We all know how important first impressions are, especially when it comes to being hired for a new job. But before you land an interview, your real first impression is made through your resume. That’s why you must build a resume not only to show off your skills and strengths but to stand out among other job seekers.
A quality resume will catch a hiring manager’s attention by showcasing your successes and demonstrating that the skills you possess are just what they are looking for. If your resume is impressive enough, you will be selected for an interview, which in many cases can be tricky to achieve. A boring, run-of-the-mill resume will simply not catch a recruiter’s interest. Don’t worry, with these next tips you will be able to create an impressive resume to land that interview.
Use Your Headline to Show Off Your Creativity
Your headline should aim to catch the interest of the hiring manager right off the bat, making them want to continue learning more about you. A good headline explains your professional background, experience, and strong points. A great headline explains these qualities in a creative way that makes your resume stand out from the rest. Be sure to include information that the employer will find most valuable, such as; important business skills, preparation, capabilities, and overall strengths.
2. Know What Your Employer is Looking For in a Candidate
Keep the question “Why should we hire you?” in mind as you create your resume. Be clear about the job requirements and work expectations that are most important to the employer. A good tip is to look for resumes of people in the same job field, this will help you get a better understanding of how to stand out in your resume.
3. Share Your Work Experience
Employers are always looking for a candidate with real work experience, this shows them you are capable of filling the role they are hiring for. Use your resume to explain how you’ve made an impact with your previous work. Give an example of a time you were successful at meeting a tight deadline, or when you were a valuable asset in a team setting. One more tip is to include statistics that prove the success and value you can bring.
4. Don’t Over Do It
Evaluate your skills and decide which are the most valuable from the perspective of the employer. More is not always better, and there is such a thing as too much information when it comes to building a great resume. You don’t want to overwhelm a hiring manager with a long resume full of strengths you possess that aren’t necessarily important to them. An employer’s objective is to find qualified candidates to interview and continue assessing if they’re the right for a job. Keep this question in mind “What can you wait to share with the employer during an interview” and keep these points out of your resume if they’re not absolutely vital. Your resume should leave the employer with the idea that you are qualified, while still intriguing them to learn more about you.
5. Utilize a Ready-Made Template
Structuring a resume from scratch can take time away from the main focus, which is actually writing the resume. Don’t overwhelm yourself by trying to design your own template and stressing over things like margins, edges, highlights, etc. It’s smarter to make use of ready-made templates that make it easy for you to simply input your content in a way that looks professional and organized.
Whether you’re building a new resume, or revising an old one, use these 5 tips to help set yourself apart from other job seekers and land that interview you’re dreaming of.
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