Let’s face it, first impressions count and having a striking resume is your best chance at impressing a potential employer before giving a second impression at the interview. If you are looking for a job, you need to be ready to put your best foot forward, starting with a refined resume. This is your personal advertising campaign! If you have been in the working force for some time, chances are your resume could use an update! The rich experience you have doesn’t automatically translate itself into a sounding resume.
Let us share with you the dos and don’ts when crafting a resume.
When recruiters look at your resume, it will not take them very long to decide whether you are fit for the job and your task today is to aid them to choose in your favour. The first thing you should do when building your resume is to have about three to five succinct but convincing lines to describe who you are and your areas of expertise. If you are a fresh graduate, the bulk of your resume should be about the highlights of your school curriculum. This is probably the best time to flaunt your academic achievements. However, if you are a mid-career adult looking to update your resume, you should let about 75% of your resume account for the details of your most recent job. Employers are the most interested in your recent experiences!
Tip: Put an additional link to your socials to supplement your resume and ensure it is regularly and professionally maintained to support your job search!
Included in your recent experiences should be your most relevant skills. Take the time to know the requirements of the job you are applying for and match your resume to the job. It is very reasonable to have multiple copies for different job applications if that is what will help you land your dream job. What you will also want to do is choosing quality over quantity. Avoid stating obvious skills such as Microsoft Office if you are a fresh graduate. It is almost expected that you are equipped with this basic skill. Try including other skill sets such as being proficient in using Google Analytics. If you find yourself struggling to include industry-relevant skill sets, we got your back. You can refer to a list of affordable courses here. On the other hand, if you are a mid-career adult, the length of your professional resume should reflect the growth in your job history. It will be a bonus to include any advance certifications you have gotten throughout your career. It will not be too late to sign up for some as well!
Lastly, a way to spice things up is to use strong action verbs and using numbers when emphasising on your achievements. These small details are what add context and attract the attention of recruiters. It is like that beautiful bright red lipstick ladies wear on a special date night or that polished pair of loafers for the gentlemen. In the same topic of details, make sure that when you are stating dates and locations, the format of your resume is consistent throughout. This will subtly tell your potential employers that you are detail-oriented and neat. Now, who doesn’t want to hire someone like that?
Before you get all excited to mass send out your resume, copy and paste your resume into websites such as Grammarly to make sure there are no spelling and grammar errors. You would not want to risk all that you have prepared above to be ruined by a funny spelling mistake!
