A resume is an important professional document for those seeking employment in most industries. An effective resume expresses the skills and experiences that make you a qualified candidate for a position. Learning some tips for creating a strong and impressive resume may help you distinguish yourself from other candidates and make it easier for hiring managers to determine whether your credentials are a good fit for their organization. In this article, we provide 24 tips to help you draft, format, write and refine a killer resume.
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11 Top Resume Tips and Tricks You Must Know
1. Know your audience
The first step to writing an effective resume is to know your audience. Researching a company and thoroughly reading job descriptions may help you understand what skills and characteristics the organization values. For each position you apply for, target your resume to meet the needs and interests of the company.
2. Use keywords
When possible, include any keywords from the job description in your resume. For example, if the job description asks for an enthusiastic communicator, include the phrase “enthusiastic communicator” within your resume. Using keywords may communicate to the resume reviewer that you understand their expectations and have the qualities they are looking for in a candidate.
3. Consider formatting
Effective formatting can demonstrate your organizational skills. It can also make your resume easy for the reader to review, which may reflect your professionalism. Implementing good formatting strategies such as using headings and subheadings to distinguish each section of your resume may improve your resume’s readability. You can also use strategic formatting to structure your most relevant skills and experiences at the top of your resume.
4. Explain relevance
If you have limited direct experience in the industry for which you are applying, you might use your resume to explain any relevant transferrable skills you have. For example, if you are a recent graduate with experience in food service, you might express how your communication and teamwork skills apply to the industry in which you are applying.
5. Keep it brief
A typical resume is one to two pages long. Reviewers often spend only seconds skimming resumes, so being concise may help you express your skills efficiently. For example, using bullet points instead of paragraphs or complete sentences may help you quickly highlight your skills and experiences.
6. Tell a story
You may use your resume to show your career progress. For example, including promotions and acknowledgments throughout your resume can show your growth and the value your employers find in your work. Your resume can tell the story of your advancement throughout your career.
7. Quantify successes
Quantifying your successes can help to show your accomplishments. To quantify your work, provide specific numbers and figures associated with the successes of your work. For example, a resume for a sales associate might state, “Increased store sales by 32% by implementing customer rewards program.”
8. Demonstrate diverse skills
Candidates may demonstrate a variety of skills on their resumes. Choosing to highlight a diverse skill set may communicate your well-roundedness as a candidate. For example, consider including a variety of soft and hard skills on your resume. You might express your interpersonal, communication, leadership and time management skills in addition to your technical skills related to using software or industry-specific equipment.
9. Include links to your professional profiles
Including direct links to your digital portfolio, webpage or professional social media page may make it easy for hiring managers to connect with you online. Hiring managers may review your online profiles to see examples of your past work which may further demonstrate your qualifications for a position.
10. Explain employment gaps
If your resume shows any gaps in your employment history, prepare to explain these to a potential employer. For example, if you took time to travel, you can explain how your experiences apply to your candidacy.
11. Show eligibility
You may use your resume to prove your eligibility for a position. For example, if you are applying to a position that requires a certain educational degree, license or certificate, you may state that you have those credentials on your resume. This may save time by communicating to the hiring manager that you already have the credentials for the job.
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