Do you want a resume that will land you more job interviews?
Or maybe you need a resume that will help you get a higher paying job?
If this sounds like you, stay tuned because I'm going to share 6 strategies to help you write a resume that will get you noticed and if you stick around until the end, as always, Studies have shown that humans have a shorter attention span than goldfish, which is only nine seconds, and our attention span just keeps getting shorter because of our digitized lifestyle. That's why I have come up with six strategies to help you write a resume that will get you noticed. So let's jump into it.
1. Have a clear message
This means starting with a clear vision of what you can offer. This will help you demonstrate what you can do for a company and why you are a great fit. Start by pin-pointing your strengths. Determine what you are good at. What about your current position brings you the most excitement? What would others say that you do well? Knowing and understanding your strengths and your passions will help you tailor your resume better for each position. With your message defined, you are now ready to bring it together in what we call a branding profile.
2. A branding profile
A branding profile is a brief description of your greatest accomplishments. It tells an employer who you are, who you help and how you help them. It comes right after your name and contact information and appears right before your experience section. The great thing about a branding profile is that it conveys to a company what you can do for them rather than what you want out of the position. A branding profile is also known as a personal summary, a qualifications section or even a branding summary.
Bonus tip: An objective statement on a resume is old and outdated so if you've been using one you need to get rid of it and put a branding profile in its place.
3. Focus on the top half
The top half of your resume is by far the most important. This is where hiring managers and recruiters will look first. You have 6 seconds or less to convince them that you are the perfect candidate for an interview. Include a good contact phone number with a professional sounding email address, preferably a gmail account with your first and last name or some combination of your first and last name. You could also use an email address from your personal website. Rather than a street address include your personal LinkedIn URL.
4. Highlight your accomplishments
Hiring managers and recruiters want to see the results you've made in your previous positions. They want to see the problems you've solved, how you solved them, and the impact that you've made. To clearly convey this, highlight your accomplishments rather than listing your job descriptions. One of the best ways to do this is by using percentages, numbers and even amounts. Doing this will identify the outcomes you've had and make you more attractive as a candidate.
5. Make it relevant
Your resume should always be tailored to the position you are applying for. Closely review the job description for keywords and place those keywords throughout your resume. This also means removing work experience that is more than 10 years old unless it has a direct tie to the position and company you are applying for, and finally
6. Place emphasis on the format
Put extra effort into the design and formatting of your resume. This can be difficult but it is well worth it because hiring managers and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes. You need to do a little something extra to stand out from everyone else. I'm not saying you need to create an infographic resume unless your industry requires it but there are a few simple strategies that you can put into place. First, consider using an alternate font. Times New Roman and Arial are two of the most commonly used fonts which is why they should be avoided. Rather use alternate fonts such as Garmin, Gill Sans or even Cambria. Also highlight sections by applying subtle changes, such as bold text, line breaks, extra spacing and even subtle color changes. And lastly, use lists. Bulleted lists are a great way to break up information and draw attention to things you want someone to notice.
Thanks for sticking with me until the end.
So I have a question for you, what are your biggest challenges when it comes to writing a resume? Feel free to comment
