No matter where you find yourself in your career journey, writing a resume can feel daunting. Conflicting information, multiple opinions, and the lack of time to sit down and create a quality document can cause task paralysis and force you to put it off longer than you intend. Hiring a professional resume writer can eliminate these stressors if you have it in your budget. But, for our do-it-yourself professionals, we’ve created a list of some of our most essential resume tips to help you get started on that perfect resume.

• Find a distraction-free work environment. This may seem obvious, but it can be hard to focus on writing a quality resume if your surroundings are loud and chaotic. If you don’t have a quiet, secluded home office to hunker down in, you can head to your nearest library or even find a peaceful evening to work from your couch. Regardless of where you decide to work, carve out at least 30 minutes to brainstorm your professional history and accomplishments.

• You may think, “Okay. I have a great place to write, but I don’t even know what my resume should look like!”. We get it. A quick Google Search for “Resume Templates” can generate thousands of results. Some have pictures, some are colorful, and some are pretty simple. With so many options, narrowing down the best fit for your situation can be challenging. For 99% of job seekers, a simple, clean, professional template is best. Most online applications will use some form of something called ATS or Applicant Tracking Software. In simple terms, this software can read, organize, and rank a resume. Templates full of fancy designs, text boxes, or graphics tend to do poorly with these systems.

• You’ve finally picked out a great resume template. Now what? How do you know what jobs to include? The general rule of thumb is to include the past 10 years of employment history, give or take a few years, depending on your situation, career level, and aspirations. Make sure to include your dates of employment (month and year), job title, and employer name. For your bullet points, think about individual accomplishments or responsibilities that help you stand out. A resume should be focused on your skills, not the daily duties of everyone in your role.

• I graduated high school in 1998. Should I include it on my resume? For education, it is typically advised to leave off dates unless it is recent. Remember that ageism is a real bias many candidates experience when applying for jobs. Removing dates of employment and only focusing on relevant degrees or certifications can be beneficial.

• Do you have a list of glowing references from previous supervisors and colleagues? Hang on to those, but keep them separate. They are lovely to have.  However, it is considered outdated advice to include them on your resume. Avoid any reference to references (pun intended). Instead, keep a separate list and be ready to send it over when asked.

Are you still unsure how to create a professional resume or need more guidance? We offer a variety of packages and services to meet the needs of every job seeker, from entry-level graduates to C-Suite executives. You can find out more about what we offer here. You can also subscribe to our email list so you don’t miss out on future posts with resume writing and career counseling advice.