Sending out a resume is a little spark of hope. You’re looking for something better than your existing job. More responsibility. Higher salary. Better opportunities. Or perhaps you’re currently unemployed, and you desperately need a way back on to the job ladder. Either way, you need a resume that catches the eye.
Studies show that prospective employers make a decision within eight seconds of looking at a resume. HR people know what they’re looking for, and they do this every day. They know quickly whether you’re the right person for the job. That means your resume and your cover letter are the key to getting through the door. photo
Not only that, but some companies now run their prospective candidate CVs through a computer. It highlights keywords and eliminates the useless resumes before they even reach a human being. It’s tough out there, job-hunters! But, we’ll show you how to craft a killer resume. Let’s take a look.
Tailor it to the specific job
This is the most important piece of resume writing advice we can give you. Recruiters are looking for the very best. They want to know how you will take their company forward. How will you impact this company specifically? It’s very easy to spot a generic resume. So instead, craft it finely using the job advertisement and the company as major touching points. Use your experience to sell your future at this prospective company.
Keep it short
Recruiters have hundreds of resumes to sift through during their job hunt. Make sure yours makes an impression fast. Use bullet points and an eye-catching layout. You don’t need to list your family history. You don’t even need to give a complete assessment of your work history. You just need bullet points of your major stand-out skills that resonate with that company. If it’s longer than a page, it’s going in the bin!
Spell check and grammar
You’d think we wouldn’t have to mention this one. But, the sheer volume of resumes sent out with simple errors is astonishing. Get someone to read through your work and highlight any mistakes. Also, be sure to include your name and contact information at the top of the resume. Again, simple advice, but many leave it until the end.
Keywords
Remember we told you how computer scanners are looking for keywords? Well, that’s why you need to craft your carefully. Use the wording from the job advertisement and slot them into your resume. The recruiters themselves are looking for these keywords to jump out at them from the sheet. Make a full list of the keywords from the job advertisement, and make sure you incorporate as many as possible.
Get feedback
Finally, get a fresh perspective on the your resume by asking for critical feedback. Ask your family and friends to read through it. Better yet, get a trusted colleague to give you their thoughts. Use Resume Clinic writing tips and techniques to improve your CV and keep tightening it. You’ll know when it’s perfect because you’ll get that call for the job interview!
Searching for a job is a long, difficult process. But, it all starts with a killer resume!