Your resume is often the first impression that potential employers have of you. Therefore, it’s imperative your resume stands out and catches their attention quickly.
Here are some action steps for writing a compelling resume that grabs the attention of employers and their representatives.
These resumes we hear so much about in the job market space represents us in important ways, so it’s vital to keep them working for us, when they’re structured properly. Let dive into ways we can make it compelling to get you the right type of attention.
Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Make sure your resume is tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. Review the job description and identify the key skills, knowledge base, and qualifications that the employer is looking for. Then, highlight your own relevant experience and accomplishments that demonstrate those skills and qualifications distinctively.
Keep it Concise
Employers receive many resumes, so it’s important to keep yours concise and easy to read. Stick to one to two pages if possible and use bullet points to highlight your achievements, accomplishments and responsibilities in for each job. Do you best not to be wordy.
Use Strong Action Verbs
Use strong action verbs to describe your accomplishments and responsibilities in each job. For example, instead of saying “responsible for,” use verbs like “managed,” “led,” or “created.” It shows you are a candidate of action, not just words.
Focus on Your Achievements
Don’t just list your job responsibilities, focus on your achievements and how you made a positive impact in each job. Use numbers and percentages to quantify your accomplishments, such as “increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 10 employees.” For example, you can communicate that you implemented a strategy that saved the company X number of dollars over the X timeframe.
Include Relevant Keywords
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so it’s important to include relevant keywords from the job description in your resume. This will help ensure that your resume gets past the ATS and in front of a human reader. It is the main reason you should tailor your resume for each job. The job description factors in heavily on whether your resume gets pass the ATS system, so edit your resume accordingly.
Highlight Relevant Skills to the Job You Are Applying
In addition to your work experience, highlight your skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job. This can include hard skills like proficiency in a particular software or programming language, as well as soft skills like communication and leadership. Any specific knowledge base relevant to the job should also be included.
Proofread and Edit
Before submitting your resume, make sure to proofread it carefully for errors and typos. You may also want to have someone else review it for you. A clean, error-free resume will show employers that you have attention to detail and care about presenting yourself in the best possible light.
A compelling resume is a key component to getting noticed by employers. By tailoring your resume to the job description, using strong action verbs, highlighting your achievements, including relevant keywords, and proofreading carefully, you can create a resume that will make a strong first impression and help you stand out from other candidates.
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