Making Your Resume Speak Volumes
When crafting a resume many people take the approach of this being a necessary evil, but in reality, it does not have to be such a daunting task. In a world moving quickly to automation, resume filtering is becoming among the most common practices used by employers. There are some quick tips that can help you be successful in making it past the filters and in front of the eyes of those that matter.
While many may think about their phone screen or interview as being their first impression on an employer, in actuality it begins at the resume. Make sure it is clear, concise, and easy to read. You want to ensure your resume covers the key elements of your experience. Here are some sections you should include:
- Professional Summary – this is where you can provide a couple sentences summarizing your work experience. Make sure this speaks to the position for which you are seeking.
- Skills Profile – this is an area where you can highlight some specific skills you have an often times where you will want to ensure that the key words highlighted in the job description are appearing. (i.e. customer service, sales, leadership, etc.)
- Work Experience – this section should include Company Name, Dates of Employment, Title/Position, and Duties/Responsibilities. Make sure employers have a clear idea on what you did in each of your roles. Include quantifiable data, numbers are easy to read.
- Education – any education you have which can include High School Diploma, Trade School, 2-4 year College/University, etc. You will also want to include any certification courses you have completed.
Additional Information – include accolades you have received, accomplishments, training programs, etc. Anything that would be a positive to the company and/or the position for which you are seeking.Many people use resume builders or templates to create a resume, which is a great tool to help with getting started, but often will ask you to include things that are not necessary such as hobbies and objective statements, be wary of these, if they do not sell you in a positive light or have a direct impact on the position you are seeking, do not include them. Some other common don'ts include:
- Using identifiers that allow companies to judge prematurely.
- Lying about dates of employment to cover up gaps in work history or omitting a job because you feel it does not directly relate to the position you are seeking therefore putting an unnecessary gap in your employment history. Unrelated work history is better than a gap in work history!
- Not customizing your resume for the position in which you seek.
- Going beyond 2 pages; keep it short and simple.
- Using different font types and sizes is hard on the eyes of the reader; keep it simple by using bolded text or one size larger font for categories or titles, but keep it uniformed throughout the entire document.
At the end of the day, make sure you are highlighting why an employer would want to speak with you; selling your experience in a positive way that speaks to the position and the company. Review the job descriptions before applying, does your resume match those qualifications? Review the company website, does your resume speak to the company culture?
If you are not sure what is the best option for you, reach out to one of our experts!