A cover letter and interview tell a reviewer about you, while a resume shows them. And it should do just that – provide a succinct snapshot of what you did and where you did it.
Here are some quick tips to give you the current edge and boost your snapshot into the “get noticed” pile.
Utilize Keywords
Once unheard of in resume realms, keywords are quickly becoming crucial if yours is to reach a set of human eyes. Many companies, bogged down with too many submissions, send resumes through programs that scan for the inclusion of certain phrases and thus, your word choices can be extremely powerful.
- Browse similar job postings and highlight or note words that appear frequently or are key industry terms. Weave them naturally into your text.
Aesthetic Appeal
Ask others to review your resume and give feedback about its visual layout – is it too cluttered, too sparse, or just right? Make sure the information is presented in a simple, accessible, and well-organized format.
- Use aesthetics like bullet points and bold text sparingly.
- Avoid too many visual distractions like multiple fonts, underlining, and italics.
Look at Length and Relevance
Resume real estate is limited, so make sure that everything you include creates a powerful and accurate picture of your achievements, work history, and related skills.
- Imagine yourself as the recipient with time constraints and pare it down to no more than two pages.
- Take your current resume and evaluate it’s relevance. Create a sheet with two columns if need be – one for essentials and one for extras that you can showcase in a cover letter or interview.
Speak Specifically
Specifics can really sell your skill set by offering a direct measure of what you have achieved or how you achieved it. If you have to choose between listing job duties and highlighting one or two specific achievements, consider the latter. Standard duties are often summed up in a job title, and you want your prospective employer to know how you stood out.
- Spend a few minutes reliving those moments that garnered you that pat on the back, and capture them in a brief, powerful phrase.
- Use stats, quantifiable data, and direct examples of how you excelled.
Action, Action, Action
Using action words will help you create succinct, powerful phrases that allow you to show the direct impact of your efforts. Carefully consider each action phrase for accuracy – make sure you can back it up with facts.
- Pair action terms with data and a description when possible: “Increased revenue 10% by XYZ”
