There isn’t never one magical way of creating a resume that will land you interviews and eventually secure your dream job. Many employers and hiring managers prefer resumes that are customized based on the position that is advertised. As a job seeker, it’s never easy to know what the recruiter will be looking for in your resume. Even so, there are things you can do to make sure that your resume stands out. This article will explore some of those ways and tell you how to go about it.
1. Resumes are better when they are short and concise
The best way to try and get the attention of any recruiter with your CV is to make everything about it short and concise. Present yourself in the best way possible and avoid fluff. What is fluff in a resume? Including too many unrelated job experiences. The job experiences section is probably the most important part of any resume, and any keen hiring person will want to know what’s there. But you should know what to include in that section.
If you have been working for a while, most employers want to see 10-15 years of your working experience. Even so, only include experiences related to the position you are applying for. You may have gained a lot of experience in your first job, but including every detail of what you know about the field might not be of help. If you don’t have any work experience to showcase, talk about the skills that will help you execute the job you are applying for.
2. Searching for posting keywords will help you know what the employer is looking for
Before you start writing your resume, and in order to include only what is relevant, you need to understand what the employer is looking for. You can do this by searching for keywords in the job posting. Study the job description carefully and look for words or phrases that may stand out. Sometimes these words and phrases are repeated in the description. Once you learn what the employer is looking for, you can then tailor your resume to reflect it.
For instance, if you are applying for a software engineering job, look for key phrases like front-end, back-end, QA engineer, software testing, and so on. You may want to pay particular attention to the requirements and qualifications sections to learn more about what the job requires. If you have relevant experience, include as much as possible. If, on the other hand, you don’t have the necessary experience, include skills that show you can handle what the job needs from you.
3. Pick a template that will showcase your strongest points early
It may sound like a broken record, but it’s true that most hiring managers barely read the entire resume. Some will try as much as they can to sniff out relevant job experiences, but many are looking for something to make them like you. A template can help you do that if you know how to pick one that works. Some employers will be looking for originality. In that case, you will want to edit the template to look like your own. Any template can guide you on how to get started, but it’s up to you to expand it and make it your own.
If you cannot pick a template that will showcase your strong points early, you can think about letting a professional do it for you. You can ask for help with resume writing from a resume builder service. These services hire top professionals who understand what a good resume should look like. These professionals have a lot of experience doing this and will know what template to use for any job.
4. Look at resume samples in your industry
These are easy to find; a quick Google search should yield hundreds of samples. Look for the ones related to the job you are applying for. However, do not copy everything you see in these samples. The idea is to find out how professional resumes are written and how different job experiences and qualifications are presented. Learn what needs to be included in a resume for the job you are applying for. You can even use one as a template but expand it to look unique.
5. You should know how to highlight relevant experiences and skills
We’ve talked about how you should only include job experiences related to what you are applying for. However, you should also know how to present them. To make sure your CV stands out, pick three or four former positions or job experiences that best highlight the skills advertised in the job. You may have more than that, but remember hiring managers value brevity. Don’t list every position you’ve ever held. Go straight to the point and say the position you held in one job, then bullet everything else you did under that position.
If your work experiences don’t directly relate to the job you are applying for, try and use words creatively to present your experiences. Tell your employer how you used your skills to make the organization better with your skills.
6. Use a professional font
Professional fonts will make your CV easier to read and help your employer make a decision quickly. Most professional CV builders agree that fonts like Arial or Times New Roman are basic and very easy to read. Once you have settled on what font to use, pick between 10 and 12 points – this makes your resume appear professional. Eliminate too much white space in your resume. If you leave too many blank spaces, your resume will look sparse and may raise a red flag. Leaving spaces may distract the reader and may make them miss what you are trying to show them. You can reduce this by increasing the font size. You can also add extra sections like Awards and Achievement.
7. Present your job experiences with numbers and metrics
One thing you notice with those professional samples you see on the internet is that they include metrics and numbers – especially under the work experience section. This helps with quantifying your successes. This can make your achievements stand out and give the recruiter a clear sense of the impact you had on your previous employment. For instance, if you worked as a sales representative, you could give the number of calls you executed in a day and give the conversion percentage.
8. Power Words could give your resume an edge
Your resume will likely land you at least an interview if you use active language. Don’t go overboard with words that are difficult to read or ones that make your resume hard to read. Instead, use words like “achieved,” “accomplished,” or “earned.” These words can help to keep your resume short and concise. Remember, hiring managers probably have hundreds, if not thousands of resumes to go through. The easier you make it for them, the better it is for you. Power words could also help to highlight your knowledge in your field. They could also boost your job experience sections or strongly highlight your skills.
9. Consider a career snapshot or a resume summary
A resume summary or career snapshot comes at the top of the resume. It includes what value you can offer your employer and your skills and qualifications. Your work, experience, skills, and qualifications should appear in bullet points. These skills should be relevant to the job you are applying for. Make sure the summary is robust and captures the attention of the hiring manager or recruiter.
To come up with a catching career summary, imagine yourself as the interviewee and ask yourself questions like; what would you say if someone asked you to describe your work experience in one sentence? It’s a good way to put your best foot forward early in your resume. The recruiter shouldn’t have to search for the top skills in your CV.
10. Include Only sections that you need
This tip emphasizes the need to edit the template you use to write your resume. Do not include all the sections in a template. For instance, you don’t need both a career summary and a career objective. Both apply to different groups of job seekers. When you have no work experience or are just coming out of college, only include a career objective. A career summary applies to those who already have a lot of work experience. For those out of college, instead of the work experiences section, you can include relevant coursework or academic achievements. You can also include the experiences you earned in your internships and extracurricular projects. If you can’t fill a section with more than two bullet points, consider combining it with a related section.
Conclusion
Your resume is your biggest ammunition when trying to maneuver the job market’s battlefield. You need to make sure it’s polished for when you are ready to get out there and conquer the work environment. Different jobs require different approaches in terms of how you write your resume. Make sure you apply the tips given in this article to give yourself a chance.
