1. Make sure to use the right keywords
Most companies (even smaller ones) are already using digital
databases to search for candidates. This means that the HR department
will run search queries based on specific keywords. Guess what, if your
resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying
for, you will be out even before the game starts. These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and
related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for.
2. Use bullet points
No employer will have the
time patience to read long paragraphs
of text. Make sure, therefore, to use bullet points and short sentences
to describe your experiences, educational background and professional
objectives.
3. Put the most important information first
This point is valid both to the overall order of your resume, as well
as to the individual sections. Most of the times your previous work
experience will be the most important part of the resume, so put it at
the top. When describing your experiences or skills, list the most
important ones first.
4. Explain the benefits of your skills
Merely stating that you can do something will not catch the attention
of the employer. If you manage to explain how it will benefit his
company, and to connect it to tangible results, then you will greatly
improve your chances.
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5. Use numbers
If you are going to
describe your past professional achievements, it would be a good idea to
make them as solid as possible. Numbers are your friends here. Don’t
merely mention that you increased the annual revenues of your division,
say that you increased them by $100,000, by 78%, and so on.
6. Analyze job ads
You will find plenty of useful information on job ads. Analyze no
only the ad that you will be applying for, but also those from companies
on the same segment or offering related positions. You should be able
to identify what profile they are looking for and how the information
should be presented.
7. Make the design flow with white space
Do not jam your resume with text. Sure we said that you should make
your resume as short and concise as possible, but that refers to the
overall amount of information and not to how much text you can pack in a
single sheet of paper. White space between the words, lines and
paragraphs can improve the legibility of your resume.
8. Create an email proof formatting
It is very likely that you will end up sending your resume via email
to most companies. Apart from having a Word document ready to go as an
attachment, you should also have a text version of your resume that does
not look disfigured in the body of the email or in online forms.
Attachments might get blocked by spam filters, and many people just
prefer having the resume on the body of the email itself.
9. Don’t forget the basics
The first thing on your resume should be your name. It should be bold
and with a larger font than the rest of the text. Make sure that your
contact details are clearly listed.
