Could Your Resume Use Some White Space?

When seeking a job, it is important to consider every part of your application, including your resume. Job providers want you to deliver relevant information, showing them that you are the ideal candidate for the position. Beyond providing positive references and a solid cover letter, you need an excellent resume. Many people fall into the trap of providing as many details in their resume as possible. Sometimes, less information is better.

Your resume needs to include only the information most pertinent to the position. Read through the job description and find the key tasks in which you have previous experience. Make sure to keep your resume focused on the job at hand and avoid the fluff.

Many recruiters see the same resume format over and over again. When providing your previous experience, let your information have enough room to breathe. Instead of cramming as many details as possible into a limited amount of space, edit yourself. Focus your previous work experience on the tasks that would be most beneficial to this new position. Use the same key language in your resume that is found in the job description.

You want to sell yourself in your resume. Allow yourself the room to talk about your accomplishments and promote your past experiences. While many people focus on getting as many details as possible on one page, allow more space for your experiences. Consider taking up two pages to create a winning resume and better impress the recruiter.

Your resume could be one of 100 or 1,000. Many recruiters skim over the received resumes to get through them as quickly as possible. Notice how you are reading this article. If this information was provided in a single block of text, would it be as easy to understand? Apply this to your resume. If you want your resume to be easily digestible and catch the eye of the recruiter, allow space for your past experiences to sink in. Use more line breaks, add more indentations, and make sure your resume is well-formatted overall.

Most importantly, your resume needs to stay on message. Do not share every goal you have accomplished in every previous job. Your resume is the foot in the door. Use the interview as the time to share the smaller details. When your resume is concise, to the point and well-formatted, you are much more likely to stick out from the crowd.

As a job seeker, it's important to have the best resume possible. Many people are applying for positions, and you need your resume to stand out. Keep your resume concise and allow your key skills to show. Resist the temptation to crowd in as much information as possible. Stay on message, use key words, and sell yourself.

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