Many people would love to land their dream job. Unfortunately, if it is a good and desirable job, there is likely a lot of competition. There will be plenty of people vying for the job, and making sure you stand out in the crowd isn’t always easy.
While a great job interview can help seal the deal, it is your resume that gets you noticed and gets your foot in the door. If your resume isn’t good, you won’t even get a chance to show your skills or speak to a hiring manager.
With that in mind, this article is going to go over a few resume-writing tips that can help you land a great job.
Get the Format Right
While the content of your resume is crucial to how good it is, you also need to make sure it is formatted correctly. If the format or the way you present information is confusing, it can hurt your chances of getting the job.
The resume should be easy to navigate, and all of the important information should be ready and accessible without a lot of effort on the part of the reader. Having an abstract or overly-creative resume can work in some industries, but in others, it is best to keep things simple.
A good idea can be to download an executive resume template to get a picture of how it should look, and then make a few small changes if you see fit. Also, make an effort to keep your resume short, likely no more than a page or two.
Use the Right Keywords
Today, companies of all shapes and sizes use various tools and technology to help in the hiring and recruitment departments. One such tool is an ATS (applicant tracking system), which will scan all incoming resumes and accept or deny them based on certain criteria before they are actually checked out by the company. Oftentimes, these systems look for certain keywords, degrees, or accomplishments.
As a result, to ensure you can pass through these systems and actually have your resume seen by a human, you need to use the right resume keywords. Look closely at the job description or posting, and make sure you are using similar terminology and words in your resume. The more relevant the keywords you include, the better your chances will be.
Include as Much Detail as Possible
For the best results, you want to make sure that your resume is as detailed as possible. If the content you include is too broad, you might find it difficult to differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicants. You want a hiring manager to be able to read or skim your resume, and instantly have a good idea about what you will be able to provide to the business and how you can help.
A great way to do this is to ensure you are writing a results-oriented resume. This focuses more on the results and outcomes that your work led to, as opposed to vague duties or responsibilities that you had in previous positions.
You can include the revenue you helped bring into a company, how many people you successfully trained, how many projects you led, awards you won, events you put on, and so much more. These resumes aim to show what you have accomplished, and the type of results a company can expect if they hire you.
These resume writing tips are sure to help you improve your chances of landing your dream job.
