Whether you already have a resume or not, this article is going to give you practical tips to help you write a killer resume that will support your job applications and hopefully get you closer to landing your next job.
#1 Size Matters
If your current resume is more than 2-3 pages long, then it is too long. When a hiring manager gets a resume to review, and they usually receive lots, it is important to keep things concise. Nobody needs to see a full list of everything you did on a daily basis, and regardless of your seniority or amount of experience, you need to simply provide a high-level overview of the position you held and the types of responsibilities you had.
#2 Customization Counts
When you apply for a new job, you need to tailor the resume you submit to match with the requirements of the role. If you are applying for the right type of jobs, then you will already be confident that you have the experience, skills, and knowledge to be able to perform the required tasks. When you submit a resume, you need to make sure that the hiring manager can quickly and easily see that you are a good fit for the role.
Remove duties that aren’t relevant and always use the job description as a guide for what information you need to include in your resume. This tailored approach to writing a resume will ensure that yours quickly stands out as suitable for the post and will help you make it through to the acceptance pile much quicker.
#3 Pay Attention to the Details
This point is going to be short and sweet. Do not submit a resume that contains errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It will look like you are incapable of paying attention to the details, and it will give the impression that you have rushed your application and would do the same in any job you are applying for.
If spelling and proofreading isn’t your strongest point, hire a resume writer or a proofreading service to help you finalise your resume before you submit it for a job.
#4 Presentation
Presentation matters. While there are lots of fancy resume templates online, some of which are free, others which you can buy, you need to make sure that your overall presentation is consistent throughout.
- Use a font size of 10-12 for the writing, and a larger size for the headings.
- Keep all your dates in a consistent format throughout the document.
- Use the same font type throughout the whole document, and if you are using colours, keep to no more than two.
- Your most recent job should be at the top, dating backwards to your previous posts.
#5 Include all expected information
As a minimum, you need to include all of the below information in your resume.
- Contact Information
- Education
- Skills
- Qualifications
- Experience
- Achievements
- Personal Interests / Hobbies
#6 Always accompanied with a cover letter
Just as you will now be tailoring your resume to each and every job application you make, you will also need to write a cover letter to accompany your resume. Even if one isn’t requested, it is always good practice to summarise your suitability for the position in a brief, one-page cover letter.
As a final note, your resume is a working document, it will evolve with your experience, and it should be tailored to each and every job you apply for. This is usually the very first thing a recruiter or hiring manager will see, and it is how they decide whether or not to progress your application forward.
If you’re going to take the time to do things properly, you can start looking forward to receiving more positive responses to the job applications you make.
We wish you every success for your future!
Resume template [Download] | Photo credits: Sebastian Herrmann