When looking for a new job you have one chance to make a good impression, your resume is your marketing tool and door opener. It is imperative to get it right. Recruitment companies can place an advertisement for a current role and they can get anything from 30 to 300 applicants.
What you need to ensure is that your resume stands out in the pre-screening process to guarantee you get an opportunity to move to the next step. Help the consultant form a mental picture of you and your achievements.
Tips to ensure you are above the rest of the crowd.
- When writing a resume it is important to keep to a format, not too many colours and different fonts as it can appear very unprofessional.
- Keep your personal details to name, address and contact details. Omit personal information such as age or marital status.
- Keep it to 3 or 4 pages at the most, more does not necessarily mean better.
- Always do in reverse chronological order, starting from the most current.
- Ensure you put in your current role and three or four duties for that position. The most important thing to remember is the Key Achievements at the end of each role, this is what clients focus on, and they want to find out where you will be able to add value.
- It is important to tailor your qualifications for the job for which you are applying.
- It is essential to check your grammar and spelling, there is nothing that will discount your resume quicker than having mistakes.
- Your resume is a working document that is moulded to suit the role for which you are applying.
- Avoid generic phrases that do not accurately describe what your specific participation was.
- Watch for overuse of any one particular word or phrase, avoid repetition.
Your resume should reflect your values, honesty is very important you cannot lie on your resume. Work ethics are very important; companies want to hire people who can work in teams, energetic and hard working. Qualities such as integrity, creative problem solving and co operation are highly regarded.
Employers looking for candidates want to easily find the key words relating to their current needs and areas where you could actually add more value.
In conclusion it is vital to take the necessary time to write your resume correctly in support of the position you are applying for.
For more information and advice on how to construct your resume to guarantee your success then contact Debra at Debra Manson Recruitment and Training.
