What You Need to Know When Writing Your Next Resume
While the economy does seem to be improving, let’s face it — jobs don’t just give themselves away. Writing a top-notch resume is vital for getting a job in today’s market, and plenty of people don’t realize the mistakes they may be making while writing theirs. Here are a few tips and tricks to be aware of so you can nail your next interview.
Pick a Job, Then Write Your Resume
This is probably the most common mistake people make when searching for a job — they make a general resume and assume it will work for any job they apply to. Instead of taking the “shotgun” approach (making one resume and using it for all of your job applications), hone in on one or a few jobs that you really want.
When you do find those jobs, then construct your resume. The more you know about a job, the better you can tailor your resume for that application. Targeting your resume for a specific job is a great way to stand out — employers want applicants to be personally invested in the application process.
Include Power Words in Your Resume
Employers look for keywords in resumes, and if there is a large applicant pool for a specific position, they’re really not going to thoroughly examine each and every resume — hiring managers have a lot of responsibilities, so looking for certain words and phrases is a strategy to get through the initial batch of applicants.
If an employer is looking through a resume database, they will use common phrases and keywords to find the best applicants for the position. The search engine then ranks the resumes by the number of relevant keywords in the resume.
That being said, don’t make your resume an incoherent string of keywords (you all know better than that). Do legitimate research on the job you are applying for (see point 1!) and skillfully implement keywords and phrases into your resume — much easier said than done.
Your Resume Format
The format of your resume is the employer’s first look at your qualifications — a poor format can prove disastrous for any applicant. There are a few common resume formats, each highlighting a specific strength on the resume. Picking the right one merely depends on the job you may be applying for.
The first format (and most common) is the chronological resume. This is a detailed history of your relevant work history and education. Simply put, your experience is listed as a heading and the details are underneath. This straightforward format is a great choice for a first resume, or even to simply get your information on a page to edit later.
The chronological format is also great if you’re looking to stay in the same industry you are already working for. It shows job growth, as well as an extensive history of relevant experience.
Another resume format is the functional resume. While this resume is not preferred by employers, it can be incredibly helpful if you are looking for a drastic career change to something you may not have much experience in. It is also useful if you have a gap in your employment history that you do not want the potential employer to focus on.
The combination resume is also a great choice for any job application — this format uses the strengths from both the chronological and functional resume formats. You can skillfully put relevant experience in a timeline, and you can also highlight skills that show your readiness for the job you’re applying for.
The Heart of the Resume
We haven’t even gotten to the meat of your resume, which is the most important part! There are plenty of things you should (and shouldn’t add) to your resume. It is crucial to be aware of the job you’re applying for, and to tailor each and every section to that specific job.
Obviously, there needs to be a header in order to identify who you are. Be sure to put this in the body of the document, and not in a Header in a Word Document. Here are things you should include in your heading:
- • Your Name (again, obvious)
- • Your Address
- • Your Primary Phone Number
- • Your Email Address
- • Your Fax Number (if you have one and use it)
If your resume is two pages long, it’s a good idea to put a mini-header with your name, phone number, and email on the top of the second page.
Another essential for your resume (but not necessarily the next thing on the page depending on the format) is the summary of qualifications. Many people think this is a general list of your experiences, but a stronger resume will tailor your experiences to the specific job you’re applying for.
Be sure to include the relevant work experience for the job you’re applying for — if you’re applying for an accounting position, the highlight of your qualifications section should not be your summer babysitting gig.
That being said, if you don’t have a lot of work experience, don’t cut it out entirely. When listing your work experience, list the most recent first. If you have any gaps in your employment, don’t leave it blank for the employer to speculate — add relevant information as an explanation.
A major error many job-seekers make is not including what they did at their jobs — if you don’t explain the positive results you achieved at your jobs, then it’s essentially a boring list of your work. Juice up your resume with measurable results of your employment history.
If you are a recent graduate, or if your education is extremely relevant to the job you’re applying for, then it is a good idea to place your education information near the beginning of the resume. Otherwise, keep it near the end.
So there you have it — a quick and simple guide on how to craft a job-winning resume. Good luck with the job search!