- Employers⠀look at⠀resumes⠀for an⠀average of⠀only six⠀or seven⠀seconds.
- You’ll⠀get the⠀best⠀results if⠀you send⠀your⠀resume⠀between 6⠀a.m. and⠀10 a.m.⠀within the⠀first four⠀days after⠀a job is⠀posted.
- Your⠀resume⠀should be⠀clear,⠀concise⠀and⠀tailored⠀to the job⠀for which⠀you are⠀applying.
- This⠀article is⠀for job⠀seekers⠀who want⠀to improve⠀their⠀resumes⠀and⠀increase⠀their⠀chances of⠀getting an⠀interview.
With⠀the⠀current⠀labor⠀shortage⠀and low⠀unemployment⠀rate, job⠀seekers⠀are at an⠀advantage.⠀However,⠀that’s⠀not to say⠀you⠀don’t⠀need a⠀professionally⠀written⠀resume.⠀Employers⠀still want⠀to find⠀and hire⠀the best⠀employees⠀for each⠀open⠀position,⠀and⠀resumes⠀are the⠀first step⠀in that⠀search.⠀Use the⠀following⠀strategies⠀to make⠀your⠀resume⠀stand out⠀and⠀demonstrate⠀that you⠀are the⠀best⠀candidate⠀for the⠀job.
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| Tips for Creating a Great Resume |
How⠀to create⠀a great⠀resume
Here⠀are some⠀tips for⠀creating⠀an⠀impressive⠀resume.
1.⠀Assemble⠀your job⠀history⠀and⠀skills.
The⠀firststep⠀in⠀creating⠀your⠀resume⠀should⠀include⠀your⠀relevant⠀job⠀history,⠀industry⠀experience⠀and⠀applicable⠀skills.⠀While you⠀might feel⠀tempted to⠀add every⠀place⠀you’ve⠀ever⠀worked at,⠀narrow⠀down your⠀history to⠀only list⠀relevant⠀roles or⠀experiences.⠀This will⠀keep your⠀resume⠀concise⠀and direct⠀hiring⠀managers⠀and⠀recruiters⠀to the⠀right⠀place.⠀However,⠀this also⠀might mean⠀creating⠀multiple⠀resumes⠀and⠀tailoring⠀them to⠀the⠀specific⠀job/company⠀you’re⠀applying⠀to.
From⠀there,⠀format⠀your⠀resume so⠀that it is⠀easy to⠀identify⠀your⠀qualifications.⠀For⠀instance,⠀if you⠀advanced⠀in a⠀company⠀quickly,⠀draw⠀attention⠀to that⠀growth,⠀said⠀Claire⠀Bissot,⠀SPHR and⠀director⠀of Kainos⠀Capital.⠀If you⠀excessively⠀job-hopped,⠀bullet⠀those jobs⠀without⠀providing⠀specifics⠀and detail⠀more⠀applicable⠀positions.⠀This will⠀play to⠀your⠀assets.
When⠀structuring⠀your⠀resume,⠀make sure⠀the⠀information⠀is⠀presented⠀in a⠀logical⠀order,⠀said⠀career⠀coach⠀Veronica⠀Yao.⠀
“A⠀hiring-manager⠀[will]⠀read your-resume⠀starting⠀at-the-top⠀& ending⠀at-the⠀bottom.⠀However,⠀if-they⠀don’t-finish⠀reading⠀the whole⠀thing —⠀and-they⠀often⠀don’t⠀— you⠀still-want⠀to-ensure⠀your⠀strongest-points⠀come⠀across.”
2.⠀Use an⠀original⠀resume⠀template.
Employers⠀appreciate⠀originality.⠀While⠀it’s⠀helpful to⠀refer to a⠀professional⠀resume⠀template,⠀don’t⠀follow it⠀rigidly,⠀as this⠀might⠀actually⠀deter⠀potential⠀employers.
“I⠀often pass⠀over⠀resumes⠀that match⠀Microsoft⠀Office⠀templates,”⠀Bissot⠀told⠀Business⠀News⠀Daily.⠀“The⠀templates⠀are meant⠀to be a⠀guide to⠀get⠀started,⠀but it⠀should be⠀expanded⠀on to make⠀it your⠀own.”
Showcase⠀your⠀expertise⠀in an⠀appealing⠀and⠀eye-catching⠀manner so⠀you stand⠀out from⠀other⠀applicants,⠀especially⠀if⠀you’re⠀in a⠀creative⠀industry.⠀Include⠀hyperlinks,⠀aesthetic⠀formatting,⠀colors and⠀shading,⠀testimonials⠀and other⠀unique⠀features.⠀Use your⠀resume to⠀tell your⠀career⠀story. For⠀instance,⠀you can⠀write an⠀interesting⠀“about⠀me”⠀section to⠀personalize⠀and⠀summarize⠀your⠀experiences.
3.⠀Fill out⠀the⠀sections.
Use⠀bullet⠀points or⠀short⠀lines to⠀outline⠀your job⠀responsibilities⠀and⠀accomplishments⠀for each⠀role⠀you’ve⠀listed on⠀your⠀resume.⠀This will⠀help⠀recruiters⠀and hiring⠀managers⠀better⠀understand⠀your⠀experiences⠀and how⠀you’ve⠀helped⠀that⠀company⠀grow.
⠀
Typically,⠀it’s⠀best to⠀use action⠀verbs and⠀data-backed⠀words⠀rather⠀than⠀“fluff.”⠀For⠀example,⠀if⠀you’re⠀outlining⠀social⠀media⠀marketing⠀experience,⠀rather⠀than⠀simply⠀stating⠀“I⠀managed⠀social⠀media⠀platforms⠀for my⠀client,”⠀write⠀“Increased⠀social⠀media lead⠀generation⠀by X⠀percent⠀year-over-year.”⠀This cuts⠀to the⠀point and⠀backs up⠀your⠀credentials⠀with hard⠀data to⠀showcase⠀your⠀success.⠀
4.⠀Choose the⠀file⠀type.
Most⠀employers⠀prefer⠀resumes as⠀Microsoft⠀Word⠀documents⠀(.doc) or⠀PDF files.⠀Microsoft⠀Word⠀documents⠀are the⠀most⠀traditional⠀and widely⠀accepted⠀file types⠀for⠀resumes,⠀but PDFs⠀ensure the⠀formatting⠀doesn’t⠀become⠀wonky⠀after⠀submission.⠀
However,⠀when⠀you’re⠀dealing⠀with⠀applicant⠀tracking⠀systems⠀(ATS),⠀Word⠀documents⠀are easier⠀for these⠀systems to⠀read⠀through⠀and pick⠀up on⠀important⠀keywords.⠀This is⠀important⠀if you⠀want to⠀stand out⠀in modern⠀recruiting.⠀If you⠀submit a⠀PDF or⠀other⠀file, you⠀might get⠀automatically⠀rejected⠀if the⠀system⠀cannot⠀read it. A⠀general⠀rule of⠀thumb is⠀to save⠀both⠀versions⠀of your⠀resume and⠀submit a⠀Word⠀document⠀to⠀applications⠀on job⠀sites and⠀a PDF when⠀sending⠀directly⠀to a⠀recruiter⠀or hiring⠀manager.⠀[Read⠀related⠀article:⠀Ways AI Is⠀Changing⠀HR⠀Departments]
5.⠀Proofread⠀the⠀draft.
Before⠀you submit⠀your⠀resume⠀anywhere,⠀proofread⠀it⠀yourself⠀and ask a⠀trusted⠀friend or⠀professional⠀contact to⠀do the⠀same. One⠀minor⠀mistake or⠀grammatical⠀error⠀could⠀result in⠀countless⠀rejections.⠀Your⠀resume is⠀your first⠀— and⠀often only⠀— chance⠀to impress⠀a⠀potential⠀employer,⠀and you⠀should⠀treat it⠀as⠀such.
Here⠀are a few⠀things to⠀look⠀at:
Spelling,⠀grammar⠀and⠀punctuation:⠀Ahiring⠀manager⠀will⠀likely⠀automatically⠀dismiss⠀your⠀application⠀if they⠀spot a⠀typo or⠀grammatical⠀error.⠀“Make⠀sure⠀it’s⠀error-free⠀and easy⠀to⠀read,”⠀said Diya⠀Obeid,⠀founder⠀and CEO of⠀ATS⠀company⠀JobDiva.⠀“HR reps⠀equate⠀typos and⠀errors⠀with⠀laziness.⠀Use good⠀English⠀— the⠀written⠀word has a⠀huge⠀impact on⠀the⠀employer.”
Formatting:⠀“Review⠀formatting⠀very⠀closely,⠀including⠀font,⠀alignment⠀and⠀spacing,”⠀Bissot⠀said.⠀“Related⠀issues can⠀often be⠀perceived⠀as a sign⠀of lacking⠀technical⠀skills⠀and/or⠀attention⠀to⠀detail.”
Headings:⠀Yao said⠀that⠀candidates⠀often⠀submit⠀applications⠀addressed⠀to the⠀wrong⠀employer⠀or outline⠀experience⠀that’s⠀irrelevant⠀to the⠀role.⠀“Receiving⠀a resume⠀that’s⠀crafted⠀and⠀addressed⠀to someone⠀else —⠀or worse,⠀a⠀competitor⠀— can be⠀a huge⠀turnoff⠀and will⠀set a⠀negative⠀tone even⠀if they do⠀choose to⠀continue⠀reading⠀your⠀application.”
Resume⠀writing⠀tips
It⠀can be⠀difficult⠀to⠀succinctly⠀present⠀all of⠀your⠀experiences⠀and⠀qualifications⠀on one⠀page, but⠀there are⠀many ways⠀to spruce⠀up your⠀resume⠀without⠀going⠀overboard.⠀To help⠀you land⠀an⠀interview,⠀we rounded⠀up some of⠀the best⠀resume-writing⠀tips.
1.⠀Keep your⠀resume⠀short and⠀direct.
The⠀No. 1 rule⠀of writing⠀a resume⠀is to keep⠀it short⠀and to the⠀point. The⠀general⠀rule is no⠀more than⠀one page⠀unless you⠀have a⠀good⠀reason for⠀it to be⠀longer,⠀like an⠀extensive⠀career or⠀a lot of⠀highly⠀applicable⠀work⠀experience.
An⠀easy way⠀to keep⠀your⠀resume⠀concise is⠀to include⠀only⠀recent,⠀relevant⠀experience.⠀While that⠀yearlong⠀first job⠀might have⠀taught you⠀a lot⠀about the⠀field, you⠀don’t⠀always⠀need to⠀include⠀every⠀detail⠀from your⠀entire⠀career⠀history.
Most⠀experts⠀recommend⠀including⠀jobs from⠀the⠀previous⠀10 or 15⠀years⠀only,⠀although⠀this time⠀frame may⠀be shorter⠀if you are⠀new to the⠀workforce.⠀Including⠀too many⠀unrelated⠀work⠀experiences⠀can make⠀your⠀resume⠀appear too⠀busy and⠀draw⠀attention⠀away from⠀your⠀relevant⠀qualifications.⠀Your⠀resume⠀should be⠀focused,⠀clear and⠀concise.
2.⠀Highlight⠀relevant⠀skills and⠀experiences.
Using⠀the same⠀resume for⠀every job⠀you apply⠀for is not⠀the best⠀approach.⠀Instead,⠀your⠀resume⠀should⠀target the⠀specific⠀job you⠀are⠀applying⠀for.⠀Prioritize⠀the⠀skills,⠀qualifications⠀and⠀experiences⠀that are⠀directly⠀applicable⠀to the job⠀you are⠀trying to⠀land.
Choose⠀three or⠀four⠀former⠀positions⠀or⠀experiences⠀that best⠀highlight⠀the skills⠀required⠀for each⠀position⠀for which⠀you apply.⠀Employers⠀value⠀brevity;⠀this is⠀not the⠀time to⠀list every⠀position⠀you have⠀ever held.⠀For⠀example,⠀if you are⠀applying⠀for a⠀marketing⠀position,⠀you could⠀include⠀your⠀former⠀retail⠀experience⠀and bullet⠀the⠀communication,⠀branding⠀and⠀interpersonal⠀skills you⠀learned in⠀that⠀position.
If⠀you⠀don’t⠀have a⠀work⠀history⠀that⠀directly⠀relates to⠀the job⠀you are⠀applying⠀for, be⠀creative⠀with how⠀you⠀present⠀your other⠀experiences.⠀Draw on⠀the skills⠀you used⠀and how⠀your⠀contributions⠀benefited⠀the⠀organization⠀or⠀project.
3.⠀Demonstrate⠀results⠀with⠀numbers⠀and⠀metrics.
When⠀you write⠀about your⠀previous⠀work⠀experience,⠀it is⠀always a⠀good idea⠀to⠀quantify⠀your⠀successes⠀with⠀numbers.⠀Metrics⠀can⠀highlight⠀your⠀achievements⠀and give⠀the hiring⠀manager or⠀recruiter⠀a clear⠀sense of⠀how you⠀impacted⠀your⠀previous⠀place of⠀employment.⠀For⠀example,⠀someone⠀who⠀previously⠀worked as⠀a sales⠀representative⠀might say⠀that they⠀“executed⠀more than⠀50 cold⠀calls⠀daily,⠀with an⠀average 5⠀percent⠀conversion⠀rate.”
4.⠀Craft a⠀career⠀snapshot.
More⠀recently,⠀career⠀experts⠀have urged⠀job⠀seekers to⠀do away⠀with the⠀old⠀“objective”⠀statement⠀and⠀instead⠀consider⠀including⠀a brief⠀summary,⠀called a⠀“career⠀snapshot,”⠀at the top⠀of their⠀resume.
“With⠀the career-snapshot,⠀you⠀present a-branding⠀statement⠀that-briefly⠀explains⠀your⠀unique-value as⠀well as⠀your⠀skills and-qualifications,”⠀said Tomer⠀Sade, CEO⠀of-Book a⠀Space.⠀“This-would then⠀be-followed⠀by a few⠀bullet⠀points⠀that⠀highlight⠀your-experience⠀and your-accomplishments.⠀Whatever-you list⠀here⠀should be-relevant⠀to the⠀position⠀you’re⠀applying⠀to.”
5.⠀Optimize⠀your⠀text.
If⠀a company⠀uses an⠀ATS to⠀collect⠀and scan⠀resumes, a⠀human⠀hiring⠀manager⠀may never⠀see any⠀application⠀that⠀doesn’t⠀fit the⠀job⠀criteria⠀they’ve⠀entered.⠀Trish⠀O’Brien,⠀vice⠀president⠀of human⠀capital⠀operations⠀at⠀Lifelong⠀Learner⠀Holdings,⠀emphasized⠀adapting⠀your⠀resume to⠀the⠀position⠀to⠀increase⠀your⠀likelihood⠀of passing⠀the first⠀level.
“Make⠀sure⠀you’ve⠀carefully⠀reviewed⠀the⠀posting⠀and …⠀[used] the⠀appropriate⠀keywords⠀in your⠀resume to⠀get past⠀the⠀screener,”⠀O’Brien⠀said.⠀“Be⠀truthful,⠀but⠀understand⠀that the⠀first pass⠀on your⠀resume is⠀likely via⠀an⠀ATS.”
A⠀helpful⠀tip is to⠀make sure⠀you⠀include⠀keywords⠀from the⠀job post⠀in your⠀resume.⠀Copy and⠀paste the⠀job⠀description⠀into a⠀word-cloud⠀generator⠀to⠀identify⠀the most⠀frequently⠀used⠀terms, and⠀make sure⠀the terms⠀that apply⠀to you are⠀used in⠀your⠀resume.⠀You can⠀also⠀create a⠀“core⠀competencies”⠀or⠀“areas⠀of⠀expertise”⠀section of⠀your⠀resume to⠀list all⠀of your⠀hard and⠀soft⠀skills,⠀and then⠀reiterate⠀those⠀skills⠀when you⠀bullet⠀your⠀experience.
6.⠀Think⠀beyond⠀your job⠀duties.
Hiring⠀managers⠀don’t⠀want to⠀read a⠀list of⠀your job⠀duties.⠀They want⠀concrete⠀examples⠀of your⠀accomplishments⠀in⠀previous⠀positions⠀that show⠀how you⠀can make a⠀difference⠀in this⠀new⠀position.
Rangel⠀said that⠀specific⠀merits are⠀more⠀engaging⠀to read⠀than just⠀your⠀experiences.⠀For⠀example,⠀“I⠀reduced⠀operating⠀expenses⠀by 23⠀percent in⠀six⠀months”⠀is far⠀more⠀interesting⠀to an⠀employer⠀than “I⠀have 30⠀years of⠀sales⠀experience.”
When⠀deciding⠀what⠀information⠀to keep or⠀cut out of⠀your⠀resume,⠀focus on⠀striking⠀abstract⠀traits and⠀qualifications⠀in favor⠀of⠀concrete,⠀quantifiable⠀results.
“The⠀best⠀resumes⠀highlight⠀a job⠀candidate’s⠀actions⠀and⠀results,”⠀said Bob⠀Myhal,⠀chief⠀marketing⠀officer at⠀CBC⠀Automotive⠀Marketing.⠀“Employers⠀want⠀employees⠀who get⠀things⠀done and⠀who take⠀great joy⠀and pride⠀in what⠀they do.⠀Rather⠀than a⠀laundry⠀list of⠀your⠀qualifications,⠀your⠀resume⠀should⠀reflect⠀your⠀accomplishments⠀and⠀enthusiasm⠀for your⠀career.”
You⠀shouldn’t⠀ignore⠀your⠀skills⠀section⠀either.⠀Sade⠀reminded⠀job⠀seekers to⠀list any⠀industry-relevant⠀apps or⠀programs⠀they’re⠀familiar⠀with and⠀to find⠀ways to⠀incorporate⠀examples⠀of their⠀emotional⠀intelligence⠀(e.g.,⠀self-awareness,⠀empathy)⠀and soft⠀skills⠀(e.g.,⠀work⠀ethic,⠀reliability)⠀into their⠀job⠀descriptions.
7.⠀Use the⠀right⠀language⠀to stand⠀out.
Trite,⠀lackluster⠀descriptions⠀of your⠀job duties⠀and⠀accomplishments⠀won’t do⠀you any⠀favors.⠀Make sure⠀you’re⠀using⠀strong⠀action⠀words,⠀such as⠀“achieved,”⠀“designed,”⠀“improved”⠀and⠀“established,”⠀to⠀describe⠀your roles⠀and⠀projects,⠀said Sade.⠀This will⠀make you⠀sound⠀confident⠀while⠀imparting⠀vital⠀information.⠀But be⠀cautious⠀about⠀depending⠀on action⠀verbs —⠀include⠀details⠀about how⠀you⠀improved a⠀process or⠀achieved a⠀goal.
“Words⠀such as⠀‘professional,’⠀‘results-driven’⠀and⠀‘detail-oriented’⠀provide⠀very⠀little⠀helpful⠀information,”⠀Sade said.⠀“It’s⠀better to⠀use actual⠀job titles⠀than these⠀words.”
Obeid⠀said that⠀you should⠀remove⠀words like⠀“go-getter,”⠀“team⠀player”⠀and⠀“go-to⠀person”⠀from your⠀resume.⠀These come⠀off as⠀fluff and⠀take up⠀precious⠀space on⠀your⠀resume.
8.⠀List your⠀social⠀media⠀profiles.
Many⠀hiring-managers⠀today⠀screen-candidates⠀on social-networks.⠀Save-them⠀a-step by⠀providing⠀your-profile⠀links on-your⠀resume.⠀Seasoned-applicants⠀with-a⠀professional⠀social-presence⠀would do⠀well-to⠀include⠀URLs for⠀their⠀LinkedIn-profile,⠀Twitter⠀account-and blog,⠀if⠀applicable.
“If,⠀and-only⠀if, your-social⠀media-accounts⠀are filled-with⠀professional⠀posts⠀pertaining⠀to your-industry,⠀listing⠀them on-your⠀resume can-be⠀advantageous,”⠀said-Richie⠀Frieman,⠀author-of⠀REPLY ALL⠀… and⠀Other-Ways⠀to Tank⠀Your-Career.⠀“They⠀can show-you have a⠀strong⠀network⠀and are up⠀to speed⠀with⠀modern-day⠀marketing⠀and⠀communications⠀practices.⠀The hiring-manager⠀will see⠀that you⠀like to⠀keep up⠀with⠀what’s-happening⠀and that⠀you care-about⠀learning⠀more.”
Your⠀social⠀profiles⠀can be a⠀powerful⠀recruitment⠀tool to⠀supplement⠀your⠀experience⠀and⠀position⠀as an⠀expert in⠀your⠀field, but⠀only if⠀they are⠀leveraged⠀correctly.
Importance⠀of a great⠀resume
- Increase⠀your⠀earning⠀potential.⠀According⠀to the⠀Zippia⠀research,⠀professionally⠀written⠀resumes⠀are not⠀only good⠀for⠀landing an⠀interview,⠀but they⠀can also⠀boost your⠀earning⠀potential⠀by 7⠀percent to⠀32⠀percent.⠀
- Increase⠀your⠀chances of⠀securing a⠀new role.⠀Zippia⠀also found⠀that 68⠀percent of⠀job⠀seekers⠀who have⠀worked⠀with a⠀professional⠀resume⠀writer⠀landed a⠀new job in⠀under 90⠀days. If⠀your⠀resume⠀lacks⠀professionalism⠀or⠀relevance⠀to the⠀positions⠀you’re⠀applying⠀to, you⠀likely⠀won’t⠀receive as⠀many⠀opportunities.
- Quickly-impress-recruiters⠀and-hiring⠀managers.⠀Hiring-managers⠀and⠀recruiters⠀look-at⠀resumes⠀for an-average of⠀only six⠀to seven⠀seconds⠀each, so-make every⠀second-count. A⠀strong⠀resume can⠀help you⠀stand out⠀from the-crowd, but⠀a weak⠀resume can-remove you⠀from-the⠀running.
- Decrease⠀your⠀number of⠀rejections.⠀According⠀to Zippia,⠀you need⠀to send an⠀average of⠀50 to 100⠀resumes⠀before you⠀get hired.⠀However,⠀the more⠀impressive⠀and⠀professional⠀your⠀resume is,⠀the lower⠀this⠀number⠀will be⠀— and⠀the less⠀you will⠀have to⠀wait to⠀start a⠀new⠀job.
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