According to TopResume.com, 75% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager of the company the applicant sends it to. Your resume is the tip of the spear of your job search, so you need to make sure it is great, or else you’re done on arrival for the interview. This article will outline some key tips to building the best resume you can so you can help get your foot in the door.
Keep It Simple
Keep your resume short and direct. If you have a resume that goes over one page in length, you have some editing to do. You don’t need to add the fast-food job you held your freshman year in high school. You need the most recent and relevant positions you’ve held, and two to three sentences explaining each.
Use Active Language
A sure way to get your resume sent to the bottom of the email bin is to be too passive in your vocabulary choice. Choose words that present you in a bold and strong light. What did you “achieve”? What did you “execute” on? You don’t want to go overboard, but make sure you present yourself as an active worker. Support these strong words with specifics on your actions. Maybe you “executed” a business plan that saw sales increase by 50%. Be simple, direct, action-oriented, and specific.
Tailor for Each Job
Make sure the information on your resume is focused on the skills that can help you when you apply for a job. This will change with each job and require you to amend your resume accordingly, especially if you’re trying to start a new career. It may sound like a lot of work, but it will likely only involve changing around a few words or adding a different perspective on a job you already have listed. This small effort takes your resume a long way.
Double-Check
Finally, check your essay for any spelling, grammatical, or formatting errors. If you have a typo on your resume, it will almost certainly be trashed. Make sure every bullet is the same, the font matches, and you don’t have any missing periods or commas. Also, check your contact information and make sure everything is up to date. You’d be surprised how easy it is to not notice you left your old address on your resume after a big move. Double-check everything with a fine-toothed comb before you apply for jobs hiring now.
Building a focused and coherent resume is the first step in landing the job of your dreams, so take your time and make sure it represents you in the most professional light. Highlight achievements, keep it direct, and check everything twice. For more information, check out the resources at high.net.
