Six Tips For The Best Resume

Job seekers spend many hours poring over their resumes during their job search to appeal to hiring managers, and rightly so — this document is key to nabbing an interview and potentially the position of their dreams. Follow these simple tips to perfect your resume and impress prospective employers.

1. Use Strategic Keywords

Hiring managers may be sorting through hundreds of resumes for a single position, so as a job seeker, you need to make your application materials stand out. Outline how your skills and experience match what the company is seeking, highlighting proficiency in computer applications and personality traits noted in the job description.

2. Proofread Thoroughly

Just one small error on your resume can damage your credibility during your job search. Comb through your documents to spot instances of awkward phrases, misspellings and grammar errors to present yourself professionally.

3. Focus on Accomplishments

Job seekers should not be concerned with sounding boastful when crafting a resume. This is your opportunity to highlight your accomplishments. Instead of focusing on your daily responsibilities in previous positions, outline how your actions impacted the company's productivity and profitability. Detail awards you have won, recognition on the job and goals met that helped boost the company's sales and overall service.

4. Watch Your Words

Potential employers seek out employees who take action and have initiative. Job seekers who use power words in their resumes show that they have the capabilities to perform the job. Use words such as "planned," "executed," "launched" or "produced" to describe your accomplishments, as opposed to noting tasks you were responsible for in previous positions.

5. Customize

Avoid using a generic resume for each position. Customize your resume so it is in line with the industry and the specific job you're applying for. Comb through the job description and highlight words or phrases describing skills or traits that are desired or required. Use these keywords in your resume, and focus on past accomplishments that apply to the company's product or service line.

5. Choose the Right Format

Resumes are anything but standard. In fact, your resume should reflect your industry. Resumes of job seekers applying for a position in graphic design, for instance, need to be more artistic and creative, with carefully chosen fonts and graphics, whereas business professionals may opt for a more traditional-looking resume. Pay close attention to formatting as well; use bullet points where appropriate, and line up all text to avoid a sloppy or cluttered-looking resume. Focus on readability but also a consistent design when formatting your resume, and maximize margins to utilize white space. Avoid using script fonts that are difficult to read.

Job seekers have one chance to impress potential employers. Your resume should reflect your professionalism but also your creativity, especially if you're applying for a position in a creative field. Focus on accomplishments instead of responsibilities, and strategically place keywords from the job ad in your resume for maximum impact.

Photo courtesy of stockimages at FreeDigitalPhotos.net