Resume writing is as much an art as it is a skill. If you wanted to and needed to, you could pay a professional hundreds of dollars to write your resume (with no guarantees of increased effectiveness). Since most of us probably have other priorities for our discretionary cash, picking up resume writing tips can be very beneficial. With that in mind, here are some tips that can improve your resume and help get you noticed.
#1. Customize, it is a Best Practice
If you want to hook the attention of a potential employer or recruiter within a couple-of-seconds, you should customize your resume to reflect the job you are seeking. Your objective here is to market your work experience and skills in a way the targeted employer/recruiter can relate to and relate to quickly. Well-presented accomplishments, skills, education and job titles will not only earn you more interview calls, but it could possibility help you in the final offer negotiations.
Noteworthy tips regarding customizing your resume:
- Research the company and industry you are targeting and add relevant terminology
- Google search various profiles/resumes of individuals currently in the position you are targeting to use as a reference and foundation
- Have a minimum of two resumes: a general resume that can be sent to anyone and another that is industry specific
- Research the company and industry you are targeting and add relevant terminology
- Google search various profiles/resumes of individuals currently in the position you are targeting to use as a reference and foundation
- Have a minimum of two resumes: a general resume that can be sent to anyone and another that is industry specific
#2 Format does Matter
Always remember that when it comes to short-listing candidates for an interview, recruiters, on first review, usually do not read resumes thoroughly - they literally receive hundreds of inquiries. They just give a glance at the resume and make snap judgments by looking at accomplishments, education, skills, work experience and the overall presentation in the resume. Hard to read or understand resumes are tossed very quickly. Even if you are qualified for the job, if you are unable to convey your qualifications through a quick glance of your resume, the recruiter will assume that you are not qualified and move on. Therefore, it is important that you highlight the most significant parts of the resume: accomplishments, education, skills, and work experience. Also, watch your grammar, spelling and subject-verb agreements; it could cost you a great interview.
Noteworthy tips regarding format:
- Indent major accomplishments or use bullet points to set them apart
- Bold headings that highlight accomplishments, major skills and education
- Provide a summary near the beginning to give the recruiter/employer a good first impression and entice them to read further.
- Bold headings that highlight accomplishments, major skills and education
- Provide a summary near the beginning to give the recruiter/employer a good first impression and entice them to read further.
#3 The Resume Must Have Quality Content
Once resumes are short-listed, interviewers go through the content in more detail. Therefore, make sure that you are using content that sells. The number of interview calls and hopefully an eventual offer will depend completely upon the content of your resume.
Most of the time, candidates just provide the list of the skills that they are well versed in. However, what can really make the difference are descriptions that sell the benefits of those skills to the potential employer by describing how these skills were beneficial in achieving productivity for the companies where you previously worked.
Noteworthy tips regarding content - General vs. Quantified Content:
In our busy world, general statements are likely to be overlooked. On the other hand, when you use quantified statements with numbers, rankings, percentages or savings, you easily win the employers attention.
General Statement: Led market launch of major product
Quantified Statement: Project lead of a team of six responsible for LAX product that reached 16 million in revenue within first quarter after launch, ranked 2nd among 11 revenue products.
Quantified Statement: Project lead of a team of six responsible for LAX product that reached 16 million in revenue within first quarter after launch, ranked 2nd among 11 revenue products.
Reading the latter statement creates a vivid image in the reader's mind and leaves a lasting impression; leaving the employer wanting to know more on how you achieved the results and how that experience would add value to their organization. Therefore, it is always better to be as specific with quantified descriptions while describing your achievements and work experience.
Whether you are seeking your first position or next, these three quick resume writing tips should help put you ahead of the pack. All the best as you pursue your career goals.
