I can't think of many chores individuals hate more than drafting a résumé. There are so many minor things you need to add, reword, check, double-check, triple-check.
Post-pandemic, the job hunt is a completely other ball game, with additional concerns you haven’t encountered before.
A checklist makes things seem less intimidating so that’s what most of this piece will be, and the best part is it’s recruiter-approved. Let’s dig in.
1- Include your contact details.
This seems like a given, right? Not precisely.
"You would be astonished to know how many extremely nice applications I've come across with no contact information," says Ira Hughley
Make sure your entire name, email address, and location are included. Don't fill down your whole home address, however, merely a city and state.
While your location may not be too significant to the work itself, since more positions are remote than ever before, companies still want to know your approximate location for tax and legal concerns.
This also implies that you should definitely delete references that are too local, since your resume will likely reach a bigger audience than previously.
Lastly, make sure your email address is professional. While the heyday of MSN and AIM identities are long gone, many of us still use old addresses we set long before we were in employment.
With this in mind, establish a basic email with your first and last name. If it's already taken, consider adding your industry to your email. E.g.:
2. Tailor your résumé to the position.
One of the greatest errors job applicants make is using the same resume for every employment they apply for.
Hughley suggests having various resume versions for each position category you're interested in.
. "Sometimes you can chat to them throughout the interview."
The same goes for preserving outdated jobs that are no longer relevant.
"Be 110 percent confident that your work experience and hobbies fit the career opportunity you are hoping to acquire," adds Hughley.
Instead, mention positions that showcase your experience and illustrate why you are a strong match for the role.
"What if I’m migrating to a new industry and don’t have much experience, what should I do? "Your text will be rewritten by QuillBot. Start by typing or pasting something into this box, then hit the enter key.
For instance, assume you’re shifting to a developer job but just have expertise in writing. Well, developer professionals need problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and a desire to learn.
In this situation, you may showcase the same abilities in your writing capacity, like:
- Meeting deadlines – time management
- Brainstorming fresh article ideas - critical thinking
- Analyzing article performance and offering optimization options – problem-solving
While you may not have the experience, you probably have transferrable abilities that will help you flourish in your new career.
3. Describe your experience in detail.
When it comes to the experience area, there are the essentials we all know to input: Previous businesses, employment titles, and responsibilities. There are two other details you shouldn’t forget to add: The outcomes you accomplished and the prizes you got.
One problem Hughley commonly finds with resumes is that they're too imprecise.
"Highlight yourself! Sometimes, I see only a title and no highlights or takeaways from that experience," he adds. "This is the moment to boast about what you have done, even if it's only a handful of bullet points."
HubSpot Recruiter Timothy Dixon-Traylor thinks we frequently leave out critical facts that may help us stand out.
"I believe the most important part of the CV is to show how you've made an impact in your present and previous jobs," he said. "You can achieve this by quantifying your results and impacts to the best of your ability."
On the heels of Dixon-Traylor, "To some degree, every prospective employee's first thought should be, "How can I contribute to elevating the team and the organization?"
Your first step in demonstrating how will be to quantify your efforts "he said.
How much money, visitors, or conversions did your efforts bring in? Be sure to include such information, as well as numbers.
Action verbs are the next step. It is preferable to describe what you have done rather than what you have not done.. This clarifies your duties and makes it easier for potential employers to learn about your prior work experiences.
"Dixon-Traylor advises against using buzzwords like "help customers" or "make cold calls to prospects" in your copy. "Do you think you can help these clients in any way?" How many clients do you see in a day? If so, what are your key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics? As I said before, measuring your influence is a good way of proving your worth."
Another item to stay away from? Fluff.
Dixon-Traylor recommends that you evaluate your material to see whether it effectively conveys your unique skills and worth.
4-Assume the role of a "Key Skills" section on your resume.
It is critical that you include a section on your resume that highlights your abilities. In this area, hiring managers and automatic resume scanners evaluate your qualifications.
As a result, don't place your talents section at the bottom of your resume. Put it at the top or on the side of your resume instead of at the bottom. Hiring managers want to know what talents you have, and how you acquired them.
5- Use a resume template that is appropriate for your sector.
If you're looking for a job in any field, there's an unofficial hiring process you may use.
As an example, resumes in the creative industry tend to enable (and even encourage) applicants to demonstrate some individuality. A picture on your resume, for example, or the use of vibrant colors and graphics are all acceptable methods of doing this.
It's not necessary to design the wheel when the guide already exists; just follow the tone that's acceptable for your business.
As the last point, Dixton-Traylor recommends keeping the page free of clutter by utilizing a substantial amount of white space.
In one to two pages, he recommends using "as much empty space as possible" to highlight the value you provide. "Your knowledge of certain technologies, abilities, applications, and systems will help you stand out in the application process. Tableau and HubSpot are examples of specialized technologies, whereas POS systems, Microsoft Office, and the Google Suite are more straightforward options.
6-Using the job description's keywords is a good idea.
You should include the keywords from the job description in your resume for two reasons:
It will demonstrate to potential employers that your abilities and experience match the job description.
Automated resume scanners seek for keyword matches, and you'll make sure yours passes them with flying colors.
7. Check for errors in spelling, punctuation, and the use of particular action verbs.
Errors on your CV are the last thing you want to happen. It might have a negative impact on your reputation and seem unprofessional.
Proofreading your resume is a good place to start. Give it a rest for a few hours or days before going back over it.
After that, put it through a grammar checker to make sure it's perfect. The following are a few solid choices:
8-Make sure your resume is saved as a PDF.
Consider the possibility that you've spent hours preparing your resume just to have it all be wiped out by the time someone else looks at it. When you use Word to send your resume, you run the risk of this happening.
Instead, create a PDF version of your finished resume to protect your formatting. This also makes it simple to upload on the majority of employment forms.
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