So, you’re ready to look for another job. Your resume is your calling card. It’s your first opportunity to catch the attention of a potential employer. A strong resume can help you stand out; a weak resume can take you out of the running. But, if you’ve never written a resume or haven’t updated your resume recently, it can be hard to know where to start. What’s the best way to get noticed? What do employers want to see? Which resume trends should you be following? One page or two? Using tips from professional resume writers can help.
And, considering that hiring managers and recruiters screen resumes by looking at them for an average of six to seven seconds, how do you make a great impression from the get-go? Here are five tips that might help you get in the door.
The top section of the first page is your goldmine.
How do you WOW the reader at a glance and get them to call you for an interview? Feature your best achievements in the top third of the first page of your resume. This will capture their interest and help them imagine that you will help them reach their business goals. For example, if you are a salesperson or account executive, mention and provide metrics by demonstrating that you have been a consistent top seller for your region; be sure to include additional examples in the body of your resume to reinforce this statement.
Focus on accomplishments and results instead of job tasks.
Many resumes we rewrite include listings of job tasks in the bullet points for each job on the resume. It’s easy to take the job tasks from your job description and put them on your resume, right? But don’t stop there.
Include tangible ways of measuring your past successes by drawing attention to your accomplishments with qualitative and quantitative metrics. These impact and results statements are attention-getting and allow hiring managers to compare your skills and abilities to the other candidates they are considering. For example, tell them the percentage you increased in sales, the number of staff you managed, or the specific project scope. You want to show your expertise and important contributions. Just listing job tasks does not highlight your superpowers.
Consider using the challenge – action – result formula to spotlight what you do and its impact on the business. Employers want to know that you are great at what you do. You want them to imagine that as a future team member, you will provide them with the same impressive results.
Include keywords on your resume.
Gather a few job descriptions that are perfect examples of the kinds of positions you are targeting. You could do a nationwide search since you are using the information for research and keywords and might not be applying for these positions. It is crucial to include keywords and phrases that fit your job, field, and occupation. These are the skills, abilities, credentials, and qualities that a hiring manager looks for in a candidate. The closer the match, the better your chances are of getting an interview for your dream job.
Why are keywords important? Recruiters look for keywords that show you have the experience and knowledge required for the position. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) which are computer scans that screen resumes for further consideration. If your resume is missing keywords, the ATS might put your resume in the “no” pile before human eyes even see it.
Be concise.
It’s easier to write more than less. Your resume is not the place to include the complete story of your professional life. Because some recruiters look at as many as 500 resumes to fill one position, they want to see your accomplishments, skills, and experiences in as few words as possible. Bullet points and concise language can showcase your bold and outstanding skills and accomplishments while highlighting your unique value and areas of expertise. This is where you can succinctly underscore your ability to be a solution to the employer’s challenges and call attention to how you will help them reach their goals.
1-page or 2-pages?
You want your resume to demonstrate the right amount of experience and the relevant accomplishments you’ve achieved to show that you are the best candidate for the roles you are targeting. This will increase your chances of getting called for an interview.
A 1-page resume can be the best approach for recent college graduates who don’t have much work experience. College career offices generally suggest that students keep their resumes to 1-page, and this can be good advice.
However, an experienced professional will most likely minimize their chances by limiting their resume to 1-page. Recent studies have shown that recruiters are 2.3 times more likely to prefer 2-page resumes and spend twice as much time reading them when looking to fill roles at the professional level. We’ve had great success helping professionals get interviews by rewriting their 1-page resumes and expanding them to 2-pages.
Need more help? Find out why working with a Life Working® resume writing expert can make all the difference and result in you getting called for an interview. For more information, check out our resume writing services and schedule your free consultation.
To your career success!
Wilma and the Life Working® Team
P.S. Learn more about our Career Coaching Services.