In most cases, your resume is the first thing a recruiter will look at when assessing your application, and hence, it’s the true “first impression” that can make or break your application. While there could be lots of reasons why most applicants don’t hear back, perhaps the key one is they get highly involved in the minutiae of what font to use, one page or two, etc. rather than focusing on the aspects that get actual results.
Without further ado, here’re three simplest yet most effective tips to build a killer resume.
Consider the recruiter’s perspective
Your resume is more of a marketing tool for your brand and it needs to tell more than just your professional history. Typically, the key objective of a recruiter is finding a candidate out who not only fits a particular job description but can bring value to the company as well. They don’t necessarily need to delve into your resume to figure out what you can do. Therefore, make sure your resume clearly states what you’ve accomplished in the past and how you can benefit the specific organization.
Get past the ATS
Did you know that 75 percent of online applications are never seen by a human? Put simply, it doesn’t matter whether you’ve met all the requirement, your resume has to beat the ATS to reach a real person. To accomplish this, make sure you follow simplicity as much as possible. From using standard resume headings, simple bullet points, and including major keywords to avoiding fancy fonts and images – various steps can be taken to ensure your resume ultimately reaches human resources. To identify related keywords, study each job description thoroughly while paying particular attention to sections labeled “Qualifications” or “Requirements.” Once you’ve found the keywords, incorporate them into the skills or experience sections.
Utilize power verbs
To make your resume stand out from the competition, you need to mention your accomplishments instead of your responsibilities. A couple of bullet points under every job title is fine but in the same space, it also needs to be mentioned what you’ve achieved in that particular role. Incorporate power verbs to highlight your past areas of success. The most commonly used verbs include “guided”, “facilitated”, “developed”, “streamline”, “implemented”, among others. Ideally, you should base the use of these verbs on the job responsibility to make the resume unique and more proactive.
Final words
In addition to these, mention quantitative facts and figures, if possible, to help the employers get a clear understanding of your accomplishments. Finally, always ask someone to proofread your resume before submitting it because editing will make it perfect and stronger and thus, will improve your chances of scoring an interview for the dream job.