Your resume is like your own distinctive brand or calling card. It’s how you present yourself to potential employers. Most resumes don’t make it past the first cut. Those that do, grab the attention of the recruiter and stand out from the rest. Are you fresh out of an MBA program? A recent college grad? A seasoned professional? Landing a plum position in the towers of high finance is not likely to happen unless your resume makes a strong and positive statement about who you are and what you have to offer a potential employer. Here are five tips to help you to create a resume that opens doors.
Keep It Short and Sweet
Keep your resume down to one page. Recruiters give the average resume about 7 seconds of attention and that’s it. If your resume involves too much information, the recruiter will dismiss it quickly. This could happen even if you were Bill Gates or Donald Trump. If you absolutely cannot fit all of your information on one page, make sure the most important information is on the first page.
Use An Easy-To-Read Format
With bullet points, you can convey a lot of information without taking up a lot of space. Most people skim when they read, especially on the Internet, and recruiters are no different. The easier it is to read and the more concise your resume is, the more likely it is that the recruiter will actually read it. Just don’t overdo it. Limit groups of bullet points to five or less. There are a variety of free resume templates online that will help you create a format that’s crisp, clear and pleasing to the eye. When printing your resume, use a high-quality printer and high-quality textured paper. It will give you a resume a look that’s elegant, classy and professional.
Omit Nonessential Information
There is no need to say that you have “References Available On Request.” The recruiter already assumes this, and if he wants references, he’ll ask for them. You can also get rid of the “Career Objective” section since the position you’re applying for is by definition your objective. Do not explain on your resume why you left your last position. You might be asked about that during an interview, but for now, it’s irrelevant. Your resume should not contain anything negative or critical about your former employers, and it should not include:
- a photo of yourself
- your birthday
- sexual orientation
- marital status
- political views
- religious beliefs
Do not write “Resume” or “Curriculum Vitae” on your resume.” The recruiter already knows what it is.
Make The Most Of Your Experience
Everyone has experience in something. If you have no full time employment experience, you can list your part time positions and volunteer experience. Have you ever been a freelancer, an entrepreneur or a blogger? All these things count as experience. You can also present any skills, strengths and talents that would apply to the positions you are applying for. Be sure to back up your skills and strengths with real-life experiences. Let’s say that you earned money every summer by house sitting and pet sitting. Let’s also say that you invested your earnings in the stock market and were able to generate a small but consistent profit. This indicates that you have entrepreneurial and investing skills.
Highlight Your Achievements
If you are a recent college grad with very little experience, review your life so far and look for your achievements. Just as everyone has experience, everyone also has achievements. Achievements tell employers that you can set goals and achieve them. Having achievements implies that you have initiative and are hardworking. These qualities are attractive to potential employers because they can be applied in many different settings. Achievements are different than hobbies and interests. You might have an interest in sailing, so you buy a boat. That’s an interest, and if you spend a lot of time sailing, it could become a hobby. But what if you participated in a sailboat race and won first place. That’s an achievement.
Conclusion
Nobody likes looking for a job. It can be stressful, nerve-wracking, frustrating, overwhelming and disappointing. If you are unemployed, you may be dealing with financial insecurity, as well. That’s why your resume is so important. When you have an epic resume, all you have to do is put it out there and keep putting it out there until you and the job you’ve always wanted come face to face.
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