Resume’ Writing
Writing a good resume’ is an essential part of getting hired. However, we should ask
ourselves just exactly what defines a good resume’ and how do we achieve that objective.
The main thing to remember is that your resume is a marketing tool, and can be
considered as an advertisement for you. It is designed to let employers know why they
should want you!
There are many different formats to choose from, several resume’ templates and other
options to consider, these should be determined by the position you are applying for and
your personal experience. Some formats accentuate your experience while others can
downplay any employment gaps in your history. Nonetheless, the thing to remember is
the appeal it has when first sighted. Studies have shown that 8 out of 10 resumes are
discarded with only a 10- second glance. So, you must have a well-formatted resume’
with attention grabbing details. An appealing design can set you apart from other
candidates and make your resume memorable. Also, you should try to select a format
that is ATS compatible to ensure that your information is able to be imported
completely and correctly. All of these points are very important to creating a successful
resume’. The key points in building your resume’ include:
● Resume’ design
● Headline
● A strong personal introduction
● Skills and Highlights
● Most recent job titles
● Career progression
● Recent responsibilities
● Achievements
● Employment gaps
● Employment history in Each Role (Job hopping)
● Essential Job Requirements
● Easy to Read
If you include all of these components within your resume’, you will have built a
successful resume’. Using the perfect resume’ template coupled with an appropriate
format will make a great first impression, but it is the content that will keep the hiring
manager reading.That is why I would like to address here the actual content of your
resume’. Let me begin by stating what your resume’ should NOT be. It should give an
indication of your personality, characteristics and strengths; not simply a list of your job
history, your skills summary or your only ticket to get that job you want. Yes, that
information might be included in your resume’, but most important, is how you write
your resume’, your choice of wording or vocabulary. It is important to understand thatthe hiring process is very different than it used to be. Before each resume’ might have
been read individually by a hiring manager or recruiter, then if they liked it, they would
call you to set up that much-desired interview. Nowadays, your resume is processed
through an automated system called an ATS, which is an applicant filtering system. This
is a software tool which is used in all companies to assist the recruiters in obtaining
quality applicants. The reason for this is to save recruiters’ time in sorting through
thousands of unqualified applicants. It effectively screens your resume and if it does not
scan the required keywords, your resume will be discarded and never even reach the
recruiter. It has statistically been proven that the ATS software immediately disqualifies
75% of the applications it receives even before the hiring manager sees them! This is
why many times, even though you feel you have the necessary skill sets or experience for
a position you applied for, you might not get a call back or any kind of favorable
response.
So, how do you know which keywords to use? The best place to start is in the actual job
description itself. In the job description it will list the requirements and preferred skill
sets. You need to incorporate those terms into your resume so when the ATS scans your
resume’, it will classify you as a match, or an A-List candidate! That will get you to the
“short list” of qualified applicants who the recruiter will contact for further screening
and interviews.
Another tip is to use action verbs to avoid sounding robotic. These words enhance your
bullet points by showing you are a person who takes action which will reinforce the core
of your resume’ making you a viable candidate. Also, when listing your achievements, do
not be vague; for example, if you state that you improved the company’s sales, clarify
and quantify it by using a dollar amount or percentage, i.e., stating that you increased
the sales volume by 150%! These are numbers that a hiring manager can relate to and
would like to envision for his company!
In addition, you should not submit one general resume’ for any position you are
interested in. You need to build a customized resume’ specifically for the targeted role
that you are applying for. That doesn’t mean that you have to write a brand new resume
every time, you keep the basic information but simply need to adjust your introduction,
additional skills and job experience to match the job description of the position that
you’re applying for. That way you have a customized resume built for the job you’re
applying for.
After you have completed these steps, take a moment to proofread your resume,
searching for spelling and grammatical errors. Also, avoid using personal pronouns or
adverbs too much even though they are used frequently in daily conversations, they are
frowned upon in resume’ writing.
At that point, you can save your resume’, preferably in a PDF format, and rest assured
you have an easy-to-read successful resume’. This does not guarantee that you will
receive a job offer, but it is definitely the first step in getting you closer to your new
opportunity.