Getting Hired: How to Write the Perfect Resume
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One of the biggest challenges facing college graduates is landing their first job. Job searching can be a very stressful, uncertain, and frustrating time. However, it can also be very exciting. It is very thrilling to finally be offered the job you have been working so hard to get. How can you maximize your chances of landing that job? The first step is to submit a killer resume. The resume is not meant simply to present yourself–it is meant to sell yourself. You want your resume to stand out. You want your potential employer to say, “Wow! I have got to meet this person!” This article will show you some tips on how to make your resume perfect. If you follow this tips, you will be on your way to landing your dream job.
Use an Organized and Attractive Format. Before an employer reads a single word on your resume, he or she will have made an impression of you based solely on the appearance of your resume. Make sure your format is very organized. Use bullet points and section headings. Make sure you use at least 10 point font, but 12 point is preferable. Also, remember that white space can be just as important as words. You do not want your resume to be cluttered or difficult to read.
Quantify! Quantify! Quantify! I cannot stress enough how important it is to quantify the work you have done. Don’t just say that you reduced your company’s expenses; say that you reduced your company’s expenses by $5000 dollars. Don’t just say you supervised fellow employees; say you supervised fifteen fellow employees. Numbers add specificity, believability, and power to your resume. Use them!
Use Action Words. Action words give life to your resume. They show that you are a person who gets things done. When I say action words, I mean words such as “managed”, “spearheaded”, and “initiated”. Instead of saying, “I was in charge of company reform that raised sales by 20%”, say “I developed and implemented new company policies which raised sales by 20%”.
Put the Most Important Information Near the Top. If your education is the most likely piece of information that will land you the job, then place that at the top before your work experience. If, however, your work experience is more likely to land the job, then place the work experience at the top. Employers usually read through resumes very quickly. You do not want them to miss the selling points.
Focus on Accomplishments, Not Responsibilities. Employers want to know what you actually did at your previous job. They don’t want a long list of your responsibilities. Don’t start your job description with, “I was responsible for. . .” Instead, talk about projects you completed, promotions you received, daily tasks you completed successfully, etc. Remember to use action words to do this!
Target Your Resume to the Specific Job Opening. You should customize your resume for each position you apply for. For example, if the job advertisement says the company is looking for a strong communication skills, the ability to self-start, and strong computer skills, then focus on these skills in your resume. Show how you have used these skills in your previous employment. Remember, the key here is to “show, not tell”.
Show How Your Skills Benefit You and Your Company. Instead of throwing a list of job skills at the end of your resume, show how these skills have benefited you in the past. For example, instead of just saying “fluent in Spanish”, say “I was able to increase my company’s customer base by 10% because of my Spanish fluency”. Doing this will show the company exactly what your skills could do for them.
Use Popular Keywords. Some companies use databases to search resumes for particular keywords. In these cases, it is extremely important to make sure your resume contains these keywords. To learn more about keywords, see “Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume“.
Stay Positive. You want your potential employer to feel good about your resume after reading it. Because of this, it is extremely important to stay positive. Talk about the good things you have done in your previous employment. Do not mention problems you had. Negativity is the easiest way to get your resume rejected.
Keep a Professional Tone–You want your resume to make you sound like a person who would be in the offered position. For example, if you are applying for a position as a business controller, you will want your resume to make you sound like a business controller. Use formal register and try to steer clear of pronouns. Use proper grammar and spelling (short phrases are okay). Use powerful, professional words.
Be Honest. One of the very worst things you can do is lie on your resume. While you do not need to include every little detail, you still need to make sure you are telling the truth. Do not claim you had responsibilities that you did not have. Certainly, do not claim you had a job or received education that you did not have. Honesty is the best policy.
Have Someone Read Through Your Resume–This is probably the most crucial step for a successful resume. Have someone you trust read through your resume and give you suggestions. Make sure that this person is willing to be honest with you. If you happen to know someone who regularly hires employees, ask what he or she would think if they received your resume. If possible, have more than one person read it. Listen to their suggestions. It can only make your resume better.
With this tips in mind, you are ready to create the perfect resume for you. Good luck!
Do you have any other suggestions for writing powerful resumes? What have your experience with resumes been? Please share with us!
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