Your resume is your first impression, but you already knew that, right? So, how can you make your first impression stand out and lead to an interview? Well, as recruiters, we will tell you that there is not a perfect formula or correct template. However, there are ways that you can up your chances of being noticed.
What it really comes down to is including all of the elements that recruiters are looking for, and in a way that will relate to the company you are applying with. Below are four great resume tips.
1. Objective
If there is one thing that is often overlooked and missing from a resume, it’s most definitely an objective. Many candidates may feel that their experience, skills, and education may be so compatible for the position they are applying for, they forget to simple explain what their goal is. Leaving your objective out may hurt your chance of being noticed because it appears as though you may be blindly apply for the position.
Your objective should be at the beginning of the resume to describe exactly what you are looking for in a new job. If you are applying for more than one position at the same company, it’s extremely important to tailor this statement to each individual role.
An example objective can look like this:
Objective: To obtain a full-time marketing career in a well established company, where my skills, education and experience will be utilized.
2. Organization of Information
With all of the resume examples out there on the internet you would think it would be easy to plug in your own information in an effective way. However, many people don’t realize how crucial it is to organize your resume in a way that is tailored for the position and company you are applying to. This is not something that is spelled-out on a sample resume.
Your experience and skills should flow well and it’s important to find a balance of the right information. One way to do this is to briefly explain your positions and then bullet your job duties underneath in order of relevance to the job you are applying for. This makes it as easy as possible for a recruiter to scan your experience and pull out items that make you a qualified candidate. The last thing a recruiter wants to do is read a full paragraph for each position you have held and have to deduce the important information themselves.
3. Length
The length of your resume may not seem that important, but it is one of those small details that can draw the line between getting noticed and being skipped. Your resume length can definitely vary depending on your work history and skills. Try to keep your resume as short as possibly while hitting all of your success points. Our recommendation is keeping your resume to one to two pages.
4. Design
Depending on your profession, your resume may be geared towards the visually perceptive or the simple and structured. If you are not in a creative field, we recommend sticking with the simple, standard and clean look. Color is not necessarily the only way to make your resume stick out, but if you feel inclined to add a pop of color, make sure it is simple and not overwhelming.
Adding other elements of design including bold, italic or text in bullets also makes it easier for recruiters to scan your resume and decide if you are a good fit quickly.
