HOW TO WRITE A GREAT

RESUME IN ENGLISH
We get it: You’ve spent months (maybe even years) learning English so that you can
score your dream job, and it’s finally time to start sending out your resume. So now
what?

If you’re feeling a little nervous, don’t worry, you’re not alone! Creating a great resume
is tough for everyone, but it can be even more difficult to navigate the process in
English for the first time. That’s why we’ve pulled together a list of expert tips for
writing a great resume in English.

THE BASICS
 
1. Always include y o u r f u l l n a m e , c o n t a c t i n f o r m a t i o n and a link to an o n l i n e
p o r t f o l i o o r p r o f e s s i o n a l p r o f i l e l i k e L i n k e d I n , if you have one.
2. D O N O T i n c l u d e p e r s o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n like your age, marital status,
religious affiliation, race or ethnicity. It’s actually i l l e g a l to ask potential
employees these questions in the United States, and you are not obligated to
provide this information on your resume or in an interview.
3. S t a r t w i t h y o u r j o b h i s t o r y : List your relevant work experience in r e v e r s e
c h r o n o l o g i c a l o r d e r so that your most recent jobs appear first. Each position
should include the company name and location, the time that you worked there,
your title, and a brief description or list of your responsibilities and
accomplishments.
4. List your e d u c a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d next, including all undergraduate and
graduate degrees. In most cases, you do not need to include where you went to
school before college.
5. We recommend keeping your resume to o n e p a g e . If you have significant work
experience, try not to exceed two pages.
6. Your resume should be e a s y t o r e a d w i t h c o n s i s t e n t f o r m a t t i n g .
Employers don’t have a lot of time to read each resume, so information needs to
be quickly accessible.
              

GETTING THE TONE RIGHT

1 . Maintain a p r o f e s s i o n a l t o n e —no negative commentary about your previous

employers and no unnecessary information like your favorite hobbies. K e e p i t
simple, straightforward and career-focused.
2. D o n ’ t b e a f r a i d t o c l a i m y o u r w o r k . Use a first-person, active voice, such as
“I increased revenue by 15% through a DTC email marketing campaign.” T h i s i s
a r e s u m e a b o u t y o u , not about the team you worked with.
3 . A v o i d g e n e r i c w o r d s like “motivated,” “creative,” “enthusiastic,” “passionate”
and “strategic.” Instead, use language that describes y o u r u n i q u e s t r e n g t h s
and experiences.
4. Don’t forget to p r o o f r e a d ! It may sound obvious, but many people overlook
simple mistakes that could make all the difference to employers. It’s always a
good idea to have a trusted friend or coworker take a look, too.

TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

1. Show, don’t tell. E m p l o y e r s w a n t t o s e e p r o o f t h a t y o u c a n g e t t h e j o b

d o n e . Try to include concrete accomplishments and measurable data when you
can. Or even better, provide examples of your work, like a link to a website you
developed.
2. Use your resume to tell your story. Instead of including a career objective, try
writing a b r i e f s t a t e m e n t a b o u t w h o y o u a r e and why you’re an excellent fit
for the job.
3. T a i l o r y o u r r e s u m e t o t h e j o b y o u ’ r e a p p l y i n g for by highlighting the
specific skills and experiences that each employer is looking for. It’s more work,
but it will be worth it.

HAPPY JOB SEARCHING!