What is the Purpose of a Resume? [Definition, Importance, and Tips to Build One]

Do you want to get the attention of recruiters with your resume? What is a resume actually for? In this article, you’ll learn all about what a resume is, the purpose of a resume, and tips to build one. 

You update your resume and send them to recruiters to get you an interview. That’s the entire purpose of a resume right? To get you the interview that gets you the job. 

That’s not the entire truth. Your resume also summarized your accomplishments, skills, and experience. It’s a tool that you can use to show employers what you got and why they need you. 

What is the purpose of a resume and what are the key components of a resume to get that job interview you want? Let’s clarify this in more detail. 

What is a Resume?

Are you looking for a job? The first thing you need to help you land that job interview is a signal to make companies aware of your skills and employment history. Spread over not more than two pages, a resume is that very introductory document letting your possible employer know of all your accomplishments. You can show them how awesome you are!

Ensuring that your potential employer is aware of how much of an asset you will be for their business is the real purpose of a resume. But writing an impressive and professional resume can be a lot harder than you may think. You may need to rework what you thought was a compelling resume.

Did you know that over 95% of people make the same mistakes when writing their resume? Fill out the form below to find out what these mistakes are and how to prevent them!

Many people are still unsure of a resume, and some people even confuse it with other introductions, like a cover letter, but there is a very distinct difference between the two.

As the name implies, a cover letter is a detailed description of your skills and abilities in the form of a letter. In contrast, a resume is an accurate, concise, and easy-to-read explanation of your skills, qualifications, credentials, accomplishments, and work history.

Now we know what a resume is, let’s discuss its main parts.

Key Components of a Resume

To attract an employer’s sight and curiosity, you need to know what to put in your resume.

But, the question that still plagues many job seekers is how to build a great resume that can help them land their dream job.

With the average recruiter only looking at your resume for 7 seconds, you need to convince them immediately. 

Resume writing requires you to grab their attention and keep it. Think critically about what you put in your resume, and provide just enough information to keep recruiters curious. Ensure that they want to invite you for a job interview to learn more about what you have to offer. 

So, let’s go over some of the key components that you need to pay attention to while preparing a resume and how you can do that to make sure your resume stands out.

Who Are You?

Before making the hiring manager aware of what key skills and qualifications you have, you first need to let them know who you are.

Your resume should start with a brief introduction to yourself, without it getting boring. Don’t list your work experience again; summarize what you will add to the company. I always see it as an elevator pitch that you can use to convince the hiring manager. 

Besides that, the top of your resume should include your contact information. When creating a resume, the first thing to do is list down your name and contact information such as phone number, email address, and other social media profiles like LinkedIn. 

Avoid putting up your home address on your resume. It’s unnecessary for the business and could potentially limit your chances if you don’t live close.

Why Should They Read Your Resume?

Employers have to go through many resumes in a short amount of time during the hiring process, so you need to grab the recruiter’s attention.

This is possibly one of the most essential parts of your resume, as it determines whether your employer will continue reading your resume or just pile it up with the rest of those discarded pieces of paper. The first impression you make on the recruiter will make or break your chances of landing that interview.

Given that only 2% of resumes end up being invited to the interview, you have to make a good impression.

While writing your summary, emphasize your accomplishments and bring up your skills that would benefit the business. The summary tells the hiring manager about your abilities and makes them aware that you’re the person they have been looking for.

Have You Done This Before?

Saying that you can do something isn’t nearly as effective as showing that you are qualified and have done these kinds of tasks before.

This is why the next thing to add to your resume is your work experience and history.

Let the company know that the position they are offering and the responsibilities that come with it is something that you are familiar with.

Go over all your previous work experience, in chronological or reverse-chronological order, to give your resume more direction relating to the field you are currently applying for. Be sure to include details like company name and function. 

Briefly describe your role and responsibilities and make sure they know what you can and cannot do, or in this case, have or have not done before. Make sure to add the number of years worked for the business, signifying your loyalty to your work and the company.

Emphasize your specific accomplishments and what you’ve added to the company. You want to avoid that it reads like a boring essay. Remember, 7 seconds is all you got. Make them count.

Are You Qualified for the Job?

Now that you have the hiring manager hooked, it is time to tell them a little more about yourself because that’s what the purpose of a resume is about, right?

Move on from your work history, delve a little into your qualifications, and then talk about your academic accomplishments and certifications. As most jobs have a minimum education level required, it’s crucial to mention it.

So go on and put up your academic history on the resume. Ensure that you include the names of the institute you studied at, the year you finished your education, and optionally the grades you finished it with (if they are above average, otherwise, don’t).

What Can You Bring to the Table?

After that, talk about all those skills you boasted about in your summary in more detail. 

Is it an innate ability you always had, like your listening skills or ability to comprehend things fast, or is it a key skill that may have taken you hard work to acquire?

In this section, go over these skills and abilities crucial or complementary to the job and help you do a better job – including your soft skills and hard skills. These tips can boost your chances of landing a job by up to 60%.

Soft skills are transferable skills that create a better work environment rather than being a more job-specific set of skills, like common sense, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence. On the other hand, hard skills are skills that would make you do a better job and are directly related to job experience. Examples are specific programs like Excel, Python, or SAP. 

Now you should design the best resume a job-seeker can have and be ready to go out in the world and look for jobs. 

Also, do yourself a favor, proofread! No one likes typos in a formal document.

What is the Purpose of a Resume?

Now that we know what a resume is and how you can make a good resume, it is time to understand why you do all of this when you go on a job-hunt. 

A resume, as mentioned earlier, is a document that allows you to deliver your accomplishments, skills, and unique experience directly to the employer or recruiter.

As a business goes over your resume before meeting you face-to-face, it is safe to assume that your resume represents you and your skills to the highest degree. It can make or break your chances of landing a job. Especially if you apply for a recession-proof job, you may have some competition.

No matter how good a job you can do or what high-income skills you have, if your resume can’t convince the recruiter, you can kiss the opportunity goodbye.

What is the Purpose of a Resume for Applicants?

It not only helps you in reaching out to potential employers and letting them know what you have done in your career and what you are capable of, but it also allows you to understand your own comfort zone and capabilities better.

By adding a list of all your skills, abilities, and work history, you can demonstrate you can handle the job responsibilities without leaving any room for doubt. Some people also like to add data-driven statistics to get the attention of the recruiter. People just love numbers and stats to see what you have to offer.

Now a resume is not only something that you would be sent to your employers in hopes of getting a job. It’s also a great way of keeping a record of your achievements. At times it may get a little hard for you to keep track of everything you have accomplished, and a resume allows you to do that quite easily.

What is the Purpose of a Resume to an Employer?

When you sit down to make your resume, you are thinking about putting down the most relevant information and skills to the job you are applying for to maximize your chances.

This helps out businesses a lot by making them aware of the trends and projections in the employee markets and how they need to revamp their training programs to keep up with the supply in human resources.

Other than that, it is also a means of saving precious time for the recruiter as it allows them to seek out specific qualifications, skills, and career assets that they have been looking for.  Not only that, nowadays, with social media being one of the most popular modes of communication, employers can get a look inside your life and can learn who you are as a person before needing to meet you face-to-face.

What Resume Mistakes Do 95% Of People Make?

If you’re convinced that a resume is important and you know what the purpose of a resume is, you’re probably ready to improve your resume right now. 

We’ve created a resource with the top 4 resume mistakes to avoid, which over 95% of people make. These mistakes can be easily prevented and there’s absolutely no need to make them. Click this link or the button below to get these resume mistakes to avoid straight to your inbox.