As a leader, one of the most important aspects of my job is recruitment and hiring.
The Human Resources department advertises open positions, sorts through applications, and based on pre-determined criteria, sends the appropriate candidate information over to me for review.
This means that I see a lot of resumes.
** A LOT of resumes **
For a candidate to progress to the next level and secure an interview, their resume needs to stand out in the crowd. It must be clear, concise, and professional. It must be unique without being childish and it must use keywords that will make me believe that the candidate is a good fit.
So, how do you make your resume stand out in today’s competitive market?
First, let’s talk about Formatting:
- Your resume should be between 1-2 pages.
- The font you select should be professional, clean, and crisp. Stick to traditional fonts such as Arial, Calibri, Gill Sans or similar style fonts and stay away from scripts or themes since they can be distracting. Your font should be a dark type and easy to read, preferably 12-point in size.
- Use Color Strategically. A small burst of accent color can really help your resume stand out, but be conservative and stick to one color. Remember that you are looking to highlight the page, not overpower it. For the best use of color, I would try to integrate it within the heading but recommend keeping the rest of the document clean and professional.
- Create a balanced look. It is ok to use columns instead of straight text in order to break up the information and produce a visually appealing design – but make sure that you leave adequate white space to prevent a cluttered claustrophobic page. Another important thing to remember is that many companies use a computerized applicant tracking system (ATS) to scan data within the resume and determine if the candidate meets the job description. In some cases, items within columns may be disregarded by the ATS. So, use this type of design element with caution.
- Avoid using text boxes, tables, or graphics as they may not be properly processed by the ATS and can add to a cluttered or unprofessional-looking document
Next, decide on the resume structure. There are three common formats that are used by most applicants.
- Reverse Chronological: In this format, you list all of your work experience beginning with your most recent and working backwards. This format works well to show professional growth, development, and promotion.
- Functional: This style focuses on the professional skills that you can offer the organization. This format works best for individuals who want to downplay significant gaps in employment or frequent changes in place of employment. This design allows the focus to be placed on your talent rather than your work history.
- Combination: This design combines elements from both to provide a comprehensive picture of your skills and work experience. This style is my personal preference as it gives a better overall picture of the candidate’s qualifications.
Now it’s time to add your data.
Make sure that the information you include is relevant to the job you are applying for. It is worth the time and effort to do some quick edits each time you submit a new application.
Use the job description and incorporate some of the key qualities within the body of your resume. This will help with the ATS ranking and indicate to the hiring manager that you have skills that would benefit the organization.
Keep it simple. Short phrases are more effective than long wordy sentences. Hiring leaders tend to scan a resume rather than read every word. Make sure you use powerful words that convey the image you want to portray.
Focus on outcomes and achievements rather than tasks, when possible. It is more impressive to read “reduced office costs by 15% during the fiscal year” than “responsible for purchasing office supplies”.
The more quantifiable examples that you can provide, the more authority your resume will have. In addition, make sure that you highlight any awards, honors, or organizational recognition. These pieces of information can help you stand apart from your competition and highlight your professionalism and talent.
Avoid including any information regarding salary or compensation. Those details are best left to the negotiation phase after an offer has been presented.
Finally, it’s time to wrap up and finalize the document.
Objective Statements can be added but are not necessary. If you do decide to include one, make sure that it is tailored to the job and organization that you are applying to.
An alternative to the Objective Statement that is gaining traction in more modern resumes, is the inclusion of a Summary Statement. Instead of reviewing your desired professional achievements, the Summary Statement succinctly recaps your key qualities and skills.
Similarly, Cover Letters are a great addition but are not necessarily required.
I have never rejected a candidate because they didn’t provide an Objective Statement or Cover Letter. More important than either of those things, is the skillset and achievements that are being highlighted in the resume. If you do choose to include a Cover Letter, make sure that it is professional, well-typed, and grammatically correct.
Make sure that the overall resume looks good – and verify that you have included all key contact information, including an appropriate email address.
Yes, leaders will judge you if your email address is something like tigerkingfanboy52@…..
Have an email address specifically for your job hunt and professional communications – something with your name is best.
Spell Check, Spell Check, Spell Check. Have someone else read it to make sure that you catch any spelling or grammatical errors. A resume filled with small mistakes gives the impression of being rushed, being sloppy, or being careless – and none of those are qualities that leaders look for.
These tips are the first step to getting that interview – and that is where the real magic happens.
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