6 Resume Writing Tips to Help You Land a Job
Resumes help potential employers learn more about applicants and whether they might be a good fit and are important to get right. Resumes, as a rule, should be easy to read or scan, summarize your accomplishments and skills, and highlight relevant experience.
Commonly used resume styles often appear as templates in word processing applications. The style you pick should reflect your unique education, experience and relevant skills. For example a person with creative skills might pick a more artistic template. Depending on your skill set, you might consider having multiple versions of your resume that are tailored to the different kinds of jobs you might apply for.
Below are some handy tips to help you put your best resume forward.
1. Decide whether you need a unique resume for different jobs
Before submitting an application, you should ask yourself if you have made it easy for your employer to see that you’re a good fit for the role. If you’re applying for a job that has unique requirements, you may need a different version of your resume to outline your fit to these unique qualifications.
2. Look for keywords in the job postings
When you’re preparing to write a resume, you should read the job postings that interest you to see the kinds of words that are commonly used. As you apply for different jobs, you should study each job description for keywords that show what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate and make sure they are in your resume where relevant.
3. Put the most important information first
Because employers likely have many resumes to read, they will likely scan each first. To catch their attention, you’ll want to keep your resume as brief as possible without leaving out key information. Try to include only work experience, achievements, education and skills most relevant to the employer and job you’re applying for. You can place the more relevant information higher on your resume to draw attention to key skills and achievements.
4. Highlight achievements
Instead of listing job duties under the experience section, pick your most important achievements in each role you’ve held. Where possible, include metrics that quantify your success for that particular goal or achievement.
In addition, you can consider including a separate “Achievements” section to specifically highlight relevant achievements such as awards you’ve received from work or school, volunteerism, or other things you’ve done that may make you more appealing for the role.
5. Only include the sections you need
When you use a resume template, you may find there are some recommended sections you do not need. For those that are new to the workforce and have not yet held a professional position, you should not include the work history section and leave it empty. Doing that will just call attention to the lack of work history. Alternative approaches might include highlighting relevant coursework, internships or relevant extracurricular activities.
6. Proofread!
Proofread, proofread, proofread! You want to ensure there are no spelling or grammar errors as this is a reflection on your professionalism and attention to detail. Since you’ll be close to the subject matter by writing it, it’s really helpful to put the resume in front of a fresh set of eyes. Ask your friends or colleagues to review your resume.
And, in addition to finding spelling or grammatical errors, an objective third party can also look at your resume as an employer might to find ways you can improve it.
Since your resume is often the first step to getting an interview with an employer, making sure you have it right is critical. Follow these steps to ensure you include the most relevant information, organize it in the right way, and carefully review it for errors and role fit. A high-quality resume is instrumental to helping you get more callbacks, interviews, and job offers.
When you work with BrightHire to find your next career move, we will give you tips like these and more to help you put your best foot forward in the interview process. Submit your resume today!
