Resume Building with Google Drive

By FPL_Amy

Always have your resume close at hand with Google Drive.

Google Drive allows you to store, access, and share files online, allowing you to easily access your files from any device with internet access. Best of all you don’t have to remember to click Save when working on a project since Google Drive automatically stores your work. A feature I wish had existed when I was getting my undergrad degree in the early 2000s. I can’t tell you how many times I lost my work due to failure to save or my computer crashing at the wrong time.

Another useful feature, and one that may not be as well known, is that Google Drive offers resume templates. These templates act as a guide for when you’re entering information and provides consistency throughout your resume by using a standard layout, design, and formatting. So not only can I easily create a professional looking resume using these templates, but I can also easily access and share my resume when a job opportunity arises.

Your resume is how you make a first impression, and you better make it a good one if you want to be called in for an interview. Google Drive can help with that.

Try building your own resume with Google Drive, by following the steps below.

Step 1: Login to your Google Drive account and choose a resume template.

Step 2: Starting with contact information, replace the text in the template with your information.

Step 3: Update the work experience section.

You may want to take a few minutes and brainstorm relevant work experiences to include on your resume. For each work experience include name of employer, dates of employment, type of work, description of what you did, and location.

It’s okay if you haven’t had a paying job. You can include volunteer work, community service, classroom responsibilities, and even hobbies as long as it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Step 4: Include measurable details to your work experience descriptions.

Now that you’ve got your work experiences listed, go back to each entry, and add measurable details like how often you worked, how much you accomplished during a shift, and how many items you completed over the course of a project.

Step 5: Insert your education history into the template.

When to include your GPA: If you are still in school or are a recent graduate, including your GPA (especially if you have a high GPA) may help you stand out. If you have been out of school for five or more years, you probably don't need to include your GPA, since chances are you have gained relevant professional experience. If your GPA is lower than a 3.0, it’s recommended to not include your GPA as it can hurt your chances of getting a call back.

Step 6: Add skills to your resume.

Under the skills section, list abilities that you didn’t mention in your work experience section. This can include hard and soft skills. Hard skills include technical and job specific skills like typing, speaking a second language, certifications, and using software. Soft skills are personal qualities that show how you relate and interact with others. These include skills like problem solving, critical thinking, customer service, time management, and effective communication.

Many companies use software that scan resumes for keywords hoping to find the most qualified applications without having to manually go through each one. It’s recommended that you match your skills to the job description. Read the description of the job you’re applying for and include the skills that describe your best qualities and align most closely to the job posting.

Step 7: Add awards, honors, and activities.

Include awards and activities that highlight positive qualities that employers may be looking for in a new employee. If you don’t have anything to add to this section, simply delete it.

Step 8: Proofreading your resume.

Once you’ve finished your first draft of your resume, you’ll want to read over your resume.

• Make sure your bullet points are in the correct sections.
• Check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Remember that spellcheck does not find every mistake and these types of mistakes may keep you from getting a call back.
• Look for strong action verbs and phrases that stand out.
• Use concise language as every word counts in a one-page resume.

Step 9: Formatting your resume.

Once you have finished proofreading your resume, you want to finish your resume by making any layout and formatting changes.

• Depending on the type of resume you’re creating you may want to organize your sections differently.
  • To do this, simply highlight the section you wish to move.
  • Use the Cut function (Ctrl+X) to remove the section.
  • Move your cursor to where you want the section to be in your resume and use the Paste function (Ctrl+V) to add it.
  • The Cut and Paste functions can also be found on the toolbar in the Home tab. Just look for the clipboard icon to see your options.

• Common formatting changes include:
  • Reducing or increasing line spacing
  • Reducing or increasing font sizes
  • Cutting unnecessary words like “really” or “very”
• Remember to apply formatting changes across your document for a more uniform look.
• Perform a spell check of your document. While spell check doesn’t catch all spelling and grammatical issues, it does catch many common issues.
• Consider sharing your final draft with someone who will provide you with feedback.

Step 10: Download and share your resume.  

References:

Coursey, Erin. “Writing Soft Skills Into Your Resume.” iHire, 15 Nov. 2019, https://www.ihire.com/careeradvice/pages/soft-skills-for-resume.

Doyle, Alison. “Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills: What's the Difference?” The Balance Careers, 20 Jan. 2020, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/hard-skills-vs-soft-skills-2063780.

Doyle, Alison. “When to Include a GPA on Your Resume.” The Balance Careers, 17 Sep. 2020, https://www.thebalancecareers.com/when-to-include-your-gpa-on-your-resume-2059859.

Grow With Google. Create a Resume with Google Docs. Sep. 2020. PowerPoint Presentation.