resume format for singapore

Singapore Resume Formats, Templates, and Writing Tips

Applying for a job in Singapore? This Singapore Resume guide has the templates, tips, examples, & format requirements needed to write the perfect resume.

Applying for a job in Singapore? This resume guide has the perfect Singapore resume tips, formats, examples, and templates to help you write the perfect Singapore resume.

Singapore Resume Requirements

The top requirements for a Singapore resume to be successful are:

• Your name, contact information and location.
• Photo on a resume - Generally it isn’t required. However, it is recommended for entry-level candidates and Gahmen jobs.
• A resume summary.
• Work experience.
• Education and academic background.
• A resume in either a PDF or MS Word. PDF is generally accepted in Singapore.
• Resume should be detailed enough. More than a one-page resume is welcomed.
• The right resume format that matches your experience, skills, etc.
• Language: Resumes in English are fine.

Now that we have established the most important requirements for a Singapore resume, let’s take a look at each of these resume requirements in more detail.

What is the Right Resume Length for Singapore?

The acceptable length of resume for Singapore is 2 pages. Short resumes generally don’t give enough context to hiring managers and hence longer resumes are common and acceptable in Singapore.

Singapore Resume Format

Singapore resumes typically follow the common resume formats that are popular worldwide. Top Singapore resume formats for experienced professionals are:

• Reverse chronological resume format
• Functional resume format
• Combination resume format

If you are an experienced professional, a reverse chronological format would be a great fit for your resume. However, if you are someone who's experienced, but are trying to transition to another role you should consider a functional or a combination resume format.

Reverse Chronological Singapore Resume Format Example

Functional Singapore Resume Format Example

Combination Singapore Resume Format Example

We also recommend function or combination resume format for entry-level Singapore resumes.

Singapore Resume - Contact Information Tips

While creating the resume header, make sure to add the following information in it:

• Your contact information including your phone number, town, and a professional email address to contact you.
• Make sure to link to your personal portfolio, Linkedin profile, or to your blog.
• Additionally, you can consider adding your nationality. Companies have a hiring quota for foreign nationals, so when you add nationality it saves a ton of time for you and the hiring manager.

Should you Add a Photo to your Singapore Resume?

Generally, adding a photograph to your resume is considered acceptable. It however invites biases in hiring. If you are graduating from university, keeping a photo on your resume is generally advised. Also, if you are applying for Gahmen jobs, adding your photo to your resume is required.

Resume or CV for Singapore Jobs?

CV or resume are used interchangeably in Singapore and make a little difference. Just keep in mind that Singapore's resumes are a bit more detailed as compared to resumes that we see commonly in other parts of the world.

Singapore Resume Templates and Examples

Professional singapore resume example.

Administrative Resume Example for Singapore

Customer Support Resume Example for Singapore

Marketing Resume Example for Singapore

Management Resume Example for Singapore

Accounting Resume Example for Singapore

Frequently asked questions, how do i write a good singapore resume.

To write a good Singapore resume, make sure you add a short powerful summary at the top, follow the STAR method to describe your experience, list your skills, and properly describe your education.

What Fonts to Use in My Singapore Resume?

For resumes that are in the English language, we recommend that you either use Times New Roman, Calibri, Arial, or Roboto as fonts. Use serif-type fonts when your target job is a bit more traditional, else use Sans-serif fonts.

Copyright © 2024 VisualCV

Select Your Language :

The best Singapore resume format

Briony Ranasinghe

Are you a fresh graduate or experienced professional looking for a job in Singapore?  Maybe you are a student hoping to get a part-time job while you study? Whatever the reason, you know you need a resume that fits Singapore resume standards.

This article is the guide you need to know everything about the format, layout and sections of the Singapore resume. Let’s get started.

Want to build your Singapore Resume online? Cresuma’s resume builder can do the job for you.

CV Vs. Resume

First things first, is it a CV or resume in Singapore? Don’t worry, it’s both. In Singapore, companies use both CV and resume on job adverts and the two terms are used interchangeably.

However, what you should be concerned about is length. Most recruiters want to get a sense of who you are, so the Singaporean resume or CV should be about 2 pages long.

Types of Resume Formats

1. chronological or reverse-chronological format.

The most common resume format is the chronological format. It is also a great format for experienced professionals. In this format, work experience is highlighted with the most recent employment role placed first and working backwards chronologically. It helps employers to understand the career progression of the applicant in a clear, easy-to-read fashion.

2. Functional Format

This format is best for freshers or students looking for part-time work. It also can be used by those looking for a career change or having an employment gap. In this format, transferrable skills are more highlighted than experience. It also allows you to highlight your achievements or education.

3. Combination Format

This format combines both the chronological and functional resume format. Your achievements and skills come to the forefront above a work experience section that is placed in chronological order.

For more details on the types of resume formats, check our article on the best resume formats 2024 .

Now that you know the different types of resume formats, you need to know the sections of your resume and what you should add to them.

Parts of a Resume

1. personal details.

As in most countries, the first part of the Singapore resume is the personal profile. This section will include your name, contact details (phone number, address and email address), professional social media accounts and a photo of yourself.

Remember to use a professional email address such as [email protected] instead of a personal one like [email protected] as it will give a better impression.

2. Resume Summary

A resume summary is usually a few lines that catches a recruiter’s attention. It is a good place to highlight your skills, experience, and education to the company in a way that grabs their attention and persuades them to hire or interview you. In other words, this is where you begin to sell yourself as the perfect candidate for the company.

A good method to gather a hiring manager’s attention is to use keywords that capture attention. Industry specific keywords, and keywords found in the vacancy announcement are a great tool that you can use.

3. Professional Experience

This section is one of the most important in the resume as it proves the claims that you make in the summary. It shows the progression of your career and the skills and achievements that you have received as a result of your work.

The format to mention your experience is your job title, how long you worked (date employment began – date employment finished), the company you worked for, and 2-3 bullet points detailing your achievements.

Rather than stating the responsibilities of your post, it is better to highlight key achievements. Mention awards that you have received or significant results that you have got with figures or percentages to really show that you are highly experienced.

4.Skills and Competencies

This section shows the skills that you have already gained through your experience and education. Listing your hard and soft skills is a good way for employers to know your strengths and whether you would be an asset to their organization.

Rather than just listing your skills, try to mention an example of when you used the relevant skill. Remember to avoid buzzwords that harm your resume.

5. Education

Your educational qualifications can be an important part of your resume as it supports the claims you make in the previous resume sections such as the summary, skills and work experience. Often companies will list the minimum educational qualifications that are required for a position on the vacancy announcement.

The format for the educational section is almost the same as your work experience. You need to specify the qualification title, the years you studied and the name of the school/university/college that you attended.

Write your qualification in the same way that it is mentioned in the job advertisement to make it easier for the recruiter to identify that you have the required qualifications.

6. Special Achievements

This section is not compulsory, but it is always good to show that you have received recognition for your work. List any relevant awards that you have received in this section.

If you don’t have any awards to mention, mention other relevant skills or hobbies that you have like a foreign language.

7. References

You need to have two references on your resume. Type in their names, designations, company they work for and current contact details.

Remember to ask your references before using their details in the resume and to inform them of the company and position you have applied for after you send in your CV.

Now that you know the Singapore resume format, see our tips for international resume formats for other countries .

For more information on writing the perfect resume, check our career guides .

Singapore Resume Format & How to Write Guide

Jacob Smith

Certified Professional Résumé Writer, Career Expert

April 27, 2022 ❘

🕐 min read

Singapore is considered as one of the countries that have a high quality of life. As a result, many foreign people like to relocate here to work.

Your resume is one of the most crucial documents in your Singapore job hunt.

So this is a tailored resume guide especially written for the job seekers in Singapore and other foreign candidates who wish to apply for Singapore jobs.

As we already know the resume is a different document from a CV. But in Singapore both the words CV and Resume used interchangeably to describe the same document.

With that in mind, read on to find out how to compose the perfect resume that will impress your prospective employers in Singapore.

Singapore resume sample

See the resume sample below to get a better understanding of how a Singapore resume should look. If you want to be noticed by recruiters in Singapore, you must have a perfect resume as below. Study this resume sample carefully and create your own resume and increase your job winning rate in Singapore.

Why do you need a good resume when applying for jobs in Singapore?

Finding a good job in Singapore is typically a difficult task. Because the Singapore job market is so competitive, even accomplished professionals find it difficult to find jobs in Singapore. But on the other hand, Singapore is a top destination for foreign workers. And the job market here is never saturated.

That’s why you need to have a well-written resume to apply for Singaporean jobs. If you tailor your resume for a specific job, you will not find it much difficult to get into the next stage of your job competition.

That is why you must have a well-written resume to apply for Singaporean jobs. If you tailor your resume to a specific job, you will not have much difficulty in landing an interview opportunity.

Key sections to include in a Singapore resume format

01. resume header (contact information).

This is the place where you should include your contact information on your resume. This makes it easier for your future employer to contact you. Here you need to include your full name, job title you are applying for, your location, email address, and mobile phone number. You can make your resume header stand out by including a link to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or personal website.

02. Resume summary

This is an introduction paragraph of yourself which comes just after your contact information section. Here you should show the employer, at a glance, why you’re qualified for the job. You must summarize your previous work experience and explain how it will benefit the company where you wish to work. You can also list any major certifications you’ve earned and the most important skills that you have which need to do the job well.

03. Work experience

Here you can elaborate your previous related experience in a concise manner. This section is a great place to highlight the skills you’ve acquired throughout your career. You can also highlight the most important accomplishments in your career, as well as what you learned from them.

Some applicants try to list their job responsibilities here. But that will not impress the employers. They want to see how you perform in your previous roles and what your achievements are. So make sure to list some of your best achievements in bulleted lists under each work experience.

04. Education

Education section of your resume is the place where the employers determine whether you fulfill the educational requirements for the job. Having a degree or diploma in a specific field is a basic prerequisite for jobs in Singapore. So make sure you hold the required educational qualification before you apply for the job.

When listing the educational qualifications, mention your degree, whether you received any honors or awards, the college you attended, and your graduation year. You can also highlight important coursework from your school years that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

When listing skills on your resume for a SIngapore job, you should focus more on your technical and hard skills rather than your soft skills.

What matters most is a list of the requested technical abilities. Singapore is an excellent place to work for tech-savvy individuals. As a result, employers believe that each candidate possesses a wide range of technical skills. As a result, listing basic computer skills in Singapore resumes is pointless.

It’s preferable if you can list the skills that are listed in the job advertisement. Because those skills are well-aligned with the job, and they will also help you in beating the ATS scan.

Resume formats to use in Singapore

There are three resume formats that are accepted in Singapore. Those are:

• Reverse-chronological resume format
• Functional resume format
• Combination resume format

From these three resume formats, reverse chronological format is the preferred resume format. This means both your work history and your educational background should be listed in reverse chronological order (the most recent position or academic qualification should be listed first and then the others).

In a functional resume format, your skills are prioritized over your experience and educational qualifications. This format is now outdated, and only a few people still use it.

The chronological format is best for candidates with years of relevant experience. But if you’re a person with little experience, it is good to go with a combination resume format which is a hybrid version of both chronological and functional resume formats.

As the Singapore job market is looking for skilled candidates, the combination format is ideal for showcasing your skills and experience for potential employers.

How long should a Singapore resume be

The ideal resume length is one page . If you have a considerable amount of related experience and achievements, it could be a challenge for you to keep your resume in a single page. Therefore in such a case it is completely acceptable to go for a second page. However, your resume should not be more than 3 pages for any reason.

Most of the great resumes are short and succinct. Therefore be wise to know what to include and exclude in your resume.

Essential tips to make your Singapore job application stand out

• If you are a foreigner with a Singaporean PR or work visa, make sure to include it in your resume. Having a valid work permit can increase your chances of being called for an interview.
• Your resume will be more engaging and impactful if you use resume action verbs. The proper use of action verbs strategically can highlight your contributions in your previous workplaces. Therefore, you should use action verbs throughout the descriptions and paragraphs when you write your resume.
• Grammar and typo errors appear unprofessional on resumes and could give the reader a negative impression about the candidate. Therefore double-check your resume before sending it to a potential employer. It’s possible that you won’t be able to spot your own mistakes. So that you can have someone else to proofread your resume, such as one of your trusted friends or a family member. You can also use an online tool like Grammarly to help you with this.
• Singapore is a country where technology is best used. So it is no secret that every company in the country uses applicant tracking software. So adjust your resume so that it can beat the ATS . Doing so will give you more interview opportunities.
• If you are applying for a job in Singapore and want to stand out among the other candidates, you can submit a video resume in addition to your resume and cover letter. This is also known as a Visume. Submitting a visume, which is still new to the job market, gives employers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of your communication skills. As a result, you can reduce the number of interviews you have to attend and get a job quickly. See our complete guide to create a video resume .

Job Search Essentials

How to write a winning resume in 2024 | your ultimate cv guide for singaporeans.

April 20, 2023

Welcome to our Ultimate Guide on How To Write A CV.

Written by our team of former recruiters and HR executives, here’s our inside take on what it takes to get noticed by hiring managers.

This guide is so detailed, we actually use it to train our own team of professional CV writers.

And now, we’re opening up our secret CV writing playbook to you as well.

Follow the steps below, and you too will have a brilliant CV that lands you interview after interview.

See our other most popular articles:

• ATS-friendly Resume Templates
• 50+ Resume Samples
• Best Resume Formats
• Contact us to write your CV

Ultimate Guide on How to Write a Resume

ResumeWriter Tip: Of course, a stellar resume is not enough to land you a job. You absolutely need a Cover Letter too! Remember: job-hunting is a two-piece puzzle, so fill in the missing piece with our Ultimate Cover Letter Guide .

What is the Difference between CV and Resume?

We know it’s confusing! The technical explanations are:

• Curriculum Vitae  (CV): an in-depth document detailing your entire career history. Often under 3 pages
• Resume : a short, 1-page career overview

But  in Singapore, CV and Resume are used interchangeably to refer to the same document. Both are typically under 3 pages long, and include your hard and soft skills.

If you’re still confused an unsure, take a look at our CV writing services here . We can take the CV writing process completely off your hands , allowing you to focus on attending the right interviews.

How Long Should My Resume be?

The short answer? Keep it under 3 pages.

Many jobseekers make the mistake of dumping every last bit of information into the CV, making it snake well past 5 pages.

Take it from recruiters like us – we hate long CVs.

To write a crisp CV, think about which parts of your career are most relevant to the recruiter. Exclude everything else.

If you’re coming into the workforce with less than 5 years of experience, keep your CV within 2 pages.

If you’re a mid to senior level candidate, you probably have enough work experience to justify a 2-3 page CV.

ResumeWriter Tip: Wondering what a CV looks like for your specific industry or career stage? Check out our collection of 50+ professionally written CV samples.

How to Write a Resume

This was our client, John’s, original CV, which he sent to us for Free CV Feedback .

While the above CV was neat and organised, it wasn’t getting the client interviews to the top positions he was gunning for.

So our team of professional recruiters stepped in to completely rewrite the CV for the client. (resulting in twice the number of interview calls)

This is what his WINNING resume looks like now:

ResumeWriter Tip: Want a CV just like this? Just download one of our customisable CV samples and write one yourself, following the steps of our guide. Or you can check out our professional CV writing services

6 Key Section Every Resume Needs

These are the 6 key sections every recruiter looks for in a CV:

1. Executive Summary: Purpose: Share your career narrative and give an overview of your entire career

2. Key Skills: Purpose: Tell recruiters your core skill sets – focus on hard skills – at first glance.

3. Work Experience: Purpose: Elaborate on your current and past job scopes and responsibilities.  

4. Achievements: Your Competitive Advantage Purpose: Highlight your specific accomplishments in each role.

5. Education & Qualifications: Purpose: Showcase your academic and professional qualifications.

6. Miscellaneous Information: Purpose: Additional AND relevant information about you, such as languages spoken and your notice period.

ResumeWriter Tip: Alternatively, just download one of our ATS Friendly CV Templates! All the relevant sections are already laid out and pre-filled for you. 🙂 If you’re a fresh graduate or university student with limited exposure to the working world, you can still craft an impressive resume. Here’s our guide on how to write a resume with no work experience .

How to Start a Resume

Use a professional and appropriate header.

Keep it clean and simple!

Includes your name, career title, email, contact details and nationality.

Notice that your career title doesn’t have to be your actual job title.  (ie. Sales & Marketing Director)

You can match this to the job title in the job advertisement – like John has done – provided it’s still an accurate reflection of your role, of course.

An identical job title immediately catches the attention of the Hiring Manager and warrants their further interest.

• Keep your header short and sweet
• Include only your essential contact information
• Use a professional email address
• Include your address, photograph or date-of-birth – these aren’t necessary and may subject you to unconscious hiring biases

ResumeWriter Tip: Always match your CV title to the job title of the advertisement you’re applying for.

Crafting A Compelling Executive Summary

The summary is the opening paragraph of your CV. Think of it as your elevator pitch.

Recruiters often only spend 6 seconds reviewing a CV. Half of that time is spent in the executive summary.

As a jobseeker, your goal should be to craft an executive summary that compels the recruiter to go on to read the next section of your CV.

So use this section wisely – fill it only with the most relevant, most impressive bits of your career.

Note how we filled the executive summary with plenty of metrics. This adds plenty of clout to the applicant’s candidacy, placing him above other applicants in the pile.

Likewise for you, these opening lines MUST draw attention to your  top selling points.

Demonstrate that you have the  skills, experience and achievements to thrive  in the position you’ve applied for.

If you’re uncertain how to craft a compelling executive summary, take a read of our essay on structuring a career narrative .

ResumeWriter Tip: Before you begin your Executive Summary, write your Work Experience and Achievements sections. Once you’ve nailed these, it’s easier to define your personal narrative and career overview.

How To Craft Your Career Narrative

Human beings love the lure of a good story. So when selling your career, channel your inner J.K. Rowling – craft a captivating story that sucks the reader in.

Write something unique that sets you apart from competitors.

Make yourself memorable to the recruiter.

One of our clients was gunning for senior software sales positions. So when crafting his narrative, we emphasised his prior background as a programmer.

We didn’t say that this candidate is just any  B2B SaaS Sales Director. There are far too many sales directors competing for the same role!

By positioning him as a former Software Developer turned  B2B Sales Director, he stands out from the sea of applicants.

This narrative tells recruiters: This candidate isn’t just an excellent salesperson. He also has deep knowledge of the technical aspects of software design.

Who better to convincingly sell software solutions than a passionate salesperson who actually understands the technology, through and through?

This career narrative clearly defines and elevates the candidate’s competitive advantage .

Avoid Motherhood Statements

Here’s another thing that recruiters really hate – Motherhood Statements!

Below is a classic example:

“Dedicated executive with excellent communication skills geared towards building relationships across organisational levels.”

Statements like those contain a lot of bombastic words. But when you really pull them apart, what are they actually saying?

“I work hard, communicate well and can interact well with both my bosses and subordinates”

Hardly impressive, no?

So why then do jobseekers include lines like that in their CV?

This is why recruiters hate motherhood statements so much. They occupy a lot of space and communicate NOTHING about the candidates’ real ability.

If you want to impress the recruiter, avoid using motherhood statements. Instead, use metrics!

Substantiate Your Claims with Metrics

John’s claims in his CV are now backed by relevant metrics:  revenue delivered and sales captured, within specific timeframes.

Compare this with his original Executive Summary:

If you were the hiring manager, reading these 2 versions, which candidate would be more attractive to you?

John’s original Executive Summary was literally a wall of text riddled with motherhood statements that don’t actually say anything . The poorly formatted paragraph also repels hiring managers at first glance.

His new Executive Summary is far more concise , and embedded with various metrics . At a glance, you can tell just how significant  John’s achievements are.

Numbers give claims far more weight, while using fewer words. They also personalise John’s Achievements – only he can deliver his results.

So  always substantiate your claims with metrics.

If you’re struggling to think of suitable metrics to use, ask yourself these questions:

• What was the amount of new business you secured?
• How much revenue did this project bring in?
• What was the size of the budget you managed?
• How many team members did you work with or lead?
• How many new customers did you land as a result of this initiative?

We go deeper into metrics later, when we discuss Work Experience .

Include Your Most Impressive Achievements

In your executive summary, also toss in a few of your top career achievements.

There’s no need to add a long list of them. Just select 3 of the best achievements, ideally achievements which resonate closely to the role you’re applying for.

We have listed John’s most significant achievements in his executive summary, and supported them with metrics.

If you have more achievements, fret not. You can go into detail about those accomplishments later in your CV, under each relevant work stint.

We suggest crafting your Executive Summary after you’ve written your Work Experience and Achievements sections. This makes identifying your best achievements a lot easier!

Need more inspiration in crafting your achievements? Check out our guide to writing great career achievements here .

ResumeWriter Tip: Customise your CV for specific job ads by adding in 2 to 5 relevant target keywords from the ad you are eyeing. This ensures your CV can be read by ATS Scanners , and lands in the recruiter’s hands!

• Spin a unique career narrative – you want to stand out!
• Include up to 3 of your most impressive achievements
• Substantiate these claims with metrics
• Use your Executive Summary to tell recruiters your life story – be concise!

Add Keyword-Friendly Skills at the Top of your CV

We’ve seen many jobseekers bury their skills section at the end of the CV. That’s a mistake!

Recruiters only eyeball each CV for an average of 6 seconds.

So, your key skills MUST be placed near the top for recruiters to see at first glance. (adding key skills to the top also assists in getting past those automated ATS scanners )

We embedded John’s skills right below the Executive Summary in his CV, and aligned these with the target keywords of the job ad he is applying for.

When crafting your Key Skills section, focus on higher value, hard skills, instead of soft skills. Why?

Hard skills have more impact and connect more easily with hiring managers. They also have much higher chances of being picked out as keywords!

Do also group related skills together, so that they’re more easily digestible to hiring managers.

Order your skills from highest value skills at the top to lowest value below. Remember – skills that feature first are most likely to be read by recruiters!

It’s also crucial that each skill listed does not break at the end of a line and spill over into another line! ATS Scanners are not human – they cannot read across multiple lines like us.

• Focus on hard skills
• Order them such that your higher value skills feature first
• Group related skill sets together
• Include only soft skills

ResumeWriter Tip: If you are in a technical role (such as Software Engineer ), be sure to include technical skills, such as the programming languages and frameworks you are most familiar with.

Separate Work Experience and Achievements

One important structural change to make in your CV is separating out your career achievements from each work stint.

Separating them out like this ensures that recruiters notice the contributions you’ve made above and beyond your day to day workscopes.

Craft a Powerful Opening Bullet Point To Each Work Stint

We’ll let you in on a secret:

Recruiters typically only glance at the first bullet point of each work stint, and skip the rest!

So, your first bullet point must communicate everything the recruiter needs to know about what you do, in one line.

Compare the first line of John’s original CV…

…with his reworked CV.

Isn’t the second opening line much better?

In that single line, we’ve communicated the size of his team, budget managed and total number of clients.

It gives the recruiter a fantastic overview of the client’s capabilities.

It  speaks volumes, with fewer words!

Here are some ideas for other metrics you can include in your opening bullet point:

• Geography (Local, Regional or International)
• Work Function
• Budget Managed
• Revenue Generated
• Who You Reported To/Liaised With/Led or Supervised

Kick off your Work Experience section with these details to impress recruiters!

• Capture the essence of the job in your first bullet point; include only key roles
• Substantiate your claims with numbers and metrics
• Make your first bullet point too long! Strive for a maximum of 3-4 lines.

A powerful first line entices the recruiter to read on.

But don’t stop here – keep the subsequent bullet points to be as IMPACTFUL as possible!

Here’s what we did for John:

Compare this with his original Work Experience:

Can you spot the differences?

We’ve condensed the loooong  list of responsibilities into much more succinct bullet points in John’s new CV.

Each bullet point drives greater impact and leaves a stronger impression on the hiring manager.

Use Power Verbs To Write Great Work Descriptions

Here’s another tip – when crafting descriptions of your prior work stints, use power verbs give your CV that extra oomph!

Power verbs are vivid, positive words that inspire confidence in your abilities.

Most jobseekers use statements like this:

Frankly, it’s quite boring and bland. Nothing to impress the reader.

Instead, replace verbs such as “Responsible” with stronger power verbs such as “Oversaw”, “Spearhead”, or “Supervise”.

Here are some of the power verbs we used in John’s new CV:

Doesn’t that read so much better?

Stand Out From The Pack – Highlight Your Achievements

That’s right – most people fail to realise the importance of including achievements.

Your work descriptions list your day-to-day experience. It’s your achievements though, which show you to be a stellar executive.

So how do you write great achievement statements?

Use our formula:

Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]

Take a look at how we applied that formula to John’s Achievements below:

Aren’t his career achievements super obvious and impactful?

This formula works because it tells recruiters two essential pieces of information:

• Scale and impact of results achieved
• What exactly you did to achieve these results

We’ll explain.

Every achievement contains an impactful, measurable outcome  and a description of how the outcome was achieved .

For example:

“ – Negotiated 30% (US$500K) reduction in costs with IT Vendor for server maintenance by issuing public tender with well-defined scope of work, resulting in multiple competitive bids. ”

Outcome  – Impact of what jobseeker did

What Jobseeker Did  – How jobseeker achieved that outcome

In your Achievements,  use metrics  as much as possible!

Numbers add a sense of scale , strengthening the impact of your results.

“Captured a 50% increase” is more impactful than “An increase”.

You can also indicate the time frame for this achievement.

“Captured a 50% increase in sales from $1M to $1.5M in 3 months”

It sounds more impressive that the candidate did this in just 3 months!

ResumeWriter Tip: Always substantiate your achievements with lots of metrics. Don’t claim you’re an expert – show the results you’ve delivered!

What kinds of Achievements can you include?

If you’re unsure how to start, here are 5 questions you can think about:

• How did you make the company more money?
• How did you save the company money?
• How did you increase productivity?
• How did you solve a critical problem?
• How did you lead a large project?

For more examples on how to write great achievements in your CV, click here !

• Emphasise your achievements in your Work Experience sections
• Use metrics as much as possible!
• Apply the magic formula to show impact and scale of your accomplishments
• Use confidential data directly in your CV!

Education & Professional Qualifications

Include relevant qualifications.

Keep things simple here. Unless you’re a fresh graduate, no need to go into too much detail.

In this section, include your:

Academic Qualifications

If you’re a former Dean’s Lister or Award recipient, add it as a sub-bullet point under your educational stint.

• Dean’s List Award Winner (Semester 2 – 99/00)

Professional Qualifications

Any industry-related or external courses or training that you’ve completed or are currently undertaking.

For example, if you’re a digital marketer , you can list your Google Ads certification here.

These should also include specific qualifications that allow you to do certain jobs. For example, the CPA or ACCA for Accounting , or degrees in Medicine or Law.

If you’re keen on exploring professional courses to upskill and ready yourself for the future of work, your SkillsFuture credits could come in handy. These are some practical SkillsFuture courses you can consider.

Miscellaneous Information

Pad your Miscellaneous Section with only relevant information.

This is how we reflected John’s Miscellaneous Information:

Written and spoken languages

We recommend including only languages that you have native or professional proficiency in.

Interests and hobbies

Don’t be shy to include more details about your hobbies here. You never know when the interviewer might have a similar hobby to you.

One client of ours was in the final round between 2 candidates – with not much between them. The hiring manager later admitted that the only reason he got the job was because they shared a deep passion for photography!

Availability and notice period

Indicate this clearly, for example: “1 month’s notice”

Salary details

Do not mention your expected salary in your CV! Salary information should only be negotiated in the later stages of the job offer.

P.S. Benchmark your salary against everyone else in your industry with our Ultimate Singapore Salary Guide . Know where you stand to negotiate the pay you deserve.

If you have ready references, list them here. If not, simply mention that references are available upon request !

ResumeWriter Tip: If you are a foreigner with relevant residency in Singapore (eg. Singaporean PR), be sure to list it in your CV. Having a valid work permit makes a huge difference in getting more interview calls.

Done With The CV? What’s next?

Don’t forget your Cover Letter!

As we’ve shared, the job hunting process is a two-piece puzzle.

Your CV is the essential first half of the equation for landing your dream job.

But you still need a stellar cover letter if you really want to STAND OUT.

Learn how to write a Cover Letter with our Ultimate Cover Letter Guide .

As you can see, a well written CV is made up of so many little moving parts. It’s a lot of work to include all of your work history, educational history, extra curricular activities and more within just one document.

Invest the effort upfront. Like a good lumberjack, sharpen your axe before you start cutting any wood. Work hard on your CV – it’ll make the job hunting process later so much easier.

When you get it right, the results are spectacular. Like our client John, who landed 3 interviews to the 3 jobs he applied for.

If you’re still struggling to land interviews, don’t lose hope. Reach out for help making your own resume stand out from the competition.

As recruiters, we know all the best CV writing tricks to get your application noticed – we’ve been doing this for over a decade.

Reach out to us here.

Best of luck in your job search! 🙂

No matter what stage you’re at in your career journey, we’re here with advice from our combined experiences as recruiters to guide you every step of the way – explore our Job Search Singapore Guide .

Disclaimer: The client testimonials and results achieved from our CV writing tips shared in this article are absolutely real . The character “John” and his story are being used for illustrative purposes only. Names and CV details have been changed to protect client confidentiality.

Return to Ultimate Singapore Job Search Hub

• Recent Posts

• Teacher Resume Sample - February 25, 2024
• Software Engineer/Software Developer Resume Sample - February 24, 2024
• Oil & Gas (Engineering) Resume Sample - February 23, 2024

Latest Articles

• Teacher Resume Sample February 25, 2024
• Software Engineer/Software Developer Resume Sample February 24, 2024
• Oil & Gas (Engineering) Resume Sample February 23, 2024
• 2024 Mechanical Engineer Resume Sample – Refreshed! February 22, 2024
• 2024 Accounting Resume Sample – Updated! February 21, 2024

CV Writing Prices Guide: How To Write A CV Singapore CV Samples Free CV Feedback

Related Articles

Teacher resume sample, software engineer/software developer resume sample, oil & gas (engineering) resume sample.

How to Write a Resume in Singapore – 13 Best Resume Writing Tips

What are the ways of writing a great resume in singapore that will impress your prospective employers read on to find out how to compose the perfect resume..

With the staggering amount of resumes that prospective employers have to sift through, you must be wondering how to write a resume in Singapore and stand out from the crowd?

It has been reported that if you don’t capture the reader’s attention in the first six seconds, your application will probably be tossed out. Therefore, it is crucial for you to compose your resume with the utmost care and attentiveness. A good resume should effectively summarise your job experience, education, skills and awards for the potential employer.

A resume is not to be confused with a Curriculum Vitae or CV, which is slightly different. One key difference between the two is that a resume usually briefly summarises your skills and experience within two pages or less. On the other hand, a CV is more detailed and typically goes beyond two pages.

How to write a resume in Singapore shouldn’t be difficult to answer. To this end, we have compiled 13 resume writing tips in Singapore to write your resume and hopefully land you your dream job.

1. Use a Resume Template

You can start writing a great resume by using a template resume.

Having a template to work off makes it easier for you to compose your resume. Furthermore, it takes care of the formatting and alignment issues so that you can focus on the actual content of the resume.

Resume templates can be found from a variety of sources.

Firstly, there are professional resume templates from applications such as Google Docs, Apple Pages and Microsoft Word. You can also find numerous free resume templates online with a simple Google search.

If you wish to incorporate images and designs in your resume, you can consider other templates based on Photoshop and InDesign as well. The latter would be more relevant if you are applying for jobs in graphic design, photography or technology.

Another good way of getting a resume template is to ask your friends for their resumes. It may be useful to obtain a resume template from someone has successfully procured a job similar to the one you are applying for.

2. Key Sections to Include When Writing Your Resume

Contact information.

You should include your contact information when writing your resume in Singapore. This makes it easy for your potential employer to reach out to you. Other than your name, you should provide your mailing address, email and mobile phone number. You can even provide a link to your LinkedIn profile or personal website if you want to give more personal details.

Work Experience

The work experience section is where you elaborate on your employment history. 

This section should give the employer a sense of your career development and choices. This presents the perfect opportunity to showcase the skills you have gained over the course of your career. You can even highlight the key initiatives and activities that you were involved in and what you learnt from them.

However, the key to resume writing is not to exhaustively list all your previous jobs. Instead, you should list jobs that you feel are relevant to the position you are applying for. In this regard, you may wish to exclude previous part-time stints you undertook or completely unrelated jobs.

Academic Qualifications

The academic qualifications section of your resume is for your prospective employers to determine whether you fulfil the educational requirements for the job. In some cases, having a degree or diploma in a specific field is a basic pre-requisite for the position. 

Employers generally hone in on any university degrees or diplomas you have received. Therefore, you should present these details clearly and prominently. You can state the degree you have obtained, whether you obtained any honours, the school you attended and your year of graduation. You can also highlight important subjects which you took in school that are relevant to your job application.

Awards and Achievements

A key way to write a resume in Singapore is to highlight your awards and achievements. In this section of your resume, you can build upon any job-specific achievements such as best employee or top salesmen awards. Further, you can elaborate on any competitions you’ve won such as hackathons or academic prizes.

Nevertheless, this section is entirely optional. You may not want to include this section if you don’t have many awards or achievements to your name.

Your resume’s skills section relate to your hard, technical skills, rather than your soft skills. This section should disclose your proficiency in programs like Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint. Moreover, you can include additional skills in areas such as copywriting, data analytics, graphic design and so on.

These skills can be written into your resume even if you picked them up on your own. For instance, you can insert in your resume coding skills that you learnt from online courses. While you may not have received formal training in these skills, putting them in your resume shows your willingness to learn and a commitment to your personal development.

Hobbies or Interests

The section on your hobbies or interests is useful for showcasing what you like to do outside of work. However, this section is not strictly needed when writing a resume. Much depends on the company you are applying to work for.

If you wish to work at a company with a more open and diverse culture, then you may decide to add this section. Having unique interests outside of work may also create a good conversation topic. It may even allow you and your job interviewer an opportunity to connect over shared hobbies and interests.

Conversely, if you are applying to a job in a profession such as law or accounting, you may not want to state your hobbies and interests in your resume.

3. Use a Combination of the Reverse Chronological and Functional Approaches

As a general rule, you should adopt the reverse chronological approach when writing a resume. This means that you should list your most recent work experience and qualifications first, followed by the older ones.

Ultimately, employers want to know what your most recent job or qualification is. They may not be as concerned about the job you took five years ago as opposed to five months ago.

However, you can choose to use the functional approach in place of the reverse chronological method under some circumstances.

The functional resume writing approach involves putting the more relevant information about yourself first.

This is usually used when you wish to underscore the important experience or skills that you have that are useful for the job role. You can also use the functional approach to highlight the transferrable skills you have developed in previous work stints.

You can also use the functional approach where you were unemployed for an extended period of time. Using a reverse chronological method in such cases would only make your period of unemployment all the more conspicuous. 

4. Show Your Soft Skills and Key Characteristics

If you’re still wondering how to write a resume in Singapore, this is a key resume writing tip. Decide on some of the soft skills and characteristics you want to demonstrate. Then, devise ways of using your resume to show (not simply state) your soft skills.

After all, saying outright that you are a team player is not very effective. Instead, to show your ability to work in a team, you can say that you “worked closely with team members to spearhead a new initiative” in your previous job. This not only tells the reader what you achieved in your previous role, it also describes a key quality or characteristic that you possess.

5. Use Action Verbs Throughout Your Resume

Action verbs make your resume more engaging and impactful. Furthermore, strategic use of action verbs can also emphasise on your contributions. Hence, you should employ action verbs throughout descriptions and paragraphs while writing a resume.

So what are some action verbs to use in your resume?

Some examples include “executed”, “corresponded”, “orchestrated” “established” and so on.

6. Avoid Using Industry Jargon Excessively

Your resume should be easily understood by a layperson. This is because the recruiter or hiring manager handling your application may not have a technical background. As such, you should avoid using industry jargon in excess. This factor is important when deciding on how to write a resume in Singapore. 

A little bit of jargon may be used if you are applying for a position that requires extensive technical knowledge. This may possibly apply to fields like finance or engineering.

In such cases, careful placement of a few key technical terms in your resume could make you seem a little more knowledgeable. Nonetheless, this should be done in moderation and should not affect the overall readability of your resume. 

7. Proofread for Glaring Grammatical Errors and Typos

This is an obvious but often overlooked resume writing tip in Singapore. Grammatical and typographical errors look very unprofessional and leaves a bad impression on the reader. It shows one of two things. Either that that you are not meticulous enough to spot these mistakes or you simply didn’t put in the effort to write your resume. Hence, you should proofread your resume thoroughly to ensure you don’t make obvious grammatical errors or typos.

As the writer of your resume, you may become blind to glaring mistakes as you’ve read through it numerous times. Therefore, you can consider getting another set of eyes to take a look at your resume. In fact, you can ask trusted friends or family members to help proofread your resume.

8. Use a Nice-Looking Font and Font Size

Your resume should look neat and professional to prospective employers. Therefore, use a clean-looking font such as Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman when writing a resume. In addition, the size of the font should ideally be around 10 to 12 point. This is to enhance the readability of the resume, without the reader having to strain their eyes to read your resume.

9. Save Your Resume in PDF Format

You should always save and send your resume in PDF format. If you use formats such as Microsoft Word, you run the risk of your written resume having formatting or alignment issues due to software compatibility problems. This creates a very bad impression on the part of the reader, even if the issues arose due to no fault on your part. Simple but effective resume writing tip!

10. Compose Your Resume Based on Research

Do some research on your prospective employer before writing your resume. Find out what kind of employee they are looking for.

Then, based on your research, you can compose your resume to highlight qualities that make you suitable for the job. This may improve your chances in the eyes of the reader as you appear to check all the boxes for the potential position. It may also demonstrate to the potential employer that you put in the effort to find out the job requirements and incorporated them into your resume accordingly.

11. Make Sure Your Information is Presented Clearly and Concisely

As mentioned before, employers have limited time to skim through a huge amount of resumes. Therefore, you should present your information clearly and concisely to capture their attention.

You can also make use of bullet points to illustrate the key points of your resume. This enables the reader to quickly understand your significant work experience and qualifications with just a brief scan of your resume. This is precisely how to write a resume in Singapore that awes the hiring managers!

12. Consider Using a Visume

If you wish to differentiate yourself from other job applicants, you can consider complementing your paper resume with a Visume. A Visume is a video resume that allows you to show parts of you that cannot be captured on paper. For instance, a Visume will allow the potential employer to observe your mannerisms and hear how you speak. This may be helpful especially if your written resume is not very impressive and you wish to supplement it using another means.

13. Keep Your Resume Short

Apart from keeping the content of your resume concise, you should also limit your resume to 1 to 2 pages. At the end of the day, you want to zero in on your key achievements and qualities when writing a resume in Singapore. You should not be putting every single thing that comes to mind.

The reader would be turned off if you make them read lengthy, irrelevant passages or a written documentary of your entire life. Thus, you should always strive to keep your resume short and to the point. This is key to good resume writing in this technological age.

Hopefully using our key tips on how to write a resume in Singapore will improve your job application and land you an interview! After getting your new role, you can check out our resignation letter templates to help you resign in a professional manner.

If you like what you read, follow us on  Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn  and  Telegram  to get the latest updates.

Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest articles and updates!

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

7 Best Recruitment Agencies in Singapore

17 Smartest Questions to Ask in an Interview for a Job in Singapore

15 Interview Tips to Land Your Dream Job

3 Resignation Letter Templates To Use

Government agencies communicate via .gov.sg websites (e.g. go.gov.sg/open). Trusted websites Trusted websites

Look for a lock ( ) or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

4 minute read

Job-Winning Online Resume: Your Guide to Crafting One

The internet has changed the way candidates are hired and interviewed. the resume is no different. we explore how you can take your resume online, with some examples and tips to get you started..

Since every job starts with a resume, your goal as a jobseeker is to make the resume compelling enough to convince the prospective employer, that you deserve a chance at an interview.

For a start, you may explore resume templates often used by jobseekers in Singapore .

With the proliferating use of the internet, however, organisations today seek more resource-friendly alternatives — a resume that is online.

How do I make a good online resume for a job?

An online resume is a digital version of its traditional counterpart.

Aside from the mandatory information, such as education and employment history, skills background, and contact information, the digital resume allows you to conveniently direct hirers to work samples, as evidence of your skills to support your resume.

Some examples include articles, photos, and pitch decks.

Use these resume tips at your next job application! Explore over 80,000 job postings now available on MyCareersFuture.

There are different ways you can make a good online resume for a job:

1. Storing online

Hosting your resume on a document-sharing website is a good start.

You may host your resume and relevant files on document-sharing websites that allow free usage of up to a certain limit.

Instead of a softcopy file, you can provide a link to the resume from the site – common examples include:

• Google Drive

Benefits to jobseekers:

• Avoid attachment errors when sending resumes via email or job application sites
• Combine appendices to the resume (i.e. samples of work) instead of sending separate attachments, or include links to samples hosted on the same sharing site

Benefits to employers:

• Instantly view candidate’s resume and work samples in one click instead of downloading multiple files
• Easily send the link to relevant parties in the hiring team for quick viewing
• Access documents on the go

Quick resume tips when storing online:

• Upload your file as a PDF to avoid misalignment issues which often surface in editable formats
• Ensure file size is less than 1 MB for quick loading on any internet browser
• Sign up for a free resume builder to design the resume using a range of customisable templates

Have a job but want to level up? Explore career events and resources designed to help you develop your skills and expand your knowledge with Career GRIT. Check it out now!

2. Creating a resume website

A resume website gives you the flexibility of presenting your professional story with a suite of multimedia features, such as videos, image carousels and audio clips, as well as website elements like drop-down menus, anchor link scrolling and internal/external linking from your resume to work samples.

You can also use a website builder to create a resume and portfolio pages from available templates, for free or with a purchase* (see below) – the latter lets you own a personal domain.

With a website, headhunters can also find you on search engines like Google.

Common examples of website builders for resumes include:

• SquareSpace*
• Have pages or page sections dedicated to work experience, academic history, and skills background
• Create a portfolio on the same website
• Provide a single link to all relevant materials required by the prospective employer
• Easily access candidate’s detailed resume and online portfolio in one click
• Bookmark the link and review the updated resume on a later date should the company reconsider the candidate for the role

Quick resume tips when creating a resume website:

• Optimise the website with relevant keywords such as “insurance”, “marketing”, “experienced insurance agent” or “account manager” to improve online search visibility
• Ensure all important information is ‘above the fold’, which is the top quarter to third section of your website that serves as a hook. Information includes your name, designation, experience level, contact information, and a link to your portfolio within the site

Get useful career tips on the go via on Telegram

3. Using social media

Lastly, you can make use of professional networking platforms to establish your resume, with the most common platform being LinkedIn.

• Establish a detailed profile including educational background, latest employment role, and skills
• Request for recommendations from peers
• Connect and network with like-minded individuals to seek job opportunities
• Search for jobs and apply instantly with your profile
• Headhunt for potential candidates with search function
• Connect with candidates and review profiles on a later date for a possible vacancy
• Reduce the need for paper resumes

Quick resume tips when creating a LinkedIn profile :

• Add a well-written summary and review it yearly
• Include a link to resume website and/or portfolio
• Attach work samples for each employment position
• Ensure profile designation is well written (i.e. “Freelance writer looking for projects” or “Experienced HR manager open to work”)
• Write articles on relevant topics directly or indirectly related to your field to display your knowledge level

Related topics:

HR Reveals: How to Make Your Resume Stand Out to Employers

2 minute read

Job Applications: Key Factors to Consider for Both Employers and Jobseekers

Quick share

Enjoyed reading this? View other related articles below:

Tips for new entrants joining the workforce

First Time Looking for Jobs? Read This Beginner’s Guide

Honesty in Interviews: Here’s Why it Matters

3 minute read

Feedback: Why You Should Ask for It

Advice for managing your mid-career development

3 Things Not to Say When Negotiating Salary for a Mid-Career Switch

Worried About Reaching Your Career Goals? Here Are Some Tips for Singapore’s Broad Middle Workers (PODCAST)

5 minute read

4 Positive Work Habits for Your Mental Well-being

Insights for mature workers to stay relevant

Career Confessions: What Retirement? He Chose to Embark on a Career Switch in His 60s!

14 minute read

Jobs to Consider in the Second Half of Your Career for Mature Workers, and the Skills You’ll Need

Knowledge Sharing: How and Why Guiding Younger Colleagues Benefits Your Career

Home / Job-Winning Online Resume: Your Guide to Crafting One

Find more jobs like these at MyCareersFuture Job Portal

An initiative by Workforce Singapore

Whether you are a fresh graduate searching for a new entry-level job or a seasoned veteran considering a career switch, Workipedia by MyCareersFuture is the one-stop website for all your job application needs.

• SG AU NZ HK CN
• Search jobs
• Job interviews
• Psychometric testing
• Hudson Career
• Accounting & Finance
• Financial Services
• Human Resources
• Legal & Compliance
• Sales & Marketing
• Supply Chain & Procurement
• Technology & Digital
• Technical & Operations
• Volume recruitment
• About Hudson

Resumes & cover letters: Free resume templates

Writing a resume can be harder than it looks. To help you get started, we have compiled three most popular resume formats in downloadable Word template formats.

These templates were deemed the most popular types by our highly-experienced consultants who assess hundreds of resumes on a weekly basis.

Choose the template that is right for your experiences and make sure you highlight your accomplishments in a way that tells your story best.

Reverse chronological resume template

The reverse chronological resume is the most common and traditional type of resume. With this resume format, you list your relevant work experience in reverse chronological order, beginning with your most recent position and proceeding backwards.

For each job, provide dates, location and the name of your employer, and succinctly outline your key responsibilities and achievements. The advantage of using the reverse chronological format is that it highlights your upward career progression and continuous work history.

Functional resume template

The functional resume is perfect for those with gaps in their employment, changing career tracks or those who have a long work history.

A functional resume format emphasises your skills and abilities, or ‘functional areas’, rather than chronological employment history and is especially useful when you are changing your career focus, when you are returning to work after a break, or when you want to highlight your skills and achievements from older jobs or from volunteer or extracurricular experience.

One-page career summary template

Another resume layout option is to prepare a one-page career summary that is a shorter, more targeted version of your resume. Providing a snapshot of your key achievements, strengths, competencies, experience and qualifications, it is particularly relevant for senior executives with many accomplishments and years of professional experience.

A one-page career summary can act as a useful marketing tool that can stand alone or can accompany a full resume providing more detailed information.