Searching for a job is a painstaking process. You browse through vacancies, figuring out whether you’re fit or not for any of them. You also mentally prepare for the prospective interview. And while an interview may be one of the most important aspects of landing the job, aren’t you forgetting anything? You need to land an interview first.
Yes, you need an eye-catching resume to be invited to the interview. And there are several rules to follow when you’re composing your resume. Most likely, you’re thinking about something like this:
- contact information is intact;
- achievements are listed in order of relevance;
- you haven’t exaggerated your skills.
Yes, those aspects are essential when writing a resume, but they’re just the basics. If you give all that information to the guys at Skill Hub, you’ll see how professionals can make your job application irresistible. But if you’d like to craft a perfect resume on your own, check out the ten tips we’ve prepared for you.
Keep It Short and Direct
When you’re writing a resume, there’s a temptation to expand on every aspect of your experience. You may get a false feeling that the longer your resume is, the better. It shows that you’re an experienced worker and so on. Well, such an assumption is false. On average, recruiters spend several seconds reading the resume. So, keep it short and direct.
Just put essential information on your resume. List only the most relevant experiences. Yes, your first year-long job was crucial to you, as it gave you the necessary skills, but don’t focus on it that much. Mention experiences that are a must for the job you’re planning to land.
Mind the Keywords
Your work experience may vary. Your first job was that of a bartender, then you worked as a journalist, and now you’re planning to become a copywriter. The point is that recruiters often search for candidates based on keywords. In the case of a copywriting job, those keywords may include SEO, creative writing, and blogging. So, make sure that the qualification section of your resume contains them.
Use Active Language
Avoid using passive voice when describing your duties and achievements at your past job. While it may feel appropriate to write it as “This job required…”, it’s better to use an active voice instead. Explain what you were doing and what you have accomplished. And keep it short, like “Led multiple team-based projects.”
Use Numbers to Demonstrate Your Results
You had to answer a lot of calls and emails in your last job as a customer support consultant. But “a lot” is not a good way to describe your job. Everyone has their own understanding of “a lot.” For some, replying to ten emails is already a lot. So, instead of obscure explanations, use exact ones. “Replied to more than 50 emails on a daily basis” gives a much better understanding.
Decide on the Objective vs. Career Snapshot
The classic variant is the objective, but a career snapshot is a new “it” for job seekers. Start your resume with a branding statement that explains your unique value, and then, in brief, list your experiences and accomplishments. Consider a career snapshot as an answer to the question, “How would you describe your career in one sentence?”.
Have a Separate Achievements Section
It would be logical to list the accomplishments in a particular position in the work experience section. But remember: recruiters don’t spend much time studying your resume. So, it’s better to select the outstanding achievements of your career and highlight them separately.
Don’t Forget About the Soft Skills
Yes, hard skills are crucial for your prospective jobs. However, you shouldn’t disregard soft skills. While you can demonstrate them during the interview, it’s better to list them in your resume. The absence of them may prompt recruiters to think that you’re trying to hide your personality. And it decreases your chances of landing the interview.
List Your Social Media Profiles
Recruiters often screen their candidates via social media accounts. Firstly, by listing your social media profiles, you save them a step in screening you as a candidate. Provide a link to your LinkedIn profile. You can also link your Twitter if you share work-related information there.
Consider Different Resumes
Unfortunately, you can’t have one resume for all the directions of your career. It’s better to tailor your resume for each job opportunity you consider. Make several templates that will make things easier for you. Just pick the suitable one for the particular vacancy.
Proofread Your Resume
Don’t forget to proofread your resume. You may list everything properly. You can keep your resume as short and direct as possible. Following the recent trends, you’ve decided to ditch the objective in favor of a career snapshot… And the perfect image cracks thanks to errors. That’s why you need to make sure your resume doesn’t contain any grammar, spelling, or punctuation errors.
Final Thoughts
Now you know the basic tips for writing a resume. Feel free to go beyond those tips and check out resume samples and examples relevant to the position you’re planning to occupy.
