People who often change jobs know that a good resume is key to professional success. Perception is very important on the job market; even if you don’t have the best experience or track record, these are some things that can easily be manipulated by properly presenting information.
A good resume has to be flashy, impactful and to be right for a particular company or a position. Creating a generic resume and sending it on numerous addresses usually doesn’t work. Instead, you need to modify it according to specific needs and requirements.
Here are 5 resume tips that will allow you to land the job of your dreams.
Start with a nice cover letter
Whether you’ve placed in within the resume itself or you decide to put it in the body of an email, the cover letter is something you can’t go without. It shows that you’re truly interested in a company and a position. The cover letter needs to be professional and to talk about all the benefits of you being accepted. Whenever possible, try using third-person writing.
Place focus on layout
The layout is very important because of the prioritization. Companies receive lots of resumes during the job hunt and it is very important to present information in such a way that a reader doesn’t get bored or annoyed with it. You always have to place the last relevant experience or education first and then go downwards. Also, it is much better if you first put work experience and then education, other skills, and hobbies. Recruiters usually focus on the initial paragraphs often disregarding information such as hobbies, additional accolades, and even education. So, make a statement with your first page and especially upper sections of it.
Avoid too much personal information
Disclosing personal information is usually a double-edged sword. While in some cases it might bring benefits, it often works to your detriment. The best examples are older professionals and men who haven’t served in the army. Although it might sound harsh, most employers are trying to avoid individuals with too much “baggage”. These small things become even more important if there are numerous applicants when every little bit matters. It’s best if you still do things such as your name, phone, and email address. This can also pertain to things such as hobbies and interests: while having them might seem nice, it often works to your detriment and may even lead to prejudice.
Avoid too much length
Ideally, your resume should be around 2 pages long. Some resume experts say that 3 pages might work as well but that is only for specific, high-level positions that allow a limited number of candidates. In most cases, recruiters don’t have enough time to go through all of that content even if you’re one of the best candidates. Long resumes may cause stress to recruiters inadvertently leaving a bad impression.
Adapt resume for a particular position
People oftentimes send one and the same resume to numerous addresses. This is an issue because each position is different with different requirements. If you want to make the most out of your resume, make sure to update it regularly and make adjustments when applying for a new job. This might seem like too much work (especially to those who are applying to various jobs) but it definitely makes a difference.
With these tips, you will create a resume that will make you a frontrunner for any positon.Make sure to be precise, use selective information, and change the resume according to a specific situation.
About the author: Nikolay Stoyanov is the content writer and strategist behind Path Consulting – resume writing company based in Australia. If you’re sick and tired of your job – give us a call and we’ll help you land the one you truly deserve.
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