With most job hunting occurring online, your resume is the first thing a company sees. Recruiters are very busy and because they often get hundreds of resumes for one job opening, they don’t have time to analyze every resume they receive. If you don’t grab the company’s attention within a few seconds, you’ve missed out on a job opportunity. That’s why it’s important for your resume to stand out. Here are some tips to help you land that dream job.
Formatting
The trick is to try to create your own format. There are many resume templates online, but if everyone else is using them, how will your resume stand out? You need to create a unique way to display your job experience, accomplishments and education in an easy-to-read format.
This involves the use of bullets to list your duties and accomplishments. Don’t be too wordy. Keep it short and sweet – no more than five bullet points. And keep sentences short – in fact, no complete sentences needed.
When formatting your resume, add in enough white space. If the page is nothing but solid text, it can make your resume look too busy. This will distract the recruiter and get your resume thrown in the trash.
Relevance
A resume does not need to include every job you’ve ever held. If you’re applying for an IT position, you don’t need to include that summer you worked at McDonald’s. However, if you completed an internship at Microsoft, for example, you’d want to include that. A resume should be focused, so tailor it to the specific position you’re applying for. Listing too many jobs can be a turn-off to recruiters, so keep that in mind when updating your resume.
Don’t Reveal Too Much
Companies want to know what you can offer them. That’s why resumes should be professional in nature. You don’t need to list your birth date, height, weight, hobbies, marital status or any other personal information. Of course, you should include your name and contact information at the top of the resume so employers can contact you. But other than that, don’t reveal any other personal data. The point is to sell yourself to the employer.
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