Get your resume in shape for the job search

If you have been watching from the sidelines while all the good jobs get snatched up by job seekers with the same qualifications as you, it is time for a major resume overhaul. The reason you are not getting noticed by employers like you want, could be due to an issue with your resume. The industry experts at Resume Mansion have a few effortless and quick tips to share with you to help you out of your job search rut.

Write a powerful summary and headline

The headline is the first thing an interested employer reads on your resume. If it is a boring, clichéd sentence that they have seen a hundred times before, you will not make a positive impact. Write a snappy resume headline. Create a powerful resume summary to go with it. You will need to highlight your best professional achievements and skills to make a lasting first impression on the hiring manager.

Consider the visual impact

No matter how qualified you are, if your resume is a text-dense mass of black-and-white information overload, no hiring manager will be interested in meeting you. Choose a clean and modern resume template. Incorporate a bit of color into the document to showcase your personality. Ensure that there are no large blocks of text on the resume and include ample white space.

Link to additional qualifications

If you work in one of the creative industries, you will need to show off samples of your work to really impress potential employers. You can do this by incorporating links to your LinkedIn, related social media, digital portfolio, personal website, or blog into your resume. However, only add links to your social media if you have shared content related to your industry on the platform.

Narrate the story of your career

Aim to tell a compelling story about your career progression through your resume. You can do this by highlighting how you have risen in rank and progressed in your career when writing the work experience section. Emphasize promotions and talk less about lateral career moves. Showcase your potential for taking on additional responsibilities.

Add testimonials

Did you know that testimonials and recommendations make your resume stand out? If you have multiple positive feedbacks that you received from previous or current managers, colleagues, and clients, you can choose the most relevant among them and display those on your resume.

Take a results-oriented approach

Does your resume describe past work experiences by talking about job duties? Then, you need to rewrite the bullet points. Instead of focusing on job duties, concentrate your resume on what you have achieved in each role. Highlight your professional accomplishments and quantify the results.

Highlight continuous learning

Employers like to hire professionals who are committed to learning more and staying updated with the developments in their industry. Highlight any relevant certifications you have earned. You can also mention relevant licenses, courses, and other higher education qualifications as well to demonstrate continuing education on your resume.

Proofread carefully

Do not proofread your resume as soon as you are done with it. Take some time away from the document, at least an hour. Then, proofread your resume manually. Keep an eye out for all sorts of errors that you might spot. Printing your resume out will help you spot more mistakes. You can also ask someone else to review your resume for mistakes.