There is no doubt that the job market is very competitive these days. More than a hundred people are now applying for a position. A job seeker must try everything to impress the hiring managers and get attention. One way, some job seeker stands out by submitting a highly creative resume. People use many tactics like using visuals, diagrams, infographics and many other eye-catching mediums to make their resume creative. Now, a simple text resume for job applications is not a good idea.
Sometimes, they use unnecessary things over important factors that make their resume look great but not effective. They sometimes forget that some rules must be followed to get a proper resume.
A resume must be updated before posting for a job or sending it to a recruiter. Many job applications get rejected instantly due to the lack of information on resume and improper resume formats. Everyone must create a resume that helps them in a successful job search.
Is your resume helping or hindering the job search? Is there anything missing in your resume or something to trim out? Well, you don’t have to search anywhere. We’ve compiled all the tips you need to alter your resume that win.
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Keep only relevant information.
Trim-off irrelevant information. Your resume is the document where you have to show information regarding a job post. Don’t mention all your work experience and certifications. Make it straightforward.
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Put the best pieces of stuff on top.
Make sure, your best skills and accomplishments are visible on the top half of your resume. Generally, a human recruiter reads the first one or two points in each section. If they find something interesting, they continue.
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Ignore the ‘Career Objective’ statement.
If you are planning a huge career change and need to explain why your previous experiences are not related to the job profile you’re applying for, only then you have to mention the career objective section. Otherwise, it is recommended not to add this section.
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Consider the ‘Reverse Chronological’ format.
There are some different ways to organize a resume. Some countries follow some particular rules. Some favour functional or chronological formats. But the most popular one is the reverse chronological format where the most recent experiences listed first.
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Make it One-Pager.
If you have enough relevant important information to show in your resume, you may stretch it to two-page, but the one-page resume is always appreciated. Try to adjust all on one page but do it with a proper look and feel.
Use professional and distinct fonts.
A resume is a professional document that needs a professional font. Use modern but basic fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Helvetica, Myriad, Calibri, Open Sans, Montserrat, or Century Gothic. Use the font size between 10 to 12 and leave ample white space.
Mention proper contact information.
Make sure you have mentioned your contact number and a professional email address on the top section of your resume. Your residential address is not necessary every time. Today, most employers contact through an email address. If they need your address to send something like a printed copy, they will ask for it.
Include visuals and infographics carefully.
Hiring managers love to see something unique every time. They usually read a resume for 6-10 seconds. If they don’t find anything interesting, they might reject the resume. If you don’t find anything interesting to add, you may try some visuals. Make your resume visually rich by adding proper charts and graphs.
Keep relevant experiences only.
You should only mention your recent 10-15 years of career history in your resume. If you are a highly experienced person, you can only include the relevant career history.
No experience? No worries!
Don’t get upset if you have no experience to mention in your resume. Focus on your skills, competencies, and academics. Build a strong cover letter that tells why you are a good fit for the post.
Neglect short-term jobs.
It is not necessary to include all the job history in the resume. If you have a lot of experience but have worked for an organization for less than a year, you may exclude that.
Explain a career gap.
If you have a career gap, handle it smartly. If it is due to some unavoidable circumstances like illness or parenting, you may tell the recruiter due to the interview. But how you can explain the gap in your resume? Read this article to get a proper idea of it.
Quantify the highlights.
Use numbers, percentages, facts, and figures into the bullet points. By quantifying your highlights and accomplishments, you are showing exactly how your work had an impact on the previous jobs and how you’ve achieved your target.
Mention accomplishments, not duties.
Hiring managers like to see a performer, not just a doer. Mention those accomplishments and achievements you had at your previous jobs. It shows that you are a capable candidate who can fulfil the purposes if hired.
Use proper keywords.
Scan a job advertisement and find proper keywords used for that job. Use those keywords precisely in your resume. A resume sometimes checked by ATS(Applicant Tracking System) that searches for keywords and filter resume accordingly.
Make it chunky, not boring!
Recruiters have to read hundreds of resumes for a vacancy. Sometimes, they feel irritated to read the same things over and over. Choose the sentences that are easy to digest. Give a chunky feel through your writing so that readers can engage themselves and remind them for a long time.
Delete empty words.
Avoid empty words and filler words all over your resume. The space is limited, where you have to mention important things.
Experience then education.
Unless you are a fresher or a recent graduate, put your education details below your experience. Your experience is more valuable than a high-school or degree education when you are an experienced professional.
Don’t mention GPAs.
If you are going to apply for an education-oriented job like a teaching or professor post, you may mention your GPAs. It is recommended not to mention GPAs for any other job-oriented resume.
List both soft and hard skills.
Hiring managers want to know which skills you have. Add a skills section to your resume where you can put your top soft skills and hard skills. Try to put some unique skills there.
Mention awards and certificates.
You must mention any relevant awards and certifications you get to make your resume more attractive. If you are going through any online courses or getting any skill-development session, you can mention that too.
Ditch Reference section.
A reference section is not necessary to add to your resume. It sometimes annoys the hiring managers. If they are interested in you, they will ask for any references you have.
Proofread the whole thing.
Once you have finished the writing, proofread the whole thing at least thrice. Scan for any typographical error or missing bullets. A typographical error makes a negative impact and shows that you are not a serious candidate.
Save it as a PDF. Rename it properly.
Save your resume as a PDF format, not as a DOC format. Rename it properly. Use your full name. Example: Albert Einstein Resume.
Update it every time before using it.
Update your resume every time you are going to apply for a job. Add skills and certifications immediately. Make it updated regularly.
Get a resume score.
After proofreading carefully, you can get your resume checked by resume experts. There is a great website where experts manually proofread each resume and score them out for free. They even mention how you can improve and count all pros and cons so you can make your resume even better.
Seek help from experts.
Still, facing some issues while making a great resume? Reach experts and get your resume written by them. Professional resume design and writing services building resumes for everyone and helping them achieve their career goals.
