With the popularity of the reverse-chronological resume, one might be reluctant to use a skills-based resume format. We’re breaking the stereotypes to show you it’s worth a shot.
Career Expert
You’ve found a thrilling job opportunity and scanned it excitedly. You hadn’t thought much until you realized you were in a position to get it. But then the doubts come in. What if the company I’m interested in seeks a candidate with extensive experience?And what if I don’t have enough of it?
Worry not. A skills-based resume will direct attention to your greatest abilities to prove you’re all set for the role. You don’t need numerous certificates of employment to validate it.
In this guide:
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Passionate and collaborative digital graphic designer with a BA in Graphic Design. Skilled in preparing style guide-adjusted digital assets, including illustrations, wall charts, posters, logos, brochures, and more. Well-versed in branding strategies and creating brand style guides from scratch. Motivated to join Vision Vibes as a Senior Graphic Designer to drive its vision and marketing strategy through diverse visual works.
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Ink Wisdom, Remote
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Now, let’s focus on a skills-based resume major tenets to crack it:
A resume is a resume format that favors a candidate’s skills and puts them at the top, unlike a reverse-chronological resume type. Such resume format often displays professional skills as bolded lines with descriptions underneath, depicting how those skills were used in previous roles.
Choosing the proper resume format resembles matching the clothing for a special occasion. Most typically, you’ll want to find clothes that fit the event’s character and make you look attractive. With that said, you’ll look for clothes underlining your attributes rather than magnifying imperfections.
A well-suited resume format will do the same. A skills-based resume (also called a functional resume) will best fit applicants with limited job histories, such as fresh graduates or career changers. It will redirect a recruiter’s attention from work experience to professional abilities most desirable in a specific role.
Let’s summarize the events in which a skills-based resume does the job:
If you’ve said yes to any of the above samples, a skills-based resume is your way to go. Nevertheless, if you can boast ample work experience with various job positions and duties, a reverse-chronological resume will fit better.
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Once you decide to sit down to your resume, you might discern numerous questions and doubts piling up in your head. For consolation, every winning resume was once a mess before it got magnificent.
We’ll guide you through this hazy process.
Follow these key rules to craft a skills-based resume template that catches a recruiter:
We bet you have numerous multifaceted skills to enlist on your resume. Still, you can’t just pour them onto paper erratically as Jackson Pollock would. Before listing your key abilities, plan your resume structure with enough focus as if it was a canvas you don’t want to waste.
Consider these simple formatting tips and hints:
Finally, save your skills-based resume in a PDF format to keep it neat. This way, you’ll rest assured it is delivered in the same form you created.
Some resumes are rejected after just a one-minute glance. You know why? They overlook critical information. If you don’t mind presenting your contact details clearly, you can’t expect a recruiter to make an extra effort to track you down elsewhere.
The resume header is where a recruiter’s eyes go first, so ensure you don’t waste this key moment.
Here’s what every resume header should include:
Now, check the example below for reference:
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Here’s what to remember when writing your skills-based resume for the first time:
Not sure if a skills-based resume is for you? Got questions on how to write it? Let us know in the comment section. We’ll be happy to help!
Written by Marta Bongilaj, CPRWMarta Bongilaj is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and career specialist. She's a member of the National Career Development Association and the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Her extensive marketing background serves as a strong foundation, enabling her to offer pertinent guidance in accentuating candidates' most compelling attributes and crafting resumes that captivate attention. Through her written works, Marta emphasizes the critical role of showcasing unique skills, experiences, and qualifications in a resume, essential for standing out in today's competitive job markets. She furnishes precise and invaluable advice on effectively presenting one's candidacy across various career stages. With a degree in philology, Marta firmly advocates for the significance of concise, persuasive language as the cornerstone of a successful resume. If you're seeking expert counsel on marketing yourself to employers, regardless of your current stage in the recruitment process, Marta's articles are your ultimate destination.
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