Mastering the skill of resume writing is harder than the average writer thinks! Your chance of landing an interview is much higher if you have a killer resume that shows off your education, skills and experience whether you have years of experience or a newbie joining the workforce. After all, a resume is often the very first point of contact between you and your next potential employer. It is also the first impression you get to make. When you have a well-written professional resume, your chances are much better for obtaining the job you desire.
Here are a few tips to follow when writing a killer resume:
Remove the objective: It should be obvious that you want the job since you are applying for it. This can be covered in your cover letter – or – if you are changing industries, you might include a brief introductory summary in the resume.
Be brief: If it’s not related to the role you want to pursue, it’s time to get rid of all the clutter i.e. making milkshakes in high school at the local Dairy Queen. More space should be devoted to your current or recent jobs rather than reminiscing about the past. It’s not worth writing about if it doesn’t fit on two pages. Even if it means adjusting your resume for each new application, make sure you include specific skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
No personal information: This includes age, religion, nationality, or marital status. All of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you so there is no need to include it on your resume. We also suggest that you do not include your street address, date of birth or bank account information for security reasons.
Be straightforward and clear: Use simple text and one modern, standard font that is easy to read and understand. Do not write in first or third person i.e. “I managed a team of three” or “Jim managed a team of three.” Instead write “Responsible for managing a team of three.” Use concise bullet points below headlines where applicable.
Avoid clutter: This includes complicated layouts with headers, footers, tables or other items that cannot be viewed correctly on different computers that might use different versions of software. And – please use spell check to locate any errors! This is one of the most overlooked tools available to the average writer.
Use discretion and be professional: Do you still use the same unprofessional Hotmail address you came up with in the 90’s? For the purpose of job applications, it is worth your time to set up a more professional email address. We strongly advise that you do not use your current work email address or phone number – these could get you into trouble.
Follow submission requirements: If you don’t follow all the specified requirements that have been included in the job description, you won’t get noticed. For the most part, resumes and cover letters are requested in a doc, pdf, docx, rtt format but that could change so make sure you check for the right format. Some request applications to be addressed or sent in a specific manner. Make sure to follow all of the guidelines and you will be ahead of the guy who didn’t bother to pay attention to the details!
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