If there was a perfect resumé or a perfect template for a resumé every graduate would have the perfect resumé. Obviously there isn’t. The reason? Every graduate and every person is different.
Why would you use the same words as every other graduate on your resumé if you want to stand out and be remembered? Clichés like ‘detailed-oriented’ or ‘good communication skills’ in absence of context are meaningless and in no way make you and your resumé different from all the other candidates and resumés an employer will see. If you write a boring resumé you will come off as boring and give the employer little reason to want to meet with you.
Remember, the real purpose of the resumé is to get an interview so you must give the employer a good reason to want to meet you. You can do this by citing examples of your ‘attention to detail,’ or your ‘communication skills’ in context with previous jobs, part-time, summer or intern employment.
Another excellent way to do this is to list the ‘Skills Learned’ after every job experience on your resumé. What you have learned from your past experience will be the skills you uniquely bring to the job. Convince the employer you have these skills by giving examples. Most graduates won’t write their resumé in this way. So, do this properly and you will stand out and increase your chances of getting the interview. And most importantly…you will be ‘remembered.’
The perfect resumé is the one that gets you the interview.