[APPLAUSE] It is estimated that up to 80% of resumes are discarded by recruiters after only 10 seconds. So if you want to stand out from the crowd and get the attention you deserve, you need to think about design. There are all kinds of templates available for designing your resume, but they can often be too restrictive or too flashy. I recommend you create your own simple template using a simple blank sheet. And show that you have even margins on all sides, ideally two and a half centimeters, or no less than one and a half centimeters. Bear in mind that in the US and Canada, the standard size sheet of paper is the letter format, eight and a half by 11 inches. In other countries, A4 is the standard format. Follow these rules, you don't want to be the only applicant whose resume is on different size paper. There are some simple points to bear in mind. First, size matters. A typical resume ought to be one page long for a person relatively new to the job market. Or two pages maximum for a more experienced professional. Any longer and there's a strong risk it will be thrown away. An academic CV, including details of publications might be longer, but otherwise, keep it short and to the point. No recruiter wants to be buried in masses of paper. Second, ensure that your resume is organized into separate logical sections, with appropriate headings that we spoke about earlier. Bullet point lists are easily readable and great for conveying succinct information. Third, think about the font. It should be easily readable and not look eccentric. Times New Roman, Ariel, or Calibri, for example are standard choices. For less conservative employers, it could be more adventurous. In any case, the font should be the same throughout your resume. Fourth, think about the font size. A good size is the 24-12-10 format. For example, your name written at the top in the center in 24 point. Headings written in 12 points, and bullet point lists in 10 point. Apart from your name, everything else should be aligned to the left for readability. Remember to be consistent in style. Use the same font, same sizing principles, and same bullet points throughout. Don't make the mistake of trying to squeeze in as much information as possible by selecting smaller sizes. No self respecting recruiter will appreciate it. Depending on your level of work experience, and the job you are applying for, there are three basic formats for your resume. Reverse-chronological, functional, and combination. Let's start by examining what they are, and how to select which is the right one for you. Reverse-chronological is the most traditional format and emphasizes your upward career mobility. That is your promotions and increased responsibilities. Your employment history is laid out, starting with your most recent position and working back in reverse chronological order. This resume is right for you if you want to apply for a job in the same or similar sphere. And if you want to highlight your history of professional success, evidenced by vertical career progression. It is not right for you if you have gaps in your employment, or if you have changed jobs very often, say more frequently than every 18 months. A functional resume promotes your individual skill set. It's right for you if you want to highlight why your skills make you an outstanding candidate for the job. Here your work experience section is condensed, whereas the emphasis is on your particular abilities. A combination resume makes use of both the two previous formats, providing insight into your work experience, while showcasing your skills and achievements in each role. It is more appropriate for candidates with a long employment history. Because this course is designed for people at the beginning or early stages of their professional life, we will focus on the reverse-chronological resume. The point behind the resume is to show how your experience and skills make you the perfect fit for the job. In order to do this, it's important to study the job advertisement in detail. Apart from the job title, what criteria are they looking for? What are the exact job responsibilities? You need to demonstrate that you have the experience and skills to perform the job better than somebody else. Which isn't easy when you don't know who the somebody else is. This is why you need to go the extra step and do something that many applicants don't think about. Connects your skills with your achievements. Show how your professional achievements in the past added value, and how you can harness these skills to add value in the future. Do not include irrelevant information, or anything not connected with an achievement. Nobody wants to hire a person who will spend their day passively behind a desk. Finally when it's ready, save your resume as a pdf to preserve everything as it is. You don't want things to move when recruiters open it on their computer. In the next lecture, we will discuss how to strategically use action verbs, and allied vocabulary in order to promote your suitability for the role [MUSIC]