Your resume is one of the critical documents that determines whether you’ll have a successful career search. With so many graduates looking for work, you must have the edge over other candidates. If you’re wondering how do you create a resume, you might want to checkout our beginner’s guide.
An experienced recruiter can tell whether you’re the right candidate for the job by simply glancing at your resume for seven seconds. During that short time, you need to make an impression and get the recruiter to shortlist you for the job. But how do I get my resume noticed you might ask? Well, here are some magical tips that will get the hiring managers to notice your resume.
Make a Match
The first thing a recruiter or hiring manager will look for is whether you have the right job qualifications. You stand a better chance to be shortlisted if the qualifications listed on your resume match the job description.
Quick tip: Customize your resume copy and include keywords from the job description in your resume. This will help hiring managers quickly connect your qualifications with the job description.
Get Rid of the Clutter
As a novice, you might be tempted to include a lot of information about your hobbies, family, and personal life. But, unfortunately, the recruiter isn’t interested in any of that. So, you have to ensure your resume sounds professional and not personal.
You can make your resume look professional by getting rid of old jobs. Don’t include all the jobs you’ve done before, as it might sound like you’re giving your life story. How Many Jobs Should Be On a Resume?
Brag About Your Skills & Achievements
If you’re trying to get a job, you have to show you deserve it. So, being humble won’t work in your favor. You need to brag about your academic prowess, skills, promotions, and any other achievements that you’d like to show. All these aspects can show how awesome you really are.
Avoid Cliché Words
Some phrases are no longer attractive to recruiters because they’ve been overused for too long. For example, phrases such as highly qualified, hardworking, reference available upon request, go-getter, etc., are a turn-off. So, instead of padding out your resume with cliché words, why not get to the point in a few words?
Focus on Formatting
The formatting and organization of your resume can determine if the recruiter will read it or not. A good resume should have sections, an eye-catching headline, and most importantly, it should be readable. A simple font such as Calibri, Arial, or Times New Roman will do. Also, make sure the font is no less than 10 points. Finally, don’t forget to use italics or bold where you want to highlight something important.
A great way to get started with a clean resume format is to use a resume template.
If you can follow the tips provided above, you won’t have difficulty getting your resume noticed.