When applying for a job, it is important to make your resume stand out from the crowd. You can do this by differentiating yourself through your skills, experience, and your resume’s appearance. Here are some tips on how to spruce up your resume so that it catches the hiring manager’s attention.
1) Use keywords that are listed in the job posting.
When hiring managers look at your resume, they analyze it for how well it matches up with the job requirements. If there are keywords in your resume that align with the job description, they will be more likely to give you a call. For example, if a position requires strong knowledge of Quickbooks, be sure to include that you used Quickbooks extensively in your previous role, not just that you were responsible for bookkeeping.
2) Back up your skills with experience.
It is important to list your skills on your resume. If you are an expert at managing calendars, you want to make sure hiring managers know that. But, don’t forget to show exactly how and when you used these specific skills in your previous roles. Listing your skills alone lacks substance. You need to show that you have prior experience using these skills on the job.
3) Your resume can be more than one page.
Don’t leave out important work experience or skills just because you are trying to fit your resume on one page. Hiring managers would rather see a resume that is two pages long with a complete work history than one that is missing the full picture. But, do not make your resume so long that it takes 20 minutes to read. Your resume should be concise and complete; giving the hiring manager the top reasons why they should hire you.
4) Customize your resume.
Don’t be afraid to add some personality to your resume, as it will catch the hiring managers eye! Use different sized headings and bullet points to make your resume easy to read and interesting. Additionally, use short, concise sentences that convey your experience. If your resume is too cluttered or difficult to read, hiring managers will quickly move on. To convince recruiters to hire you, get to the point quickly and use space wisely.
Your resume should be a persuasive document. With these small changes, you’ll be more likely to catch the eye of recruiters and get that first call!