Good resumes stand out in small ways from the dozens on hiring managers’ desks. The small details can make managers spend just a few more seconds looking over it than they normally would. Good formatting and content are what will help encourage a manager to request an interview. Take these four tips for writing a resume into consideration before you apply for another job.
1.) Relevant Content
The content of your resume should be related to the specific hiring needs of each employer. Reading carefully through the job description is the first step to highlighting your relevant skills, experience and education. Next, read through some of the information on the organization’s website to learn more about what it values. Emphasize these as well.
2.) Tight Formatting
The layout of your resume should be concise and easy to read. An overuse of italics, bold, different fonts, borders or other attention-grabbing elements should be kept to a minimum. Hiring managers must be able to find the information they need in seconds.
Furthermore, list your most recent job first, and work backwards, including the dates you worked at each. While the functional resume format does not include dates, managers want to see when you worked and where. Not having dates looks like you are hiding something. If you want to categorize your work according to type as in the functional resume, just include the dates you worked at each place within each group in reverse chronological order.
Additionally, keep your resume to a page in length. If you have extensive experience in your field, you can usually extend this limit to two pages. With so many resumes to go through, managers will likely ignore the information on subsequent pages. One way to free up some room on your resume is to delete the objective at the top of your resume. These are outdated, and managers want to know what you can offer them, not what you want.
Finally, remain consistent with any formatting you use. If you want to use a slightly larger font size for each of the companies for which you worked, for example, use that same font size for each one. Forgetting to change just one company’s name draws attention to your resume in the wrong way.
3.) No Errors
The smallest error, such as a missed period or preposition, can land your resume in the trash. Your resume is your first demonstration of your ability to be a detail-oriented professional. No matter your industry, a clean, mistake-free resume is important to presenting yourself as a qualified future employee.
4.) Precise Verbs and Adjectives
Avoid slapping overly used verbs and adjectives. “Creative,” “excellent” and other such words do not mean anything to hiring managers. Instead, insert sharp, to-the-point words that clearly and quickly give the person reading your resume an idea of the work you have done in the past and what you are capable of. Additionally, use percentages and numbers wherever possible on your resume. Numbers talk more than boring words.
Your resume will likely be scanned in under 10 seconds by whoever reads it. You have just that long to impress and snag an interview. Pay close attention to these areas of your resume, and you may be well on your way to a new job.
While job searching herself Elizabeth Shelton scoured the internet looking for tips for writing a resume. One of the top resume writing services firms, Distinctive Career Services, LLC, offers many free resume writing tips and example resumes. Their website found at www.distinctiveweb.com was the most helpful she found.
