When it comes to resumes, there are so many conflicting questions regarding them. Should it be one page long? Which skills to mention? Do you put a summary on top? How to make it stand out when you know the hiring manager has thousands of applications? Well, a resume is indeed your first impression, you have to get it right.
First things first, building your resume isn’t a one-hour job. It takes time and shouldn’t be rushed. It should make the hiring manager realize that “this person has the qualities that I need for this job”.
THE SUMMARY IS IMPORTANT!!
In your resume, the summary needs to be striking because that’s how long you have the attention of the hiring manager. Start by briefly describing yourself and your expertise. It should be comprehensible that you have what it takes for this job. It should explain what are your career goals and what can you bring to the table for the company. It should comprise why you’re the right person for this job.
CUSTOMIZED RESUME.
Copy-pasting the same resume to every company is not sufficient. The resume should be customized according to the requirements of the company. Understanding the company’s visions, mission and values from their job description and then highlighting how your skills and expertise align with those needs, that’s what needs to be the centre of attraction. Create a new version of your resume for every new opportunity.
CLICHES LIKE “Highly determined and motivated” – BIG NO!!
Job resumes need to be as precise as they can be. They should have all the necessary information about you that revolves around the company’s objectives. It is important to use strong action words and demonstrate your quantifiable achievements and how you made an impact in your previous roles. This shows them that you’re a result-driven candidate who can benefit their company.
SELECTIVITY IS THE KEY!
It might get tempting to list out all of your accomplishments and degrees in the resume. Your resume should convince the hiring manager to talk to you. You should stick to those skills that are most relevant to the company and the job you’re applying for. You also need to provide examples of how you used the skills in your previous roles. Mention your achievements but also your failures and setbacks with a brief of how you could successfully overcome them and learn from them.
Therefore, by understanding the job and the company you’re applying to and tailoring your resume according to their goals and objectives, highlighting your unique value proposition and using a clean, easy-to-read format, you can increase the chances of being noticed by the hiring manager. With these tips in mind, you can create a compelling resume which will make you standout from other candidates and gives a head start to your career with your dream job.
