A Resume Guide for Different Experience Levels With Samples
28 March 20227 min read
Wisedoc
Wisedoc

On average, each corporate job offer attracts 250 resumes. Of those candidates, 4 to 6 will get called for an interview, and only one will get the job.

There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all resume template that guarantees a job interview or offer. However, every Resume should convey one important message:

"This is how I changed things for my employers."

Depending on how long you've been working, the key to making your message as obvious and convincing as feasible is experience. Here are some excellent Resume examples from candidates with three different levels of experience: Entry-level, Mid-level, and Experienced level:

This Guide Is All About:
  • Resume for Less Than 1 Year of Experience
  • Resume for Less than 5 Years of Experience
  • Resume for More than 5 Years of Experience
Highlight Your Related Experience if You Are an Entry Level Job-Seeker (Less Than 1 Yr)

You may think you can zip out a professional resume in a matter of minutes, but the reality is that it's a lot harder than you'd think. It's not like having an itch that you can scratch until it heals. Putting together your resume includes doing research, choosing the right words, finding just the right images to convey your message, and so on. You might not have the time and money to get it done right on your own. But following steps explains best practices that any applicant can use to put together an attractive and effective resume.

1.Emphasize your education

As Recent college graduates and newcomers to the workforce you should begin your resumes by listing the institution or university you attended, the degrees you earned, your GPA, and any academic accolades you have received.

2. Keep the details of your internships to a minimum

If you have an internship that is relevant to the position you’re applying for, now’s the time to add it. Immediate to the education section add your Internship details.

Coming to the responsibilities and duties of your internship, Let's face it: you were an intern, and you couldn't possibly have had as many important tasks as a non-graduate with years of experience. Going on and on about all the little things you did will just lead the hiring manager to believe you're lying or exaggerating. Concentrate solely on the duties that are critical to your field.

Example #1

You used to be an Advertising Intern and you’re applying for the position of Social Media Assistant.

Here’s how you would put down your internship’s duties in a good way:

  • Analyzed various social media platforms for trending content
  • Managed company social media accounts
  • Posted interesting content on company’s Facebook page, increasing engagement by 25%
  • Example #2

    ou used to be a Java Developer Intern and you’re applying for the position of Backend Developer.

    Here’s how you can list what you have done:

  • Maintain applications for Menards stores and external web sites
  • Provide weekly status updates on current projects
  • Execute action plan(s)
  • Follow established processes for problem handling and resolution
  • Example #3

    You used to be a Marketing Intern and you’re applying for a full-time marketing position.

    These are what you could say:

  • Social Media content creation
  • Email campaign and lead coordination (CRM)
  • Dashboard and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) coordination
  • Tradeshow publicity and coordination
  • 3. To tell a story, use extracurricular activities:

    Consider what extracurricular activities you want to include. It might be something as significant as being president of a club or as insignificant as a weekend of volunteer work - if it's engaging enough to convey a story about your interests, successes, and personal identity. Whether they’re related to the job you’re applying for or not, they still show one thing:

    You’re hard-working and motivated.

    To create a resume that can pass through the Applicant tracking system, create one using wisedoc.net. These templates provide job seekers of all levels to craft beautiful and appealing resumes.

    Go ahead and put your best foot forward!

    Pro tip: Make sure to double-check your contact information. After all, the recruiter can’t contact you if you have a typo in your phone number/email address.
    A Shining Summary Will Help You if You Are Mid-Level (Less Than 5 Yrs)

    A Mid-level resume often has a different focus than a resume from someone with more experience(Less than 5yrs). Tailor your resume as much as possible to demonstrate that you're a good fit for the jobs you're applying for. Even if you've worked in a variety of industries, you may still use your resume to highlight relevant experiences and talents.

    1. Summary vs Objective:

    A resume summary is a one-sentence assessment of your experience, qualities, and skills that appears at the top of your resume. It is also referred to as a professional summary or summary statement. You can immediately showcase your most advantageous qualities on a resume summary.

    A resume objective is a statement of your career ambitions, whereas a resume summary will highlight a few key experiences and abilities you've earned. You can choose to include one or both. Your decision may be influenced by the position, organization, or industry for which you're applying, as well as the intricacy of your previous experience.

    If you are a recent high school or college graduate with little work experience, a resume objective may be advantageous. If you have some work experience and a variety of talents and experiences to highlight, a resume summary is more suited.

    2. Make sure your resume is correctly formatted:

    Different forms exist for resumes, but the final goal should always be to provide clarity about your talents and job experience. With more experience, you can use the reverse chronological resume structure (most recent first) to show employers when and for how long you worked at previous firms. If you're an entry-level job applicant, though, a functional resume that shows your talents and education may be more beneficial.

    3. By highlighting great teamwork abilities, only mention relevant job and internship experience:

    Listing every internship or job you've ever had simply serves to weaken your resume, mostly because it diverts the hiring manager's attention away from how qualified you are for a particular position. The ability to work well in teams, large or small, is one of the most crucial talents hiring managers look for in junior-level candidates. Using terms like "we" or "our team," contrary to popular assumption, does not dilute your accomplishments; rather, it elevates them.

    Pro tip: If the work you did at your first job is in a different industry or doesn't relate to the work you want to do now, you can probably cut that job from your resume.

    4. Describe each role’s responsibilities and achievements:

    Under the job title of each position, include a short description that explains your responsibilities. This could include the type and size of the projects you managed, the clients you serviced, the accounts you represented, or the team you supervised. Under each of these descriptions, include a bulleted list of your most notable and relevant contributions and accomplishments. Quantify these accolades whenever possible.

    Pro tip: Use more powerful words and, numbers to speak a lot.

    The more powerful your language, the more mid-level you'll seem to a hiring manager or recruiter. If your marketing plan contributed to a 35% increase in sales, make it loud and clear! No need to explain how you did it; the hiring manager will ask for more details during the interview.

    Only Keep Relevant Experience if You Have Experience of More Than 5 Years

    Your Resume is commonly the first thing a hiring manager or recruiter sees. If you've just been working for years, your resume should highlight the experience, talents, and Awards that make you the best candidate for the job. You would benefit from a succinct and specific resume that highlights the achievements and responsibilities that match the position you’re applying for.

    Essential tips:

    1. Tailor your resume for each job:

    Even though your talents and expertise are the same regardless of the job you're seeking, customize your Resume for each. The hiring manager will want to know why you're qualified for the job, so pay attention to the job responsibilities and even the recommended qualifications so you can prioritize the most relevant experience near the top of your resume.

    2. Overwrite any entry-level skills with your senior-level abilities:

    Avoid listing entry-level talents on your resume that you'd find on the resume of any mid-level professional. The key to landing a job as a senior-level professional is standing out from the crowd and being able to effectively explain your unique qualifications to the hiring manager before they even consider you for an interview. Consider removing basic skills such as Microsoft Word in favor of more advanced ones, such as your understanding of the Agile project management technique.

    Entry-level Skills:

    1. Critical thinking
    2. Microsoft Office
    3. Time management
    4. Teamwork
    5. Sending emails
    6. Written and verbal communication

    Senior-level Skills:

    1. Technical decision-making
    2. Project budgeting and cost controls
    3. Project lifecycle management
    4. Project scheduling

    3. Remove any positions that aren't relevant:

    Even if your very first job helped you get to where you are today in your career, you can probably cut it off your resume to make it shorter and easier to read for the hiring manager. Remove any positions from your resume that are irrelevant to the one you're applying for. If you're in the middle of your career, there's a good possibility you have a lot more experience to showcase.

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