Your resume is often the first impression that hiring managers have of you, so it’s crucial to make it count. In this blog post, we share some tips on how to write a resume that gets noticed.
The Importance of a Well-Written Resume
A well-written resume is essential to landing the job you want. It’s your chance to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers. A strong resume can help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of getting an interview. When crafting your resume, it’s important to keep in mind that hiring managers often have limited time to review applications.
Studies show that recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume. That means you need to make a strong first impression and quickly convey your value as a candidate.
Key Components of a Strong Resume
A strong resume should include the following key components:
Contact Information – Make sure your contact information is prominently displayed at the top of your resume. This should include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if you have one). You do not need to include your home address on your resume.
Summary Statement – A compelling summary statement can grab the attention of hiring managers and highlight your most relevant skills and experience. Your summary statement should be tailored to the job you’re applying for and should be no more than 2-3 sentences.
Skills and Achievements – Your resume should showcase your skills and achievements in a clear and concise way. Use bullet points to list your skills and accomplishments, and quantify them whenever possible.
Education and Work Experience – List your education and work experience in reverse chronological order. For each job, include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
Crafting a Compelling Summary Statement
Your summary statement is your chance to make a strong first impression and highlight your most relevant skills and experience. To create a compelling summary statement, start by reviewing the job description and identifying the key qualifications and requirements. Then, tailor your summary statement to match those requirements.
For example, if the job description emphasizes the need for strong communication skills, you might write something like: “Experienced communicator with a proven track record of effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams to achieve business objectives.” Keep in mind that your summary statement should be no more than 2-3 sentences and should be tailored to the job you’re applying for.
Highlighting Your Skills and Achievements
When listing your skills and achievements on your resume, it’s important to be specific and quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example, instead of saying “Managed a team of employees,” you might say “Managed a team of 10 employees and increased productivity by 25%.”
Here are some tips for highlighting your skills and achievements:
- Use bullet points to make your accomplishments easy to read.
- Use action verbs to describe your achievements (e.g. “Increased sales by 20%”).
- Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible (e.g. “Managed a budget of $1 million”).
Using Keywords and Action Verbs to Stand Out
Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they reach human hands. These systems scan resumes for keywords and phrases that match the job description. To increase your chances of getting past the ATS and getting noticed by hiring managers, it’s important to use keywords and action verbs in your resume. Start by reviewing the job description and identifying the key qualifications and requirements. Then, incorporate those keywords and phrases into your resume.
Here are some examples of action verbs you might use on your resume:
- Achieved
- Built
- Created
- Developed
- Implemented
- Improved
- Increased
- Managed
How to Tailor Your Resume to Specific Job Roles
When applying for a job, it’s important to tailor your resume to the specific job role. This shows employers that you’ve taken the time to understand the job requirements and have the skills and experience to meet them. To tailor your resume, start by reviewing the job description and identifying the key qualifications and requirements. Then, make sure your resume highlights your relevant skills and experience.
Here are some tips for tailoring your resume to specific job roles:
- Use the same keywords and phrases used in the job description.
- Highlight your relevant skills and experience.
- Customize your summary statement to match the job requirements.
- Adjust the order of your bullet points to emphasize your most relevant experience.
Formatting and Design Tips for a Professional-Looking Resume
In addition to the content of your resume, the formatting and design can also make a big difference in how it’s perceived by hiring managers. Here are some tips for creating a professional-looking resume:
- Use a clean and simple font (e.g. Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman).
- Use bullet points to make your resume easy to read.
- Use bold or italic font to highlight important information.
- Use white space to make your resume more visually appealing.
- Keep your resume to 1-2 pages in length.
Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid
When writing your resume, it’s important to avoid common mistakes that can turn off potential employers. Here are some common resume mistakes to avoid:
- Spelling and grammar errors
- Too much information or irrelevant information
- Using a generic summary statement
- Using a template without personalizing it
- Focusing too much on job duties instead of accomplishments
Understanding the ATS (Applicant Tracking System)
As I mentioned earlier, many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes before they reach human hands. These systems scan resumes for keywords and phrases that match the job description.
To increase your chances of getting past the ATS and getting noticed by hiring managers, it’s important to use keywords and phrases that match the job description. However, it’s also important to make sure your resume is easy to read and visually appealing for human readers.
Conclusion
Your resume is your chance to make a great first impression with potential employers. By following these tips on how to write a resume that gets noticed, you can increase your chances of landing the job you want. Remember to tailor your resume to the specific job role, highlight your skills and achievements, and avoid common resume mistakes.
With a strong and professional-looking resume, you can stand out from other applicants and get hired. Now that you know how to write a resume that gets noticed, it’s time to put your knowledge into action. Update your resume with these tips in mind and start applying for jobs today!