What You Need to Know Before Writing a Resume

Writing a resume is one of the most challenging tasks that you’ll face during the job application process. You likely have financial responsibilities. And the pressure of finding a job as early as possible can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t have to feel alone or helpless when looking for a good job. By investing time and energy in writing a great resume, you’ll greatly increase your chances of success in the job market. Here are a few simple tips that you should keep in mind before writing a resume. With the right information and tools, this process will be easy.

  1. Put your expectations in check

Similar to most experiences that you have for the first time, you need to manage your expectations especially when it comes to results. After all, the job market is quite competitive. You’ll have to compete with people who have decades of experience and at times, higher academic qualifications. While I don’t want to discourage you, various research studies have shown that a corporate job opening can attract as many as 250 potential applicants. 

The odds might be against you. However, competition is a good thing. You need to do your best by looking for ways to improve your resume and skills. When it comes to job application, treat the entire process as a learning experience. Your resume should be flexible because you’ll be applying for different jobs at every stage of your life. Even if you don’t get what you want at first, you’ll get better if you keep on keeping on.

  1. Analyse your experiences

As a fresh graduate, you are probably concerned that the experiences you’ve had are not enough for you to qualify for a job that you want to have. However, when it comes to impressing potential employers, it’s less about the experiences you’ve had and more about how you’ll relate to the job. Focus on the part-time jobs you’ve had or the clubs that you joined in college. Write down all the responsibilities that you had that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

  1. Let the job posting guide you

One of the best ways to ensure that your resume gets the attention it deserves is by tailoring it to the job posting. And you can do this by using professional resume writing services. Most recruiters use a software program known as an Applicant Tracking System to scan for keywords in your resume that match the job posting. If your resume has the required amount of keywords, it passes and moves on to the next stage. As you go through the job posting, keep the following in mind:

  • Keywords for soft skills – Personality traits the recruiter is looking for
  • Keywords for hard skills – Skills needed to do the job

The words that the potential employer uses to describe the ideal candidate should be the foundation of your document. The more you match with the job posting, the higher the chances of getting noticed.

  1. Keep it short

Various studies have shown that the average recruiter spends around ten seconds going through a resume. Writing a long resume, especially for entry-level positions will make it less likely for the recruiter to go through it. Make it lean and concise by reading https://uk.careersbooster.com articles and getting rid of irrelevant information. Your resume should not go beyond one page.

  1. Ensure that your resume has a professional look

As we said earlier, most recruiters have to go through hundreds of resumes. They don’t want to waste time going through a document that is difficult to read. Therefore, don’t make their work harder than it is. You can give your resume a professional look by using:

  • The right font – Calibri or Helvetica
  • Appropriate spacing
  • Ideal font sizes – 12, 13 and 14
  • Six bullet points are utmost when highlighting education, experience, and skills
  • Justified or left-aligned format
  • 1” margins all round

Remember, most recruiters are overworked. Therefore, having a well-organized resume will pay off in spades.

  1. Start with a personal statement

While recruiters are interested in your ability to do the job, they want to know who you are. Knowing who you are will help them determine whether your personality is good for the team and if you fit with the culture. You can help the recruiter know more about you by starting with a personal statement that summarizes your main objectives. You should compellingly write this section to keep the recruiter interested.

Conclusion

These are some of the things that you should keep in mind before writing a resume. While you might not get the job that you want at first, with patience and persistence, you’ll eventually get what you want. 


About the Author: Neil Hagger

With a rich experience spanning over two decades in recruitment, Neil's passion for CV excellence is palpable. Witnessing countless subpar CVs has motivated him to champion the creation of bespoke CVs tailored for sector-specific roles. While Neil encourages innovative approaches to make candidates stand out, he remains a staunch believer in maintaining universally relatable CV formats.



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