Writing a resumé can seem like a daunting task and many people find it a chore. Although we all know the importance of a resumé, it can be difficult to know exactly what to put in it, especially if it has been several years since you had to write one.
If you have recently been made unemployed, or are looking for a career change, your CV is possibly the most important part of any job application. With that in mind, let’s take a look at why resumes are so important and highlight some of the tips and tricks you need to consider when writing your resumé to land you your dream role.
Why is a resumé important?
A resumé is a key requirement for almost every single job application. Without one, you will almost certainly be rejected before recruiters have even had a chance to look over your CV.
Your resumé is what the recruiters will see first once you have applied for a job, so it is your chance to make a first impression. Moreover, putting your desirable skills on resumé gives you chance to showcase every single skill you believe to be advantageous: skills that you may not have time to showcase in an interview.
Resumés also give employers a chance to see how eligible you would be for their role. Moreover, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, many people have been filing for unemployment, meaning that more and more people are on the job hunt, and the job market is incredibly saturated. Therefore, without a standout resumé, you are very unlikely to stand out from the crowd.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best tips and tricks you need to craft the perfect resumé.
Resumé tips that will help you get hired
- Personalize every resumé
This is possibly the most important resumé tip. Not every job you apply for will be looking for the same skills and experience, so you need to make sure that you tailor each CV. Read each job description and pick out the keywords (such as ‘communication skills, numerical, etc.), and make sure that you include these skills on your CV. Not only will this make you a more desirable candidate, but it will also prove to your potential employers that you have spent time researching their company.
- Use a professional template
One of the easiest ways to stand out from the crowd is to make sure that your CV looks impressive to the eye. This can be easily done through the use of a CV template, which will allow you to format your skills, work experience, and achievements in such a way that they stand out from the page and could make you more noticeable to employers.
- Put the most relevant information first
You should aim to keep your most relevant resumé information ‘above the fold’. In marketing speak, this simply means the first thing that employers will see when they open your resumé. According to various studies, recruiters will only spend around 8 seconds looking at your CV, so you need to make sure that you fit all of your important information in the top section of your resumé, and make sure it will be enticing enough to make sure that the recruiter will want to keep reading.
- Use reverse chronological order
Although there are many different ways that you can organize the information on your resumé, reverse chronological order is usually considered the best. This is because your most relevant work experience is likely to be your previous role, rather than the jobs you were doing as a teenager. Putting your information in reverse chronological order ensures that your most useful work experience will be read.
- Keep it short and sweet
As previously mentioned, employers will not spend a lot of time reading your resumé. If you have a CV that is pages long and goes into excruciating detail, employers will never read it all, and could therefore skip reading some of your most important information. In most cases, you should aim to keep your resumé two pages long. If you are struggling to fit everything into two pages, you can also create a digital CV website which will allow you to go into more detail about why you believe you will be the perfect candidate.
- Use numbers
You should aim to use as many facts and figures in your work as possible, as this will draw the attention of recruiters. How much did your work positively impact your company? Numerical figures not only physically stand out on resumés, but also proves to employers that you do have the skills you have put on your CV.
- Don’t forget to proofread!
CVs can often take a long time to write, and as your brain gets tired, you may start to make spelling and grammar mistakes. Although this is normal, you need to make sure you proofread your resumé before you send it out to potential employers. Spelling and grammar issues are a surefire way to make sure that you don’t get the job. You can use professional online tools to check your grammar, and you should also consider asking a trusted colleague or friend to read your resumé, as they might catch something that you have missed.
- Don’t forget the cover letter
Although cover letters are no longer a requirement for many job applications, you should always add a cover letter to your application (unless you are specifically told not to). Cover letters allow you to give a snapshot of who you are and why you are perfect for the particular role. It also proves to recruiters that you have done research before you apply, and also allows you to explain your key skills and work experience in detail.
Conclusion
Your resumé is the most important part of any job application, so make sure you stick to these tips to ensure that you will get interviews, callbacks, and, eventually, a job.