When you're looking for a job, your resume is the most important tool you have. It showcases who you are, what you can do and provides strong reasons for why you are the right person for the job. Often, it is the first and only thing a hiring manager will see before inviting you to interview for a position. As marketing tools go, it's the one that has the most power.
If your resume is disorganized or hard to read, a hiring manager will be more likely to throw it out than try to make sense of it. With just a little work, you can make your resume stand out. Here's how:
Get it up-to-date - The first thing to do, before anything else, is get it up to date. Add in your recent work experience, volunteer work and education. Ideally, you should be updating it on a regular basis, however there are many people who only think about their resume when they are out of work. If it's been a while, get it current. Then you can start tweaking it.
Get rid of the clutter - Eliminate words that don't really mean anything like "professional" or "good communication skills". Unless these qualities were used as key words in the job ad, don't use them. Instead, let your resume and cover letter show your professionalism and communication skills. Getting rid of things that don't add value frees up space for the things that do.
Show your achievements - Instead of listing all of your job duties, show how you were an asset to your employer. The majority of resumes list job experience, along with a paragraph detailing all of the things the job entailed. Make yours stand out by spelling out how you have made a impact at your previous jobs.
Edit, edit, edit - Just one spelling or grammatical error can keep you from getting an interview. Edit and then edit again. Go over your resume time and time again, looking for words that don't mean anything, for things that are poorly worded and for any errors. This is your livelihood on the line, so don't take chances with sloppy work.
Use keywords - When you are applying for a job, look at the keywords used in the advertisement. Once you've identified them, be sure to use them on your resume. Many companies use special software to sort through the resumes they receive and narrow the pool of applicants to just the ones who are qualified for the position. The software scans resumes looking for keywords, so make sure that yours doesn't get deleted before it's even read.
Bonus:
Save it smart - Once you're happy with your resume, be sure to save it in a way that is easy for anyone to access it. The best way to do this is to save it as a .PDF or a .Doc file. Also, be sure to use a file name that is easy to locate. Something like your first and last name and the word resume works well.
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