Resume Secrets That Will Transform Your Job Application
When you’re applying for a job, simply having the skills and the prior experience isn’t always enough to get you noticed. In fact, it all comes down to the way in which you convey that information, and the best resume in the world will fall flat if you’re not able to show just why you’d make such a good fit at the company you’re applying at.
On average, there are over a hundred applicants for every job vacancy, and that means that you need to stand out of the crowd if you’re hoping to secure an interview. That’s where your resume comes in, and indeed it’s the main thing that recruiters use to decide who to shortlist and who to reject ahead of formal interviews.
And so if your resume is due an upgrade and you want to make sure that it’s the best it can possibly be, you’ve come to the right place. Here are just a few of our top resume tips for transforming your job application.
Resume Secrets That Will Transform Your Job Application
1. It’s not about you
The first and biggest secret you need to know is that, perhaps counterintuitively, your resume isn’t really about you. From the point of view of recruiters, your resume is a way to understand what you can bring to the company. That’s why it’s a good idea to tailor your resume for every job that you apply for to make sure that it’s as relevant to them as possible.
2. Employers love veterans
If you’ve served in the military, be sure to emphasize that in both your cover letter and your resume. Employers like to hire veterans for a variety of reasons. People who’ve served in the armed forces tend to be highly disciplined and to have an eye for detail, both traits which come in extremely useful in the workplace.
3. You don’t have to write it yourself
One of the biggest secrets when it comes to resumes is that you don’t have to go it alone. Sure, you know your own career history more than anyone else does, but if you’re not the best writer in the world then there’s no need to worry. Find a copywriting service by searching "write my essay cheap" or similar terms and get them to give it a once over.
4. Typos ARE the end of the world
When recruiters look at resumes, they start out by looking for any reason they can find to discount applicants so that they’re left with only the cream of the crop. Typos and spelling/grammar mistakes tend to imply a lack of attention to detail, and if you’re in any customer-facing role then the likelihood is that you’ll be expected to send and receive emails while maintaining a professional veneer.
5. Layout is important
There are all sorts of different free resume templates out there for you to take advantage of, but not all of them are created equally. Spend some time browsing around and try playing with a few different layouts to find one that works well for you. Remember, recruiters will look at dozens of portfolios at a time, and so if your resume doesn’t look good at a glance then they’re going to rapidly move on to the next one.
6. Personality is key
Most people will tell you that resumes need to be stiff and formal, but the truth is that the business landscape has evolved in recent years and more and more employers are looking to hire people who are a good cultural fit, as well as just possessing the skills needed to do the job. By using your resume to communicate your personality, you can increase the chances that you’ll be able to find that perfect fix.
Conclusion
Now that you know just a few of the resume secrets that can transform your job application, it’s over to you to make sure that you’re putting what you’ve learned into practice. Be sure to carve out some time and to book it into your planner and then be sure to follow through with it.
Your goal should be to make sure that your resume is up-to-date and that it includes as many of these tips and tricks as you find helpful. At the same time, your resume should reflect who you are as a person, and these aren’t hard and fast rules that you have to follow. If one of them doesn’t work for you, don’t use it. You’ll be working in the job of your dreams in no time. Good luck!
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Author bio:
Lauren Adley is a writer and editor at assignment writing services. She is interested in educational, marketing and blogging issues. Feel free to connect with her on Twitter.
