Write a bulletproof resume that gets you seen by employers all the time
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Did you know that potential employers form their very first impression of you based on your resume? Your cover letter and LinkedIn profile also give them an idea of your skills, experiences, and personality. Add a well-crafted portfolio/website to the mix, and you will be able to wow any employer that you want.
Since your resume is the most important element of your job applications, we figured out that you might need a little extra help with elevating it for your next job hunt. So, let’s have a look at what you can do to write a bulletproof resume for your job applications:
Tailor your resume every time
It’s important to customize your resume for each and every job description that you apply for. This will help you highlight skills, experiences, and qualifications that align with the requirements of a specific employer while omitting the stuff that may get you rejected. Also, hiring managers prefer it when a resume has been tailored for their position.
Use a lot of keywords
One of the very first things you must do when writing a new resume is to read and review the job description for keywords. Once you have identified the right keywords, it will be easier for you to move forward with crafting a curated resume. These keywords can be skills, experiences, tools, technologies, knowledge areas, and sometimes even action verbs. Be sure to include all the right keywords in your resume.
Highlight your professional achievements
Years ago, it was the norm to list down a bunch of job duties and responsibilities in your resume to describe your past jobs. Today, employers are more serious about the way you frame your work experience. If you want to be shortlisted for a job interview, you must ensure that your resume mentions your biggest professional achievements. Not sure that constitutes professional achievements? Here are some examples for you:
- Instances where you have increased revenue for an employer
- How you have improved the efficiency of processes
- When you have been successful as a leader at a past job
- Times where you have contributed to reducing costs for the business
- Any awards and recognition you have won for outstanding performance
Be selective with what you share
Your resume does not need to mention everything about your career. You can be selective about the information that you share with the employer through your resume. We advise job seekers to only mention the skills, jobs, and qualifications that are the most recent and the most relevant to the job for which they are applying. If some of your past jobs are older than 15 years, you can consider leaving them out of your resume or mentioning them in a dedicated Early Experiences section.
Choose a professional layout for your resume
The way you present information on your resume matters a lot. If the resume layout that you are using appears to be cluttered and unorganized, hiring managers will have a hard time finding important information in the document. When selecting a resume template, go for something that is organized, clean, and modern. Also, check whether your resume has all the right sections. One other important thing to keep in mind is that you must always choose an ATS-friendly resume template when applying for a job in the US. These resumes are sure to pass initial screening provided that they are well-written.