Your professional resume is often your sole representative during a job hunt. Done well, it paints a compelling picture of who you are as a professional and convinces an employer that bringing you in for an interview is worth his time. With a few quick fixes, you can turn a good resume into a great resume that stands apart from the competition.
Add Measurable Achievements
One of the easiest ways to upgrade your professional resume is to add specific, measurable achievements that prove your abilities. Instead of writing "developed a comprehensive marketing campaign," opt for a more specific statement, such as "increased social media engagement by 50 percent using a comprehensive marketing campaign." Quantifying your accomplishments demonstrates that you can apply your education and experience to get results. Because tangible metrics are more memorable than blocks of text, they help you stand out in an employer's mind.
Cut Out Fluff
During a hiring period, employers usually have minimal time to dedicate to individual resumes. Reduce hassle for the reviewer by editing your professional resume until it's concise and easy to read. Eliminate fluff by cutting out unnecessary descriptions and ruthlessly stripping away words that don't add meaning. Remove buzzwords and overused phrases such as "motivated," "value-add" and "synergy," and replace them with power words such as "resolved" and "mentored." In the end, the text should communicate each point quickly and clearly.
Eliminate Large Text Blocks
When an employer scans a professional resume, large blocks of text can be an instant turn-off — they're intimidating, overwhelming and time-consuming. Improve your resume instantly by ditching long paragraphs in favor of easy-to-scan formats. Instead of a multi-sentence executive statement, use a bulleted list to provide a career overview. If the left margin is a solid wall of text, add white space by indenting blocks or putting blank lines between sections. By distributing text across the page, you can make it easier for employers to identify and recall key points.
Include Links
A modern job hunt often requires emailing or uploading resumes instead of sending them in printed form. Take advantage of digital transmission by including hyperlinks in your professional resume content. Link to content that enhances your application: a professional website, an online portfolio or a well-written blog. Consider linking to pages that provide proof of accomplishment. If you include a bullet point about designing landing pages that reduced bounce rates, link the text to those pages. If you published the results of a research project, include a link to the online version. This strategy demonstrates your abilities and provides instant gratification for employers who want to learn more.
A professional resume carries considerable weight during a job search. With a small amount of time and effort, you can tweak your existing document and turn it into a powerful, persuasive asset.
Photo courtesy of nenetus at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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