Let’s start understanding that recruiters consider candidates with a professionally written resume to be worth 7% more than those with a self-written resume, according to TopResume.com.
However, if you are trying to write your resume by yourself, it is better to have the right tools and tips. The following is a practical “how to” guide for writing winning resumes, no matter your level of employment, experience or education.
WHY IS A RESUME IMPORTANT?
Resumes are a fundamental part to apply for a job opportunity. They are the first impression a potential employer has of you. It displays why you are a good fit for a job.
WHAT IS YOUR GOAL WITH YOUR RESUME?
Your goal is that a recruiter gets a detailed overview of your job qualifications, skills and education in seconds. You need to highlight your achievements, accomplishments and any awards that sets you apart from other applicants and that fit perfectly with the position.
Your will need to:
1. Convince a hiring manager or recruiter to call you to a job interview.
2. Show that you are the right candidate for the job.
3. Emphasize your strengths.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
Sometimes your resume will be checked by a recruiter or a manager but many times it will be scanned by the Applicant Tracking System, ATS. The ATS is a software program that scans resumes, scoring them based on keywords and other qualifications. It helps streamline the hiring process for employers because they don’t need to read every single resume. The ATS will scan through resumes to pick out the most qualified applicants!
ESSENTIAL SECTIONS OF THE RESUME
Don’t forget to include the following sections on your resume. They are the core information that recruiters are looking for:
1. Contact Information
2. Resume Summary or Objective
3. Work Experience
4. Skills
5. Education
DETAILS THAT WILL KEEP YOU ON THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS
1. Use a template that matches the style of your job prospect. For example, don’t use a colorful template if you are applying for a law firm or a government post. Use a template that is easy to follow, in maximum two colors.
2. Keep your resume free of typos and grammatical errors. This shows that you put in extra effort.
3. Keep the structure consistent. Different line and paragraph spacing, inconsistent margins, bullets, or incorrect punctuation are distracting and create the image of a careless writer.
4. Demonstrate with short phrases that you match the requirements of the role.
5. Optimize your resume so it’s ATS-friendly. This can be accomplished by including specific keywords featured in each job description.
6. Read carefully the job requirements and qualifications section. Note important skills and experiences needed for the job, and try to match your own skills and experiences with these needs.
7. Highlight your best experience, skills, and achievements.
8. Include your personal information at the beginning of the resume so you can be found fast and easy.
Finally, don’t forget that only about 5 applicants out of 250, earn a face-to-face interview. Which means that the more resumes you send out, the more likely you are to get a callback, according to topresume.com
Your Resume must be impeccable. One mistake can take you out of the race. We can help you with a Resume that gives you results. Book a call with us now!
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