These 5 Tips Will Help Create a Great First Impression

Your resume is the primary document employers use to determine if you're qualified to progress to the interview stage, so creating a CV that's professional and gives employers a great first impression of you is essential. Use these five tips to impress recruiters and increase your chances of landing an interview.

1. Customize Your Resume

One of the best ways to make a great first impression is to customize your resume for each position. A customized resume speaks directly to the hiring manager. It relates to the specific job you applied for and lets the manager know exactly why you're a good fit for that particular job. A generic resume usually falls flat, even if it's industry-specific. Make time to craft a unique, tailored resume for every job application.

2. Include Numerical Data

Include percentages, profit margins and other numerical data in your resume to make a great first impression with hiring managers, who love reading about results. Say, you helped increase sales in your department by 25 percent in a single year, or you spearheaded a marketing campaign that brought 1,000 new customers to the company's website in just 30 days. Having actual figures to back up your claims gives you credibility and makes you a more attractive hire.

3. Highlight Your Achievements

Create an achievement-based resume to make a good first impression with hiring managers. Provide concrete examples of the different things you accomplished in previous positions. For example, if you reorganized the company's website to make it more customer-friendly or regularly trained, coached and instructed new staff members, highlight this information in your document. Mention any rewards or promotions you received in past roles, as well.

4. Use Company Phrases

Another way to make a great first impression is to take a company phrase or motto and incorporate it in your resume. For example, if the company uses a specific slogan to represent its values or brand, use that expression, in quotes, in your career summary, and then describe how your personal values and goals align with those of the company at hand. This simple strategy connects you to the organization and is sure to make you stand out among other applicants.

5. Keep It Short

Hiring managers are busy, as it's not uncommon for them to receive hundreds of resumes for a single position. Do your best to keep your document short and to the point. Aim for a single-page document, if possible. Hiring managers are more likely to read through a short resume that's focused on relevant skills and experiences; they don't expect you to list every single job you've ever had.

As a serious job candidate, you need put ample time and effort into creating a standout resume that makes a killer first impression. Use these five tips to create an attention-grabbing document that sets you apart from the crowd and puts you a step ahead of the competition.

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