When it comes to the job hunt, some applications fail simply because their resume is unappealing. This would probably explain why over 75% of resumes are never looked at. A poorly written resume can be one of the key factors keeping you from getting your dream job, but you can believe a well-written resume can make the difference.
Writing a good resume is not an easy task. A proper resume does require some skill from the writer, as well as knowledge of what goes into creating it. If you’re looking to write a job winning resume, the following are some tips that may help you along the way.
Table of Contents
1. Be Accurate and Truthful
When writing your resume, make sure to be accurate and truthful. Do not embellish your experience or qualifications. If you are caught lying on your resume, you may be disqualified from consideration for the job. Additionally, if you are hired and then later found to have lied on your resume, you may be terminated from your position.
2. Customize Your Resume Based on the Job Request
Match your skills with the job description. Your resume is your first impression for employers, so you need to show them that you are not only qualified for the job but also suit their needs. You can achieve this by matching your skills & experience with what they want. If you have a lot of skills, be selective and list those that are most relevant to the position you are applying for.
When you are applying for a specific job, you’d better customize your resume to highlight the skills that are relevant to that job. For example, if you are applying for a position as a paralegal, you would want to focus on your experience and skills in legal research and document review.
If you are applying for a position as a lawyer, you would want to focus on your experience and skills in legal research, writing, and argumentation.
3. Focused on Achievements
Headhunters prefer resumes that focus on the applicant’s achievements and professional development. A good resume highlights your strengths and accomplishments in reference to what you have achieved in your previous or current job.
If you’ve previously held a position where you were responsible for marketing, then it is important to list those achievements you made. Evidence of your ability to increase SEO traffic should be mentioned on your resume.
4. Use Keywords
Including the right keywords in your resume can help you to stand out from the competition and increase your chances of getting selected for an interview. Keywords are terms that are used by employers to search for candidates online. You can find out what keywords are relevant to a particular job by doing some research online.
For example, if you are applying for a position as a paralegal, you can find out which keywords are used by employers to search for candidates by conducting a search for “paralegal resume keywords.”
5. Compelling Reading
The tone of your resume should be enthusiastic, professional, and inviting. Make sure your resume follows good business writing rules for spelling, capitalization, grammar, clarity, and conciseness.
One of the most common things that go wrong in a resume is spelling and grammar. It is extremely important for you to ensure that your work is done in a professional manner because if this part of the resume doesn’t meet the standard, there’s no chance you’ll be hired.
6. Structured Correctly
A well-crafted resume will grab the reader’s attention and make them want to learn more about you. Your resume should be organized into sections that are easily distinguishable from one another. For example, you might have a “Professional Experience” section where you provide relevant work history, an “Education” section detailing your academic achievements, and a “Skills” section highlighting areas of expertise.
7. Include a Summary Statement
A summary statement is a brief paragraph that summarizes your experience and skills. This is an important part of your resume because it allows employers to quickly assess your qualifications. The summary statement is also better tailored to the job you are applying for.
8. Proofread Your Resume
Once you’ve got your resume written, it’s important to do some final checks before you send it off. Have someone else read over it for you and make sure that there are no errors. Typos and mistakes will definitely not make a good impression on potential employers.
Other Tips
- Use strong and concise action verbs to describe your work duties. For example, “managed” instead of “worked with.”
- Quantify your achievements whenever possible. Saying that you “increased sales by 20%” sounds a lot more impressive than saying that you “did well.”
- Use bullet points to list your achievements and make it easier for the reader to scan.
- Keep your resume to one or two pages only.
- Make sure that your contact information is easy to find and up-to-date.
Final Thought
Hope the above 8 tips will help you write a winning resume that can help you land your dream job.
