“Your resume is a reflection of who you are, make sure it is a good one”
A resume happens to be the employer’s first encounter with the candidate, it helps set the initial perception of the person who could be a prospect to join their team. So a well-articulated resume has the ability to open or close doors for a candidate. No one writes a perfect resume on their first attempt. Writing a perfect resume is a messy process, and the easiest way to start is by simply getting in the right mindset and putting pen to paper. In the age of artificial intelligence, when bots are available for varied writing work, it is not easy to overlook the easy route. However, having a third party write your resume makes it very impersonal when it should be a unique representation of your background, professional journey, and accomplishments.
Talking about other perspectives, employers often find it difficult to efficiently review resumes due to the huge amount of applications received and a paucity of time, so they typically just sift through them instead, in 30-60 seconds. So, even with technologically advanced systems, where the first screening process may be automated or not, only resumes that stand out and are relevant will stick.
So while crafting your CV, focus on the following essential elements to differentiate it from the competition
Know yourself well
Take a look at your accomplishments and transferable talents and evaluate them for yourself, seeing yourself as a product and the company as the buyer. Selected relevant information is key to creating a strong resume. It is important to analyze your educational & professional journey, list all the events/achievements worth mentioning, and then prioritize the most relevant information (based on your chosen career path) to build content that will create an impression.
Engaging construct
Once the content is finalized, it is equally important to structure the content in a clean & simple layout that is easy to read. Your resume’s layout and appearance are crucial. One to two pages is the ideal length for a resume. A resume should not exceed two pages under any situation. The better, the more succinct the text. Use boldface or italics to make your most important content stand out.
Then decide on format & flow of information (reverse chronological order is the most preferred format so that the most recent & relevant pointers catch the reader’s attention).
Finally, language plays a highly important role, as it can be an exceptionally helpful tool to highlight all your achievements and mask weaknesses/failures. It entails communicating your accomplishments, abilities, and credentials in an impressionable way through language.
Here are some tips to help you “Write with Impact” on your resume
- Begin with an Impressive Synopsis or Goal: Include a strong summary or objective statement at the top of your resume that highlights your main accomplishments and professional objectives.
- Use Action Verbs: When describing your accomplishments and duties, begin your bullet points with powerful action verbs. A sensation of accomplishment and dynamism is produced by this.
- Quantify Your Success: To show the effect of your work, whenever possible, employ measures that can be measured. Your accomplishments might take on a more real quality when expressed as percentages and numbers.
- Customize Your Content: Make your resume unique for every job that you apply for. Emphasize your accomplishments, abilities, and experiences that meet the position’s particular needs. Highlight any certifications or training relevant to the job.
- Show, Don’t Just Tell: Place more emphasis on the products and effects of your job than simply enumerating your responsibilities. Describe the ways in which you made a good impact on teams, projects, or the organization overall.
- Emphasize Useful Skills: The abilities that are most pertinent to the position you’re seeking should be highlighted clearly. These could be specialized qualifications, soft skills, or technical skills.
- Information Should Be Prioritized: Make sure the first section of your resume grabs the reader’s attention by placing the most significant and pertinent information there.
- Keep It Simple and Direct: To get your point across, speak succinctly. Keep your phrases simple and direct, and stay away from superfluous jargon.
- Work with keywords: Make sure your resume includes pertinent keywords taken from the job description. Applicant tracking systems (ATS), which search resumes for particular keywords, are used by many businesses.
- Proofread completely: Spelling and grammar mistakes are absent from a well-written resume. It is advisable to dedicate some time to proofread your resume several times to guarantee precision and polish.
Added Training or Education
This can entail enrolling in classes, obtaining licenses, or working toward a degree in your area of expertise. Your CV will look stronger if you include this information, which will also show that you are willing to study and advance in your field.