Your resume is more than just a piece of paper, it’s the first impression employers get and your key tool in the job search. Your Career, Your Choice, powered by Workforce Solutions, is a series that guides you through building your career step by step, from crafting your resume to finding the path that helps you reach your full potential.
Enhancing a resume can increase the chances of receiving an interview for the job position desired. A well crafted resume should display professional qualifications, achievements, skills, education background and job experience, in a way that makes it stand out among other resumes.
Workforce Solutions Michelle Castrow shares some tips to improve a resume:
- Tailor your resume.
Avoid generic resumes and try customizing yours to the job you want. Do some research — you can use the job post as reference — to match the description and skills demanded by the job you’re planning to apply to.
To avoid pitfalls, “You want to avoid making the employer guess whether or not you are qualified for that position,” says Castrow.
- Keep it concise.
Hiring managers have to go through many resumes, so it’s important to be brief and prioritize the most pertinent information effectively. Instead of writing big paragraphs with descriptions, incorporate keywords related to the job posting, which highlight your skills and qualifications.
“Don’t make it too long. You have a very short amount of time to capture that employer’s attention, so keep your resume one to two pages max,” encourages Castrow.
- Simple is better.
Finally, Castrow recommends, “Keep it simple, use simple fonts, simple layouts. So that your skills and qualifications stand out and the employers isn’t distracted by funky format.”
By avoiding complex formats, you can guarantee that recruiters understand your qualifications. A simple, clear and well organized resume allows hiring managers to quickly read key information. It creates a strong impression and leaves room for a possible interview.
If you want to know more about resume formats and the hiring tracking system, watch Episode 3. Resume tips and learn how to maximize your job search.
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