The job market is getting highly competitive. Apparently, everyone wants the job you want or the one you currently have. There are literally millions of new online courses teaching skills that only a few people had in the last decade or so. Safe to say, there are very limited qualities out there to make you stand out from the other candidates. One thing, however, that remains constant is the resume. Your employer has to see your resume to hire you. But even this is not guaranteed. Gone are the days when generic resumes with basic information got you a job. To stand out from the rest, you have to get it absolutely right with your resume. How do you do that? Here’s how.
Make your resume about the job you want
Several surveys have been conducted on how hiring managers interact with candidates’ CVs. Apparently, hiring managers spend an average of 7.4 seconds on a given resume. That tells you that they are looking for something specific. I’ll bet the bottom dollar it has to do with the specific qualifications related to the job.
When writing your resume, make sure your employer knows you’re qualified for the position. How do you do this? Only include skills and experience related to the job you are applying for. Let them know how those qualifications make you the perfect fit for their company or organization. Customize your resume to the job description. Avoid including unnecessary job experiences. Your employer, or hiring manager, will be drawn to your application if they see this.
Use “Keywords” related to the position you are applying
Google Adwords Keyword Planner can be your friend when you are trying to write a concise resume. You can look for commonly searched keywords and phrases on Google related to the position you are applying for. For example, if you are looking for a job as an online tutor, you can try searching for phrases and words that include motivating students during distance learning. Hiring managers also use this to find the perfect candidates for the job they are advertising. You can stay ahead of the game by including relevant phrases and words that show your expertise. Your resume will get picked up quickly.
Use these words
Words have a way of getting you through doors if you know how to use them and where to apply them. There are words and phrases for your resume that will impress hiring managers and employers. Even when they can’t read the entire CV, they will be looking for these words;
- Ideas
- Improved
- Trained
- Managed
- Achieved
- Volunteered
- Webinars, etc.
Make sure you use the words carefully with descriptions that match your professionalism.
Don’t Use these words
In the same stride of words to include, there are words that you should never include in your resume if you hope to get an interview. Some of the words are downright unprofessional, if not already cliché. No hiring manager will pick your CV for consideration if they notice fluff and clichés. Here are some of those words;
- Team player
- Thinking outside the box
- Go-to person
- Go-getter
- Hard worker
- Self-motivated
- Bottom-line
Tell a story
This is one way of making your resume attract the reader's attention (in this case, a hiring manager). Try making it like a movie trailer instead of presenting your professional career in the same generic way. Walk the reader through your life as a professional, but don’t satisfy their curiosity. Leave some of it for when you are called to that first interview. You can intentionally save some of your expertise for later. This will intrigue the hiring manager just enough to call you in. You can then satisfy their curiosity by finishing your story. This should be done in a clever way. Don’t leave out huge aspects of your qualification in your resume.
Keep it short
This is why we say “concise.” It means include only what is absolutely necessary. This is often a problem for job seekers with over 10 years of professional experience. As mentioned earlier, hiring managers don’t have time to drool over your CV. Save them the extra seconds by making your resume as short as possible. It’s recommended that non-management employers keep their resume top one page. Middle-management employees like Finance managers, IT managers, and above can have two-page resumes. For senior management and middle-management employees, don’t overdo the two-page resume. Keep it brief by shortening your work experience to the two pages.
Don’t be redundant
In the same spirit of keeping your CV short and simple, remove redundancy. It can be a tiring process to make your CV stand out for every job you are applying for. Most of it is just repeating the same job experiences and accomplishments. Even so, don’t be boring by including phrases that don’t hold any meaning. Avoid using phrases like, “I’m looking for a job.” Your employer already knows you are looking for a job. A Writer has some awesome ways to describe your job experience and accomplishments.
Proofread your resume by reading it out loud
This is the best way to ensure your resume is catchy and concise; read it out loud. This will help you pinpoint any grammar or spelling errors. You can also see how well you have phrased the important areas. Make sure everything flows nicely, and your resume is easily readable. If you stumble over any part of your resume, go back and figure out how to rephrase it and make it sound professional and concise.
Conclusion
Writing a catchy and concise resume isn’t a day’s work. You need to constantly practice and exercise patience, as well as caution. You can apply these tips when writing your resume. Make sure you stay diligent as you edit and proofread your resume. Employers or hiring managers care more about what you can do for them and then who you are, in that order. Present your qualifications but don’t forget to let them know about yourself. Make it interesting while at it.
Author Bio
Leon Collier is a blogger and academic writer from the UK and works with write my essay UK websites providing dissertation services. He likes trying new subjects and is always focused on proving his worth as a writer in new and challenging writing areas. His hobbies include reading books and playing tabletop games with his friends. You can reach him via Twitter @LeonCollier12.