A resume can be a hard thing to create. You want to come across as experienced without seeming cocky. A lot of people have great experience and qualifications that will land them jobs, but have a hard time conveying it on paper. A CNN report said you only have 7 seconds to grab a recruiter’s attention with your resume. This is because a lot of recruiters have numerous resumes they have to sift through and do not have time to fully read every one. Here are some tips to help your resume stick out from the pack.
- Resumes have to have a clean and sleek aesthetic: You want your resume to catch the recruiter’s eye without seeming overwhelming or cluttered. Use italics, bold and underlines sparingly and only for information that is critical to the job you are applying for.
- Resumes should look good on screen and paper: Most of the time you will be talking with the recruiter over the internet and will probably send your resume out to them the same way. You need to be aware that the recruiter is not the only person who will be reviewing your resume. The recruiter will likely print it out and put it on the proper person’s desk. This is why, before sending out your resume, you should print it out and make sure it looks just as good on paper as it does on your computer.
- Keep your header simple: Your header should just have your name, email, and phone number in it. You do not want to go crazy with fonts and colors here.
- Tell your strengths and achievements: Use the first section to talk about who you are and what you have professionally achieved so far. Remember to sound grateful for the opportunities your previous employers gave you. Tone is very important here, so choose your phrasing carefully.
- Brag a little in your experience section: You want to dive into career titles here. Don’t make yourself sound critical, but do make yourself sound important. It is also helpful to have real metrics and numbers to support your experience and how you’ve helped previous companies grow.
