If you think employers have the time to sit down and read each resume that comes in, that’s far from the truth! Employers scan resumes like headlines and the average time looking at a resume is 8 seconds.
If it’s not a human reviewer going over resumes when they initially come in, it’s the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that does it. Unfortunately, since limited time is given to review each resume, it means you really have to hit the nail on the head and engage the reader from the start if you want to get noticed.
Take these tips to ensure you present a resume that will engage the reader and that’ll make them want to talk to you.
1. Think of the resume as an advertisement for a product – YOU.
Good advertisements captivate the audience by presenting information that is relatable and that helps solve a problem. That’s what you have to do with your resume. You have to inform the employer what it is that you have to offer and demonstrate you can produce results that are of value to them.
The only part of the resume that everyone reads is your opening paragraph so speak to the employer’s needs and tell them what you can do.
For example:
Marketing Executive with over 15 years of experience and a consistent track record of driving revenues and market share to record heights.Manufacturing Production manager with over 10 years of success delivering dramatic improvements in productivity, profits, quality and safety.
2. Present information simply.
Use a font type that is universal and clear like Arial or Times New Roman, and present the most valuable information first. You may want to start off with Work Experience, followed by Professional Qualifications and Education. In detailing the sections, work with what’s most relevant and has the most impact first. When you do this, your resume will be structured logically for employers to find what they need in deciding to keep your resume or move on to the next resume. Read more tips from “5 Ways To Use Bullet Points On Resumes.”
3. Keep information bite-sized.
No one wants to read things that are text heavy. Keep your resume like an ad. Information should be presented in bite-sized bits, so that means short sentences; trying to keep your resume to one-page, if possible; using no more than 3-4 bullet points at a time; and having ample white space between the different sections of your resume.
4. Take out what is irrelevant.
If your resume is going to read like an ad, there’s no room for what’s irrelevant. Everything on your resume should have a reason to be there. If it’s not making a “Wow!” statement or informing the employer why they should hire you, it needs to come out. Same goes with work experience that dates back to more than 20 years ago or statements at the bottom of the resume like “References available upon request.”
5. Learn to engage with your writing.
Speak to the reader with your writing. It’s not about listing your responsibilities on the job and telling them what you’re good at. It’s about offering relevant examples and demonstrating how you’re good at the job. It’s the difference between saying: “I’m good at customer service” and demonstrating it by informing the employer: “Improved customer service rating from 70% to +95% and referrals by 25%”. Engaging the reader also means you begin your sentences and bullet points with action words and you plug in keywords (in context) with what the hiring manager or the ATS is looking for.
Remember, your resume is a promotional piece – don’t be afraid to toot your own horn with highlights of accomplishments and success that will impress potential employers.
Don Goodman’s firm was rated as the #1 Resume Writing Service in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Don is a triple-certified, nationally recognized Expert Resume Writer, Career Management Coach and Job Search Strategist who has helped thousands of people secure their next job. Check out his Resume Writing Service. Get a Free Resume Evaluation or call him at 800.909.0109 for more information.
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by a CAREEREALISM-approved expert. You can learn more about expert posts here.Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Is your job search turning into a grind with no end in sight? It may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your entire approach.
In cold weather climates, the beginning of spring is a time to clean the house and get organized—a practice known as spring cleaning. Through the years, spring cleaning has taken on a larger meaning with people using the time to organize and declutter things in their lives.
For professionals on the job hunt, a little spring cleaning (metaphorically speaking) could be a great way to reinvigorate your job search. Here are a few strategies your job search spring cleaning should include.
Reevaluate Your Job Search Approach
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Make a list of the last handful of jobs you applied for and see if you can identify any positive or negative trends. Consider things like:
How did I learn about this job?
How did I apply for the job?
Did I earn an interview?
What was the ultimate result?
A lot can be learned about your job search approach just by answering these questions and identifying patterns. For example:
Negative Trends
You discovered five jobs through job boards, applied to all of them via the job boards, and never heard back from any of them.
The common pattern here is applying through job boards. This isn't to say that job boards don't serve a purpose in the job search process, but they have their limitations, and you can't run your job search entirely off of them. When you apply through a job board, there's a good chance that your materials will never get past the applicant tracking system (ATS) and never be seen by an actual person.
One simple fix is to research who the hiring manager or recruiter is that posted the position and email your materials to them directly.
The more efficient fix would be to take a proactive approach by putting together a bucket list of companies that you want to work for and start making connections on LinkedIn with people who work at those companies. You may already know some people who work there or have connections that can refer you to some individuals.
This is a great way to network your way onto a company's radar.
Positive Trends
You applied to three jobs via referral, were invited to two job interviews, and made it through multiple rounds of interviews for one of the jobs before being passed over for someone with a little more experience.
The pattern here is that getting referred to a job by a professional acquaintance is a great way to land a job interview. This indicates that you're leveraging your network well and you should continue to focus on your networking efforts.
The next step is to review the interview process and determine what went well and what needs to be improved. Sometimes the interviewer will provide feedback, and that feedback can be valuable. However, not everyone is comfortable with giving feedback.
Chances are you probably have a good idea about areas of improvement and the skills you need to gain. Put together a plan for addressing those shortfalls.
The good news in making it deep into any interview process is that it indicates that the company likes you as a potential employee (even if the timing just wasn't right) and the experience could be a roadmap to a job with that company at a later date, or another similar opportunity elsewhere.
Give Your Resume & Cover Letter Some Much-Needed Attention
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Are you continuously sending similar resumes and cover letters to each job opening with only minor adjustments? If so, your strategy needs some serious spring cleaning.
The reason why it's so important to tailor your resume is that throughout your career, you acquire numerous skills, but the job you're applying for may only be focusing on 6-8 of those skills. In that case, those skills must rise to the top of the resume with quantifiable examples of how you successfully used those skills at previous jobs.
Remember, recruiters go through hundreds of resumes. They need to be able to tell from a quick glance whether or not you're a potential candidate for the position.
While updating your resume, you could also spruce up your LinkedIn profile by highlighting the skill sets that you want to be noticed for by recruiters.
As for writing a good cover letter, the key to success is writing a disruptive cover letter. When you write a disruptive cover letter, you're basically telling a story. The story should focus on how you connect with the particular company and job position. The story could also focus on your personal journey, and how you got to where you currently are in your career.
If your resumes and cover letters aren't unique, now is the time to clean things up and get on track.
Build Your Personal Brand
Just because you're looking for work doesn't mean that you don't have anything to offer. Use previous career experiences and passions to build your personal brand.
Ask yourself, "How do I want other professionals to view me?"
Pick an area of expertise and start sharing your knowledge and experience with your professional network by pushing out content on your LinkedIn and social media accounts. Good content can include blogs, social media posts, and videos.
By sharing content about your experiences and passions, you slowly build your personal brand, and others will start to notice. The content could lead to good discussions with others in your network. It could also lead to reconnecting with connections that you haven't spoken to in years, or making new connections.
You never know when one of these connections could turn into a job lead or referral. The trick is to get on people's radars. So, when you're cleaning up your job search, be sure to build a plan for personal branding.
Maintain Healthy Habits During Your Job Search
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Your job search is important, but it's even more important to know when to pull back and focus on personal health and spending time with family and friends.
There are actually things that you can do for your own enjoyment that could help your job search in the long run, such as:
Grab coffee with a friend - It's good to engage in light conversation with friends during challenging times. And if your job search does come up, remember that most people have been through it themselves and you never know when a friend may provide you with a good idea or lead on a job.
Volunteer - Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and help others. In addition, if you develop a little bit of a career gap while looking for a job, you can always talk about how you filled that time volunteering, if you're asked about it during a job interview.
Continue to focus on other passions - Are you a fitness nut? Blogger? Crafter? Continue to do the things that bring you happiness. And if you're in a position to profit from your passion through a freelance job or side hustle, even better!
Spring is the perfect time to clean up and improve your job search so you can land the job you want. If you're struggling to find a job, follow the tips above to reinvigorate your job search—and watch your career blossom!
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This article was originally published at an earlier date.