According to a study, 24% of hiring managers glance at a resume for less than 30 seconds and decide whether the candidate is suitable or not. That’s how much time you have to make a lasting impression.
Today, we’ll analyze the basics of a resume and why it’s important. But most importantly, we’ll talk about 5 effective tips that could make your resume stand out. So, let’s begin.
WHAT IS A RESUME?
A resume is a document that summarizes your skills, experience, and qualifications. It is an important document when applying for jobs. A resume should be clear, concise, and easy to read. It should not contain any errors or typos.
It should also be in a standard format that is used by most employers and recruiters. Resumes can be written in a formal or informal way. The ultimate goal of this type of writing is to get the reader’s attention and convince them that you are the best person for the job.
Now you need to understand that a resume is usually comprised of the most relevant and important parts of one’s work history. It is a document that can be used to apply for jobs.
It contains personal information about the writer, including contact information, education, skills, and work experience. What should you include in a resume?
- Personal Information: Name, address, phone number, email address
- Education: List your degrees and any professional certifications
- Skills: Include anything you feel will make you stand out from other applicants
- Work Experience: List your current and previous job titles as well as any accomplishments or awards
Furthermore, business writing can be used as a way to establish your brand’s credibility and recognition online. Students should learn various writing styles to improve their grammar, cognitive abilities, and overall writing skills.
WHY ARE OUTSTANDING RESUMES IMPORTANT?
A resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer. It is your opportunity to tell an employer about your skills and qualifications. A resume is your chance to show off your skills and qualifications to employers.
But, to help you understand the importance of a resume, here’s what you need to remember:
- Experts claim that well-written resumes increase the hiring potential by 7%.
- A well-written resume leaves a lasting impression.
- Good resumes are the first reason you get a callback.
So, it should be concise, well-structured, and easy to read so your potential employer can understand your skills. More importantly. You should always be truthful in what you write, but remember that it’s not a place for bragging or unprofessional behavior.
5 EFFECTIVE TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR RESUME STAND OUT
Writing a good resume is not as straightforward as some people might think. Instead, it depends on the person, their skills, and most importantly, their niche. These five tips will help you cover those areas, so let’s begin:
1. KEEP IT CONCISE & ACCURATE
The major problem for many resumes today is that writers tend to write too much. If you’re looking to land a job, remember that your hiring manager will probably only glance at your skills, time spent in an industry, and achievements.
You don’t need to write your own biography or memoir. According to experts, the average length of a resume is less than 500-words (489 on average). Therefore, you need to describe your skills and offerings in a few words and leave the rest for your experience and skills.
2. LOOK FOR A TEMPLATE ONLINE
A template can make things easier for you. There are many times when industry-specific templates can make a whole lot of difference. And there are many times when people are either too creative or not creative at all. For instance, here’s the resume of a graphic designer:
Graphic Designer Resume
And here’s the resume of an accountant:
Accountant Resume
One needed to be creative, and the other needed to describe the key offerings of the candidate. Both these resumes do that, and that’s why you need an industry-specific template.
3. WRITE AN INTRIGUING COVER LETTER
A cover letter can describe your skills and reasons for applying for the job. An intriguing cover letter needs to be about your ambitions, your interest in the job, and your career in the industry – if at all. This is why you need a cover letter that describes your interest.
Once again, remember your cover is only going to be a few words. So, try not to exceed 50-80 words. Besides that, you need to focus on your skills, expertise, and other important stuff anyway. That’s why a cover letter should draw attention to those elements.
4. MAKE SURE IT IS GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT
Besides featuring all the necessary information in your resume, you also have to ensure that the mentioned information has no grammatical errors. Suppose you have mentioned an overview of your career. A spelling or grammar mistake will ruin the sense of professionalism.
Therefore, it is recommended to take assistance from a grammar checker to give a final proofread check for any errors in your resume.
Grammar check
These tools can help identify and correct grammatical mistakes so you can impose a professional impression on the hiring department. These grammar checkers would also ensure that captalization and preposition placement are correct in your resume.
5. COVER THE SKILLS AND EXPERTISE
Thoroughly covering the skills and expertise is difficult within 500-words. A two-to-three-page resume is nothing new for people with years of experience in their industries. However, ensuring that your resume embodies all that you have to offer is important.
That’s why you must ensure your resume features all the key essentials about your experience, education, skills, interests, etc.
CONCLUSION
These are some of the essential tips for job applications. Writing a resume with these tips can help you stand out among other candidates. So, try to follow each tip and ensure that your resume features unique text and a cover letter.