The resume is the natural enemy of the job seeker. There is a constant struggle of deciding what and what not to include, who should be listed as a reference, what else should I put on here that will make me a desirable candidate. The questions surrounding the resume seem never-ending. When I applied to college, I thought that I had a pretty solid resume even though I had only worked two jobs and done volunteer work a handful of times beforehand. It wasn’t until I was presented with the opportunity to take a class that focused solely on the job application process when I learned that my resume was, in fact, not up to snuff. While there may not be a single “right” way to write a resume, there are unfortunately several “wrong” ways to do it. From trimming it down to beefing it up, here are some ways that you can make sure that your resume stands out in the best way possible.
Sell Yourself on What They Need
A resume shouldn’t just be a list of past experiences and credentials, but rather a way of selling your abilities. Instead of listing all the jobs you’ve worked or a list of all your contributions to the field, try to stick with the ones most relevant to the job you’re applying to. If you have extensive experience, this may seem like it will take all the meat out of your resume, however, you can still include other experience in a section titled “additional experience” where you simply list those credentials, but for the main resume, stick with what’s important.
Cut the Fat
Often, one’s resume can become overcrowded with bullet points going into great detail about how they were able to improve things at their previous job. While this is a great thing to include, many employers don’t have the time to read through every individual accomplishment in great detail. Instead, the best course of action is to cut unnecessary detail. One of the best ways is to use figures such as percentages, dollar amounts, etc. in place of long-winded statistics to discuss your achievements. This allows for more room to describe the accomplishments in detail instead of just listing off everything that comes to mind. You can also cut out any unnecessary words such as an extra “a”, “an” or “the”.
You Can Reach Me At…
One of the most important things to include on your resume is your contact information. After all, how else are they going to let you know if you got the job? I found that the best way to list all your information is to have it in a line right across the top of the page. It makes sure that your information is not only visible but also the first thing that the person reading the resume sees. If you’re feeling creative, make you contact info part of your header, that way it will be visible on every page without taking up too much room.
Bigger Isn’t Always Better
The length of your resume should coincide with your work experience. If you’re fresh out of college and applying to your first job, a two to three-page resume may be a bit excessive, whereas if you’re a veteran of your field and have several years of experience, a one-page resume just won’t cut it. A resume should be two pages MAX if you’re an experienced worker, while one to one and a half pages is best for someone new to the workforce.
While a resume can be a daunting challenge, there are ways that you can make it easier on yourself. A good resume makes a great first impression, and if you take the time to polish yours to perfection, you can guarantee a follow-up call soon!