Marketing Interview Questions (With 11 Example)