How to Write a Professional Resume: Tips and Examples

Why do experts and employers emphasize the importance of a resume for job seekers? The reason is that a resume is your first impression on the employer who does not know you personally or has seen your skills in action. Therefore, the resume gives the first impression of you. For this reason, job seekers look for sources of help that can provide advice and tips to make their resumes professional. Since you've reached this point, you are one of those job seekers, and we have brought you a source of help through these tips and examples on how to write a professional resume

Specifications of a Professional Resume

A professional resume has several characteristics, starting from the design of the resume to the arrangement of information and the absence of spelling and grammatical errors. We will discuss in detail each part of the resume in four main points to reach the professional specifications.

1.Resume Design: The good specifications for this part include:

Simplicity is more important than spending effort on the appearance of the resume and choosing colors; two colors at most are enough, and one color is preferable with emphasizing important information in bold.

Brevity with clarity and good organization so that the resume reader can easily find the information they want to know.

Appropriate font formatting using basic, non-decorative fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, with a font size comfortable for reading (11-12 for headings and 10-11 for text).

2.Arrangement of Information: The information that should be mentioned in the resume must be divided into several sections arranged in a certain order, with each section containing a set of information also arranged in a certain order as follows:

Personal Information Section

The name in a clear font at the beginning of the resume, slightly larger in size and bold.

After the name, provide your contact information including email, phone number, and address (optional).

LinkedIn link or portfolio link if available.

Professional Summary Section

A short paragraph that should be concise, consisting of simple sentences (3-4 sentences), talking about your main experience, skills, and career goals in a strong wording, mentioning the reason for seeking this job.

Education Section

Reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent qualifications and then the older ones, with the basic details for each qualification including the name of the educational institution, degree, and date of obtaining the qualification. For example, mention the master's degree first and then the bachelor's degree.

Work Experience Section

Also in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent job (the last job you worked in) with details for each job, including the company name, job title, period of employment, achievements, and tasks performed in each job.

Skills Section

Divide the skills into two parts: "Technical Skills" talking about job-specific skills and "Personal Skills" that should align with the job requirements.

Courses and Certifications Section

Also in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent certifications obtained with the basic details for each certificate, including the course name, issuing institution, and date of obtaining it.

Languages Section

Mention the languages you are proficient in with the level of proficiency in each language (beginner, intermediate, advanced, fluent), and you can specify the level in each skill for each language like speaking, listening, reading.

Volunteer Work Section

Provide details for each project or volunteer work like the project or activity name, the tasks you performed, and also arrange them in reverse chronological order.

Hobbies and Interests Section

Focus on hobbies that might be relevant to the job, then other interests that give a positive impression of you.

3.Review and Proofreading

After finishing writing the resume, you must review it to ensure it is free from spelling and grammatical errors and to ensure good formatting, clarity, and brevity.

Review by seeking opinions from others and considering their feedback, and you can ask for expert help at this stage.

4.Customize the Resume for the Job

Before applying for each job, you should update your resume to match the job by reading the job description, identifying keywords and requirements, and including these elements in the resume, especially in the professional summary and skills sections.

Professional Resume Example

Name: Sharif Ahmed

Address: (Building No.), (...) Street, City - Governorate

Phone: [Your Phone Number]

Email: [email protected]

Website/Portfolio: sharifaportfolio.com

Professional Objective

Graphic designer with over 7 years of experience in graphic and advertising design, capable of generating unconventional ideas. Seeking to join a creative team in a leading company to help individuals and businesses develop a unique visual identity.

Education

Bachelor of Applied Arts, Graphic Design Department

Cairo University | June 2017

Work Experience

Head of Graphic Design Department, [Company Name]

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | January 2021 – Present

Developed innovative designs for advertising campaigns and commercial projects.

Designed logos and visual identities for startups.

Managed a team of 7 graphic designers, providing expertise and consultation.

Collaborated with marketing and sales teams to ensure effective implementation of creative ideas that serve the company's goals.

Senior Graphic Designer, [Company Name]

Cairo, Egypt | July 2018 – December 2020

Designed digital and print advertisements for various brands.

Communicated with clients to understand their requirements and translated them into innovative designs that serve their business fields.

Created marketing materials and print products including brochures, booklets, magazines, storefronts, and billboards.

Courses and Certifications

2016: Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Photoshop

2017: Advanced Course in User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) Design

Skills

- Technical Skills:

Design Software: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects

Web Design: HTML, CSS, Adobe XD

Project Management: Tools like Trello and Asana

- Personal Skills:

Effective team management and collaboration with colleagues and clients

Creative thinking to generate new ideas and transform them into designs that serve the purpose or concept

Languages

Arabic: Native

English: Advanced

Volunteer Work

Remote Graphic Designer, [Association Name]

Alexandria, Egypt | June 2022 – Present

Hobbies

Drawing and Photography

Keeping up with the latest design technologies

Samples of My Work

Logo Design for [Company Name]

Application Interface Design for [App Name]

Billboard Design for [Company Name]

If you still need help in creating a professional resume, the best approach is to seek consultation from recruitment experts who have reviewed thousands of job seekers' resumes. This assistance is available from the experts at Dr. Job's platform through the resume Writing Service from Dr.job 

What is the Professional CV Writing Service from Dr. Job?

In this service, you will find several features that ensure you receive a professional CV. These features include:

Experience Gained from Job Interviews

Your CV is written by experts in recruitment and human resources who have direct communication with employers and understand what they are looking for in CVs. Therefore, they can highlight your skills attractively, making you stand out among other job applicants.

Unique CV Design

Experts ensure your CV is formatted in a unique way that suits the needs and information of each individual client. They add touches that make each CV distinct from others.

Increased Attraction from Employers

By having a professional CV, your chances of being invited to job interviews increase two to three times.

Saving Time and Effort

Experts put in the effort to make your CV professional on your behalf, saving you time and energy so you can prepare and get ready for job interviews.

If you already have a CV, you can ensure it is professional by consulting Dr. Job's experts and requesting  Free Resume Review service from Dr.job

Experts will provide you with CV tips and recommendations to make your CV professional.

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing a Professional CV

What is the ideal length for a CV?

A CV should be concise and specific, detailing only the required information. For beginners or those with little work experience, one page may suffice. Experienced professionals might need two pages.

How should I handle employment gaps in my CV?

Be honest and transparent about any gaps in your CV. Mention activities you undertook during those periods, such as volunteering, studying, traveling, or developing skills. Avoid mentioning activities or achievements you did not do.

Should I include a photo in my CV?

In some countries and fields, it is preferred to include a photo, while in others, like the United States, it may be considered unnecessary or inappropriate. You can find out from the local employment customs in the country where you are applying for the job.

What common mistakes should be avoided when writing a CV?

Spelling and grammatical errors

Incorrect information due to exaggeration of achievements and skills

Using unprofessional design or inappropriate fonts

Not customizing the CV for the specific job

Unnecessarily lengthening the CV

For more details on these common mistakes, you can visit the article Common CV Mistakes to Avoid.

Therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that the path to achieving your career aspirations begins with writing a professional CV that fits the job market and meets the specifications set by experts for a professional CV. You can achieve this professional CV by following the tips we provided and studying sample CVs that meet the specifications, making it easier for you to identify mistakes in your CV.