How to Write Resume That Gets You Hired

Did you know that the average job application gets a response from only one in every 200 applicants? That means if your resume doesn’t cut through the noise, you’re not going to get hired. The harsh truth is that many resumes are rejected even before a person has a chance to interview for it. This is why it’s important to create a resume that stands out among the rest. After all, unless you’re applying for an entry-level position, employers won’t look kindly on a CV with typos and grammatical errors. For those who are new to the world of job hunting or want a helping hand writing their resume, here are some tips you can use when creating yours:

Be Honest

It may seem like a good idea to embellish your resume with skills and experiences that you don’t have. After all, someone else made a mistake by hiring you for the position, so why shouldn’t you make the most of your situation? The thing is, employers are more likely to choose someone who has no experience but is honest about it than someone with a resume full of lies. This doesn’t mean to say that you should settle for a lower position than you’re capable of. It’s important to be realistic with your skills and experience when applying for jobs. If you’re applying for a position that requires a skill you don’t have, be honest about this. There’s nothing wrong with applying for a position that you feel confident about getting.

Don’t oversell or undersell yourself. You are the product in the process of finding a job, you are selling yourself. The employer is the customer. If you oversell and get selected, you have to deliver what you promised. And if you undersell you will not be happy with the work you get. So, be realistic and honest. Show what you are best at; your strengths, and your weaknesses. Show how passionate you are in your field and your interest to learn and share.

Use action verbs and be specific

Job descriptions are usually full of jargon and vague terms. This makes it easy for HR managers to cut and paste one description for various jobs. If you want to make it clear why you are the best candidate for a given position, you have to write your resume in a way that is specific to that job. For example, if you’re applying for the marketing manager position, don’t just say “I was in charge of the marketing department”. Instead say “I was responsible for managing all marketing campaigns, branding, and research projects”. The first example is vague and could apply to any marketing job. The second example shows that you were actually in charge of a specific part of marketing. Employers want to know exactly what you did, so make sure you use action verbs and be as specific as possible.

Be ready to explain in detail in the interview, and keep it brief and precise in your resume. Explaining your work in the interview helps to show your passion, your expertise, and your logical thinking.

Don’t forget the basics

It’s important to remember the basics when writing your resume. Make sure your resume has an eye-catching title. You can keep the rest of your resume brief since employers are likely only going to read the summary. As with all great stories, your resume needs a beginning, a middle and an end. The beginning is the header, or subtitle of your resume. It should be short and sweet, describing your career goal. The body of your resume should be the main content and contain all the relevant details needed to get your foot in the door, such as work history, education and special skills. The end of your resume should be your contact information and a brief (one line) biography.

Format your resume for easy reading

When you’re writing your resume, you want to make sure it’s straightforward and easy to read. Avoid using fancy fonts and unusual formatting. It may look great, but it’s unlikely to get noticed. Keep your resume to one or two pages and write it in a professional, yet conversational tone. It’s also helpful to keep a checklist of things you should include in your resume and tailor it to the job you’re applying for. While it may sound like a lot of work, a well-formatted resume can help you get noticed and secure that interview call.

Use the right keywords

Employers use resume scanning software to skim through hundreds of applications. This software is designed to look for keywords and phrases in your resume. The resume scanning software rates each application based on these words. This means that you need to tailor your resume to include the right keywords. This also means that you need to make sure you’re not overusing them. It may seem like a good idea to add as many keywords as possible to your resume, but this can actually backfire. First, it’s important to know the keywords that your potential employer is using. You can do this by reading the job description and doing some research on the company. Once you know the keywords, you should sprinkle them throughout your resume. Avoid stuffing your resume with keywords, though. This can actually backfire, and the computer will mark you as spam. Instead, sprinkle them throughout your resume in a natural way.

If you have a LinkedIn profile include it. It shows your connections, interests, recommendations, and references. If you don’t have one, it’s time to create one and make sure to keep it up to date. Build your connections.

Mention the company you’re applying to

Showing that you are really interested in the company will put you ahead of the list of candidates. If you want to get hired, you need to show that you’re interested in the company. Show that you’ve done your research and know a little bit about the company. Write a cover letter along with your resume, explaining how your experience fits with the job and the company’s culture. This is a simple way to show that you care about the company and the position you’re applying for. This looks good to the employer and can actually increase your chances of getting hired.

Conclusion

When you start applying for jobs, you’ll find that the process of writing a resume is often more difficult than you expected. It can be challenging to write a resume that gets noticed while at the same time represents you in the best light. The good news is that there are many tips and tricks out there that can help you write a resume that gets you hired. The key is to find the tips and tricks that work best for you.

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