Your resume must grab the reader’s attention immediately, if you want to have any chance of moving on to the interview stage. Recruiters and hiring managers usually have limited time to examine resumes, before deciding on candidates to be interviewed.
This evaluation occurs after receiving literally hundreds of applications for a single position.
As such, your resume must convey the following details in the clearest (but legible) manner possible, if you want to make an immediate impression.
1. Roles and responsibilities.
Bearing in mind that resumes need to be customized in line with job applications, it is crucial that the job titles and responsibilities listed in your resume are related (if not an exact match) to the position being offered. So, in describing your prior positions, it’s crucial that your resume has more information than just a rundown of your duties.
2. Experience
Suitable experience will be looked for on your resume. Whether you spent six months in one position or four years in another, make sure your experience sounds consistent and applicable to the position on offer. Be specific about your involvement to any high-profile project and what value you added.
3. Skills
Make sure to list all the important skills you have acquired in past employments. Your abilities will supplement your experience and eventually justify for employment.
4. Results and Accomplishment
Hiring managers and company owners are motivated by results, so if you exceeded your sales goal as a manager, for instance, be sure to clarify your goals in terms of numbers or percentages and explain how you did it.
5. Education
Be sure to draw attention to any pertinent academic credentials, especially if they were mentioned as desirable or required in the selection criteria.
6. Formatting
Once you’ve got the data correct, your resume needs to look, feel, and read good if you want a hiring manager or recruiter to pay attention to it straight away. Make sure to focus on the following information to do this.
7. Simple to Read
Ensure your CV is organized clearly and consistently, using only one type of font—this is crucial (bold can be used to highlight). Instead of using long phrases to describe your abilities, accomplishments, duties, etc., use bullet points. At all costs, spelling and punctuation errors must be avoided. None of your experience, skills, or other pertinent information will be taken into consideration if your resume cannot be read quickly.
8. No contradictions
Confirm that your CV is written clearly and is organized in reverse chronological order i.e., in accordance with the timeline. Proof for odd gaps or inconsistent descriptions of your duties or accomplishments.
9. Relevant Vocabulary
Make sure your CV has relevant keywords right through. Check the job description to make sure your language matches the criteria. By doing so, you’ll establish a connection in the reader’s mind between yourself and the job’s criteria. The reader may not be a technical or industry specialist, but they will know what to look out for, so avoid using too much jargon.
10. Structure and Label
Lastly, ensure your resume is set up to be opened quickly by the recipient. No hiring manager wants to download software just to examine a resume. Make sure to include your name in the saved title of your resume (e.g., Mafik, Olamide- résumé) when you save it. It’s also considerate to keep your application’s file size under 1MB, this prevents clogging of inboxes. It may be stored in either MS Word or Portable Document Format (PDF).
Remember! even though you have the necessary training and experiences to flourish in a position, but neglect to list them properly on your resume, you risk failing to pass the first screening for a new position.
The Right Questions to Ask Yourself – Read more
Enjoy more articles – blog
