An effective resume can be the cornerstone of your job search, providing access to new opportunities and increasing the chance that you find your ideal role.
Focus instead on your accomplishments instead of listing responsibilities by using metrics and figures to demonstrate the positive contributions made in previous roles.
1. Use a Clean and Professional Layout
Layout is essential when it comes to resumes. A clean and professional layout includes consistent font sizes, standard text font style, and plenty of white space - this helps your resume appear more professional while making it easier for readers.
Hiring managers often first see your summary section. This should be short but compelling in its presentation of career highlights, core skills and qualifications in an engaging fashion - encouraging them to keep reading while making you stand out from competition.
Next, highlight your work experience chronologically beginning with your most recent job. Be sure to include each company, title, years of employment and any notable accomplishments or notable achievements for each position held. Similarly, add an education section detailing your highest degree earned and any relevant certifications.
2. Highlight Your Core Skills
An essential skills section provides the ideal way to demonstrate tangible talents that would aid you in the job you are applying for, such as technical abilities or any industry-related knowledge such as software programs or languages.
Employers seek tangible examples of your abilities, so using numbers like percentages or dollars can add significant weight to your statement, advises Salemi. Avoid vague statements like "solved problems" or "created new processes."
Create an applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly resume by including a strong core skills section in your resume, since these abilities often overlap with keywords used by applicant tracking systems (ATS). ATS allows recruiters to easily find your resume and put you into their interview pile for consideration.
3. Include Industry-Specific Keywords
If you're applying for a specific position, make sure your resume matches up with the qualifications and experiences outlined in the job description. Doing this shows your dedication and increases the chance of an interview being granted.
Be wary of overusing keywords as this may cause applicant tracking systems to filter your resume out. Instead, use them strategically throughout your resume where it makes sense, such as in the summary and experience sections.
Showcase both hard and soft skills, like organisation and time management. Also highlight achievements that can be measured, like money saved or exceeded targets, clients acquired or time saved on performing a task - these achievements will leave an impactful lasting impression that outshines simply listing daily duties.
4. Showcase Your Accomplishments
Showcase your greatest achievements to create an impressionable first impression with hiring managers. By emphasizing achievements over simply listing duties, you can provide a compelling account of your professional journey that's more engaging than an indecipherable list of responsibilities.
Use the Problem-Action-Results formula when writing up your achievements; begin by outlining a problem, followed by what actions were taken to solve it, and finally describing their effects. Be sure to include quantitative metrics whenever possible so your employer can understand your impact.
Make sure to highlight your core skills in an independent section of the resume; this can help distinguish you against candidates with similar qualifications. Boldly state these attributes such as time management or teamwork to draw the eye of potential employers.
5. Avoid Mistakes
Avoiding common resume mistakes will help ensure that you secure the position you seek.
Misusing Buzzwords: Be careful with using words like "go-getter" or "hard worker." They could make recruiters think you are overconfident or suspicious of you, leading them to mistrust your commitment or dependability.
Unrelated Information: Be mindful that a resume should not focus on you; rather it should highlight what value you bring to potential employers. Avoid listing irrelevant details such as part-time jobs or experiences not related to the position for which you're applying.
Misspellings and Grammatical Errors: Before sending out your resume, take care to carefully proofread it for spelling and grammar errors. It can be easy to miss these mistakes when writing such a long document - always proofread your resume before sending it off!
