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 A professional resume is something that we've discussed in the past when talking about resume templates and samples. When we think of a professional resume, two things come to mind. The first has to do with producing a resume that looks professional or polished. The second has to do with the types of information a professional would put on their resume.
Since we're not exactly sure which one is more desirable to our readership, we've decided to discuss both in this publication. We're going to start this article by discussing how to put together a professional looking resume - one that looks "professional." Later on we're going to provide an example of a resume that a professional might use in practice.
Professional Resume Template
There is no doubt that the resume format and the words used on a resume have a big impact on the reader. But the purpose of the resume is more than just to convey information to the reader; it is an advertisement. You are attempting to sell your professional services to the hiring manager. In the competitive workplace we have today, you need every edge possible. That means your resume (the advertisement) needs to look professional too.
Professional Looking Fonts and Paper
In most instances, this means a simple black and white resume with the appropriate use of bolding, fonts and white space. Unless you are looking for a job in an area that demands creativity on paper, you need to stay away from colorful fonts and paper stock.
That means you have a choice of two types of fonts to use - Times New Roman and Arial. These fonts are used universally in written papers because they are easy to read (easy on the eye). These are the only fonts you should use on both your resume and cover letter.
Signing the Cover Letter
Don't be tempted to use a fancy script font to sign your name on a cover letter. No matter what you think, it is quite obvious to the reader that this is not your real signature and sends the message that you do not think enough of the hiring company to take the time to sign the letter by hand.
If you have a lot of information to convey in your resume, don't be afraid to use two pages. White space is extremely important as it allows the reader to see different sections of information on your resume - spread the information out if you have to.
You'll see what we mean if you follow this link to a professional resume template that you can download. The resume is in Word format, takes advantage of tables to right and left justify information. You will see that this resume also uses bold type sparingly.
Professional Resume Sample
The second topic we're going to cover is putting together a professional resume - one that a professional would send to prospective job openings. We have prepared a professional resume sample that you can use, but first we need to make sure you understand how it can be used.
Resume Formats
The initial decision you need to make when putting together a resume is which resume format you are going to use. The format you should pick is the one that best highlights your career achievements and does not draw attention to areas of weakness. If you do not understand which format is best for your situation, then take a look at our article on Resume Writing Samples. That article will give you enough information to get started.
Resume Examples
Once you understand the correct format to use, then you can start to think about the information that you need to put on the resume. We've got plenty of resources and resume samples that demonstrate the differences between the formats. Don't make the mistake of developing a resume only to later discover that another is better at advertising your experiences.
That being said, if you can take a look at the professional resume sample we have put together. In this particular resume example, we used the combination resume format. The only real value in this kind of sample is to give you an idea of what a professional resume might look like. In other words, it is useful in case you are having a tough time getting started. There really is no substitution for your individual experiences.
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