10 seconds to make an impact. With that kind of pressure you need to
be sure your document stands out from the rest which would give you a
head start.
Preparing a Resume can be challenging and difficult. There is often a
tendency to oversell or provide irrelevant information which results
in an unattractive resume thereby reducing the chances of getting pass
through in an initial screening. The key to a successful Resume is to
keep it clear, concise, highlighting your key attributes and skill set
that makes you the perfect fitment for the role.
There are several websites with tips around the web, but most bring
just a handful of them. We wanted to put them all together in a single
place, and that is what you will find below:
Resume writing tips.
1.Know the purpose of your resume
Some people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to
land a job. As a result they end up with a really long and boring
piece that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The objective
of your resume is to land an interview, and the interview will land
you the job (hopefully!).
2. Don't forget the basics
The first thing on your resume should be your name. It should be Bold
and with a larger font than the rest of the text. Make sure that your
contact details are clearly listed.
3. Back up your qualities and strengths
Instead of creating a long (and boring) list with all your qualities
(e.g., disciplined, creative, problem solver) try to connect them with
real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these
qualities and strengths up, else it will appear that you are just
trying to inflate things.
4. Make sure to use the right industry keywords
Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital databases
to search for candidates. This means that the HR department will run
search queries based on specific keywords. Guess what, if your resume
doesn't have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, you
will be out even before the game starts.
These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and
related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for.
5. Use effective titles
Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your
resume in 5 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect
will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they
grab the attention. Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the
employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences.
For example:
Bad title: Accounting
Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping
6. Proofread it twice
It would be difficult to emphasize the importance of proofreading your
resume. One small typo and your chances of getting hired could slip.
Proofreading it once is not enough, so do it twice, three times or as
many as necessary.
7. Use Bullet points
No employer will have the time (or patience) to read long paragraphs
of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short
sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and
professional objectives.
8. Put the most important information first
This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well
as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work
experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at
the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most
important ones first.
9. Explain the benefits of your skills
Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention
of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his
company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly
improve your chances.
10. Avoid negativity
Do not include information that might sound negative in the eyes of
the employer. This is valid both to your resume and to interviews. You
don't need to include, for instance, things that you hat
