Freshers? Resume that works! ✨📝 | Sidd Ahmed

Summary

The video provides in-depth resume review advice for a developer, focusing on areas such as formatting, technical skills, and presenting projects. Key recommendations include reducing the size of the name and adjusting font sizes for consistency. The speaker emphasizes the importance of including a clear location, an executive summary, and breaking down technical skills into categories. Projects should be reframed as freelance or self-employed work with detailed descriptions of roles and impacts. The reviewer also suggests eliminating redundant information, improving clarity, and presenting achievements more effectively to make the resume more appealing to recruiters.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reduce the size of your name and avoid making it jarring on the resume. Keep the font size balanced for a professional look.
• 😀 Include important contact information like your phone number, email, and location. Clearly mention your city if you're applying for remote positions.
• 😀 Add an executive summary at the top of your resume to highlight your key skills, experience, and what you're looking for in your next role.
• 😀 Move education to the bottom of the resume, and avoid including unnecessary details like your registration number.
• 😀 Instead of 'Projects', use the term 'Experience' to give your freelance work a more professional tone.
• 😀 When listing projects, include the employer's name (if applicable), your role, duration, and location. If it's a personal project, clarify that it was freelance work.
• 😀 Ensure the project duration is clearly stated using specific dates (e.g., 'January 2023 – June 2023') rather than vague terms like 'Personal'.
• 😀 List your technical skills in separate categories like 'Languages', 'Frameworks', 'Tools', and 'Databases' for better organization and clarity.
• 😀 When describing projects, highlight the impact of your work, such as user engagement or business results, to demonstrate your contribution.
• 😀 Avoid redundancy in your resume by ensuring you don't repeat the same skills or experiences in different sections.
• 😀 Use bullet points for readability and clarity, especially in the experience and achievements sections, to make your resume easier to scan.

Q & A

What is the primary issue with the resume in the script?

The primary issue with the resume is its formatting. The name is too large, causing it to overshadow the other content, and there is unnecessary use of bold fonts and inconsistent font sizes throughout the document.

What suggestions are made to improve the header section of the resume?

The header should include your name in a smaller font size, contact details like email, phone number, and location (city/state), and links to your LinkedIn and GitHub profiles. Unnecessary branding statements like 'Creative Developer' should be removed.

Why is including your city or location important in a resume?

Including your city or location is crucial because many companies want to know where a candidate is based, especially in remote work scenarios. Without it, employers may not know whether you're available for work in their region or time zone.

What is an executive summary and why is it important in a resume?

An executive summary is a brief section at the top of your resume that highlights your key skills, experience, and the type of role you're seeking. It is important because it gives recruiters a quick overview of your qualifications and helps set the context for the rest of the resume.

What should be included in the technical skills section of the resume?

The technical skills section should list your key skills organized into categories such as programming languages, frameworks, databases, and tools. It's important to list them in a clear, structured manner to make it easy for recruiters to assess your technical expertise.

Why should the 'Projects' section be renamed to 'Experience'?

Renaming 'Projects' to 'Experience' helps present the candidate’s work in a more professional light, especially if the candidate is working on freelance or self-employed projects. It shifts the focus from personal projects to professional experience, making it more appealing to employers.

What is the importance of specifying 'Self-Employment' or 'Freelance Projects'?

Specifying 'Self-Employment' or 'Freelance Projects' clarifies that the work was undertaken independently, showcasing initiative and the ability to manage projects on your own. This helps convey your work experience clearly, even if it wasn't in a traditional full-time employment setting.

How can the 'Achievements' section be improved?

The 'Achievements' section should avoid repeating information from other parts of the resume. Instead, it should focus on quantifiable accomplishments, such as workshop feedback or specific impact metrics, to demonstrate the value you brought to past projects or roles.

What role does clarity in dates and project durations play in a resume?

Clear and precise dates for each project or role help recruiters understand your timeline and availability. Ambiguous terms like 'Personal' or unclear date ranges should be avoided to ensure the resume is easily interpretable.

Why is consistency in formatting essential in a resume?

Consistency in formatting is important because it makes the resume visually appealing and easier to read. Inconsistent font sizes, boldness, and section titles can distract recruiters and make it harder for them to quickly identify the key information.