A carefully crafted and thoughtful resume using the obtained research from the specific company does more to ensure you get a chance to the interview. However, figuring out how to create such a resume that stands out and is fully representative of your skills is easier said than done. The recruiters and hiring managers usually spend only seven seconds reading resumes to decide whether to move ahead or not.
Even though many job seekers know how to draft an eye-catchy resume, there are few great tips that come in handy if yours is to stand the 7-second test. If you are not confident that you can pull off a resume that gets you to the interview, you can hire professional resume services and have a professional craft a killer resume. Make sure to provide all the necessary information. Here are ten resume writing tips to help you design and organize your resume professionally
1. Grab the Employers AttentionThe first thing you need to do to gain your prospective employer’s attention is to include a summary of the specific skills as demanded in the post's pronouncement. At the beginning of the resume, use keywords to get hold of the employer's attention. Using skills that aren't related to the position will not add to your value. Only highlight the skills and accomplishments that are most relevant (this might mean not including all of your experiences)
Use the specific words as used by the employers, rephrasing some words may be detrimental. Including complex technical skills may work for the electronic search with the recruiter, but the crucial skills may be overlooked when the recipient is reading the resume.
2. Use Facts To Support Your ClaimsEvery skill you stated in the summary section should be supported by giving examples of the related accomplishment in your resume's experience section, whether you are using chronological or functional resume format. By stating a precise work project or experience will show prove and evidence that you have acquired the specific required skills.
Facts sell. Impressive language may look engaging to the recruiter, but a discerning judgment can't take the place of facts. You may use a vague statement to get the interview, but to make it look real, you will need to come up with specifics. That is the reason why using actual examples in your resume will get you prepared for the interview. Therefore, it's better to do it right away when writing your resume rather than assuming you will manage to produce supporting details without preparation during the interview.
3. Self-PromoteDon't shy away from promoting yourself, if you won't tell your recruiter what you are capable of, no one will. You can only use your resume to market yourself. Use it as your promotion document to market and sell your skills and ideas. Focus more on what you can offer the company instead of what the company can offer you. Put more emphasis on the specific skills the employer is asking for.
You can also brand yourself through several avenues such as fashioning a unified persona through a website or a social media account. The main idea is to have an online presence to help you in putting your foot forward, mostly when it comes to getting professional opportunities.
4. Reread the Job DescriptionThis is one of the most crucial pieces of advice that can't be repeated enough when it comes to resume writing. Before you begin writing your resume ensure you have checked the job description enough times and written down essential requirements such as keywords describing years of experience, responsibilities skills (both hard and soft), cultures and reasons why you believe you are a perfect fit.
Once you have specified the keywords, ensure you have sprinkled them throughout your resume. The main reason here is to make it appear natural instead of stuff in every section. You can still apply for the job even if you do not have the mentioned years of experience. Recruiters usually increase the number of years to filter out weakest candidates.
5. Research Your Potential EmployerFinding your potential employer is easier now than ever through social media. Once you know them, you can relate to them using relevant terminologies. As soon as you have read the job description thoroughly, seek to know them more. What interests them, what's their idol, their values, etc. This way, you will be able to mirror their language when creating your resume. When reading your piece, the potential employer will feel like they already know you. Besides, it will help you to omit unrecognizable company language that employer can't identify or relate with.
6. Use Professional Font and ColorEmployers have only a limited time to review your resume, make it readable as easy as possible. The readability of your resume is dependent on the font size and format. Make it stand out by using clear fonts such as Times New Roman and the font size between sizes 10 and 12 points. Much blank space within your resume will make it look sparse, which may distract the prospective employer. Hence reduce all the extra space so the reader may focus only on the content and not the white spaces. To achieve this successfully, increase font size up to 12 points or add an optional section such as the achievement section or awards section.
Adding colors will also make it look professional. However, do not use colors that don't match or which are extremely bright. Use the ones that complement each other. Using a bit of color other than black and white will make your resume stand out from the rest. To make even more appealing, use the exact colors of the company you are applying for, it will signify that you have researched about the company and you are not just another applicant.
Note that the use of colors may not work on some jobs. For instance, when applying for a government or a high corporate job, colors may not be the right choice.
7. Indicate Hobbies Which Work To Your AdvantageSome hobbies don't deserve a place in your resume; however, those that portray your positive personality skills and qualities are worth including since they can work to your benefits. For instance, blogging about something relating to your field portrays honest interest and inventiveness in your work - running marathon portrays determination and discipline.
8. Make it ReadableMake sure all the information flows logically, and it compels the reader to continue reading. Jumping from one idea to the other with no natural progression might trigger the interviewer to lose attention or interest.
Throughout your resume, be consistent with line spacing, fonts, and margins. You can even accentuate your achievements and skills with different font and style. Only remember to keep it simple. When using different font styles, there is a thin line between making it simple and going overboard. Consistency and readability show professionalism.
9. Don't Mention MoneyDon't mention anything about money unless you are asked to. Mentioning money will have you ruled out even before the recruiter begins to go through your resume.
10. Have Someone Proofread Your ResumeImagine missing out on your dream job just because of grammatical errors or poor sentence constructions. Since the interviewer only has several minutes to read your resume, having a lot of grammar mistakes can be such a turn-off and might distract him from capturing the major points that could have gotten you the job. Thus, always make sure to check out for such mistakes. Tools such as Grammarly come in handy.