A resume header is perhaps one of the essential parts of the resume. However, sadly enough, people pay the least amount of heed to this section. Yes, the experiences and education matter, but so does a proper introduction, right? It is thus essential to pay attention to the resume header.
When drafting a resume, this section needs to be carefully perfected, and it is honestly not that tough to do that. However, by keeping a few simple ideas in mind, anyone can create a powerful and eye-catching resume header that will put them at the top of the competition.
What is a Resume Header?
Unfortunately, there is a large portion of job seekers who are not even familiar with the term resume header. If you, too, are confused about it, let me put it in easy terms for you.
A resume header is simply the topmost part of your header. It is the section where the name of the candidate goes. However, this section can also contain some personal information about the candidate. If you are wondering why this particular section is the most important one, here’s why:
Your resume header needs to be eye-catching for several reasons; here are some of them:
- Firstly, the resume header contains your name. Every day, employers receive thousands of resumes through which they need to pick out the best ones. While this does rely on the skills of a person, they also highly rely on the impact your resume creates at first glance.
- Secondly, this section would also commonly contain the candidate’s personal information, including email address, residential address, contact number, and social media handles. This is essential because the employer knows all the means of getting in contact with you.
- Thirdly, you can put it in your portfolio within this section, especially if you are applying in a creative field. A portfolio is essential in these careers, and what better place to put it than the resume header?
By putting the portfolio at the top, you are giving easy access to all your work to potential employers, which helps them quickly assess your work and is thereby highly desirable. Alternatively, if you put your portfolio in the email or somewhere in the resume, chances are that it would get overlooked.
How to make your resume header eye-catching
There are a few simple steps that would effectively make your resume header very attractive to potential employers. By following these steps, you can create a resume header that leaves an impression in the employer’s head, and they remember you distinctly. The top tips include:
Font:
The font used in the resume header must be distinctive. This does not mean that you choose a different font for the resume header. This simply means that you must use a much bigger font than the rest of the resume.
For example, if you are using font size 10 for the resume, use 16 or perhaps even 20 on your resume header. Your name, more specifically. Your name must be the biggest in size on your resume. Speaking of names, it is essential that you use your full name and no pet names.
Only put your full professional name, which may also be found on your social media handles like LinkedIn and Twitter. However, it is well known that social media handles can be different, so you do not need to worry about that aspect too much.
Personal Information:
Mention your contact details correctly. This would include your phone number, address, and email id. This would also include your social media handles like LinkedIn Profile link, Twitter link, etc. Social media handles are still optional but highly recommended, especially if you are active on professional platforms.
Portfolio:
If your career is one wherein you must maintain a portfolio of your work, your resume header is an excellent place to insert its link. This can also be used to put in any blog or social media handles where you publish your work if the job so requires.
Your portfolio is the best way to showcase your work quality and capability to potential clients or employers and is a necessary tool nowadays to get attention from suitable sources. While optional, it is also highly recommended that you include a portfolio in the header.
By utilizing the above-mentioned tips and tricks, one can effectively make a stunning and attention-grabbing resume header. By capturing the employer’s intrigue through this section, you can ensure that they would pay more attention to your experiences and education, thereby learning about you properly instead of scanning through.
As must be clear, by creating a captivating resume header, you pretty much hold the employer’s attention long enough for them to go through your resume and assess your suitability based on your actual experiences and educational background, and sometimes also get them to adopt a favorable attitude.
