Three Things to Do Before Sending Your Resume

Writing a professional resume allows job seekers to make a positive impression on recruiters, but many applicants overlook important components. A well-written resume should always contain certain information that gives a recruiter a comprehensive overview of a candidate's profile. By following a simple resume checklist, job hunters ensure they do not make a rookie mistake when sending off a resume to an employer. The following three keys are resume essentials that every employee should learn.

The first, and perhaps single most important, key on the resume checklist is to always keep a resume updated with the latest information. Recruiters want to see a well-rounded candidate with hands-on experience in relevant roles. Experts recommend researching potential employers before sending a resume, as this allows job hunters to tailor the information on their document to fit what the organization seeks in a new hire. Although this process feels tedious, the results speak for themselves.

After updating the resume with current information, job hunters need to proceed to the second key on the resume checklist: utilizing keywords. Many recruiters receive hundreds of applications for a single advertised position, which makes it difficult to weed through the various candidates. Some recruiters rely on automated software that scans resumes for keywords that relate to the job at hand. Others simply skim resumes quickly, searching for information that pops out. Regardless of which approach a recruiter ultimately takes, placing keywords within the text of the document helps ensure the resume does not become lost in the fray.

To complete this task on the resume checklist, applicants need to research keywords that make logical sense on the resume. Relevant skills, previous responsibilities and educational qualifications all factor into the keywords equation. A multitude of resources are available for job candidates seeking targeted keywords for their resume. Furthermore, it is never a bad decision to ask a peer within the industry for some guidance.

Finally, applicants need to learn how to cut information from their resumes. This element of the resume checklist often challenges job hunters who feel that all of the details on their application are pertinent. In fact, many job hunters submit bloated documents that contain far too many details that simply confuse recruiters. Minor awards, obvious tech skills and overtly fancy formatting factor as some of the most common items that applicants should remove from their resumes.

Mastering the art of a well-written resume is a challenge, but remembering these resume essentials helps applicants head in the right direction. By relying on this simple resume checklist, job hunters learn to tweak their resumes for maximum effect. Investing a bit of time into building a better resume often generates powerful results, so any job seeker needs to pay careful attention to these easy keys.

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