What would you say is involved in making a good first impression? This question is fundamental to creating a resume that stands head and shoulders above the rest. While your experience and training should speak for themselves, there are other aspects of writing a strong resume that could make or break its presentation.
If you want some tips on how to create a powerful resume, we’ve provided you with 5 essential steps to ensure that every aspect of it gives you the publicity you deserve. So keep reading to find out what they are.
1: Less Is More
Think about this: during a company’s recruitment period, they are flooded with piles of resumes and employers don’t tend to spend much time looking at them, individually. They want to see if candidates fit the bill as quickly as possible.
Therefore, the clearer and more concise your resume is, visually and with regards to content, the more chance it will be noticed. This means keeping your resume down to no longer than two sides of a page. The best way to do this is to only include experience and information relevant to the position you are applying for. The fastest way of making a resume of that sort is by creating different versions of relevant content and adjusting them according to the job.
2: Avoid the Mundane
Employers pay attention to originality and creativity. Your resume can do a lot to reflect those qualities. Avoid using Microsoft templates as they are the most commonly used. A free online resume builder will give you more of an edge against the monotony of traditional resume templates. As a result, you’ll automatically set yourself apart from the other applicants.
Don’t be afraid of using a little color and tasteful customization to make your resume truly unique.
- Use Concrete Language and Information
This is one of the most important resume building tips. Throughout your resume, avoid using terms like “punctual” and “hardworking”. These are terms that anyone can write about themselves; doesn’t make it true. Employers are put off by such terms and prefer concrete information regarding your profile and experience.
Instead, highlight achievements in measurable language. Information like “qualified”, “entrepreneur”, “for six years”, and “30 orders a day” provides the employer with more evidence of your competence than having to scan over a cliche of adjectives.
- Check for Errors and Inconsistencies
When it comes to making a good resume, something that should never be overlooked is mistakes or inconsistencies. Attention to detail is another soft skill that can be reflected in the presentation of your resume. Spelling mistakes or inconsistent patterns in subheadings (an abbreviated month in one and not the other, for example) can bring down the quality of your entire resume.
Pay extra attention to these points. Get a second or third opinion before distributing your resume to your desired businesses.
- Highlight Your Social Media Profiles
Another way that employers can make a more informed decision based on your resume is to list your social media profiles. This is part of your identity and highlighting them to employers is a way of advertising yourself as a brand.
It may be that you’ll have to take a little time and effort to polish the quality of your online presence, but keep in mind that nowadays it functions as an extension of your resume.
That’s How You Create a Powerful Resume!
Following these 5 steps on how to create a powerful resume is bound to increase the likelihood of you being noticed by employers.
So whether you want to know how to make a resume for your first job or you’re simply improving on an already existing format, don’t underestimate the effect of these tips. Your resume is part of your identity, so give yourself the time and attention you deserve. Happy hunting!
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