Three Reasons You Should Use Other Resumes to Improve Yours

Resume writing is one of the skills every professional should have, but even HR pros sometimes struggle with this task. Your resume must capture the attention of recruiters within just a few seconds. If it's too wordy or not formatted properly, you might miss out on the opportunity to interview with a hiring manager. This is why it is so important to update your resume regularly. Instead of reinventing the wheel, ask your colleagues to look at their resumes, or use sample resumes to get ideas.

If you work in the staffing industry, you know how important it is to adhere to basic resume tips when applying for jobs. Unfortunately, it's easy to forget these resume tips when you are the one doing the resume writing. Reviewing someone else's resume will refresh your memory on the best way to format the document. If it has been some time since you updated your resume, you might need to remove some sections or add others to comply with current resume writing standards.

Looking at other resumes will also help you come up with ideas for resume writing. If a colleague used an attention-getting opener or a format you've never seen before, you might be able to adapt it for your own resume. Be careful not to copy anything word-for-word from another document. Many recruiters prefer to interview applicants who use active language, so keep an eye out for action verbs to use when writing your resume. If you want to create a functional resume instead of a chronological one, review several functional resumes to get a feel for the new format.

Reviewing other resumes also makes it easier to avoid common mistakes. If you have always done benefits administration or employee relations work, you might not have any experience screening resumes and choosing which applicants to interview. This can work against you if you don't take the time to learn the ins and outs of resume writing. Looking at other resumes will make it easier for you to identify unattractive formats and phrasing that can hurt your chances of impressing another HR professional.

Good resume writing skills will help you attract positive attention when you are searching for new employment opportunities. Instead of struggling to create a resume from scratch, look at other resumes for inspiration. Doing so will help you avoid common blunders and determine the best way to present information to recruiters. Looking at other resumes will also help you improve your resume writing skills, which will help you any time you want to apply for a promotion or seek employment opportunities with other companies.

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