It is a challenging job to incorporate all your life achievements and winnings on a single page of your resume for others to judge and decide your future path. Nonetheless, ensuring you do not play humble and illustrate your full potential to land the interview is essential. The resume is the first step of the screening process that shortlists you for the job you are applying for. Most of your interviews will be based on the facts you presented on your resume for the interviewer to crosscheck and build on. It is, therefore, essential that your resume depicts you precisely and appropriately for the job. Here are some tips for designing a great resume that will ensure a great interview all lined up for you.
Keep it real
Your resume is your first interaction with your employer. However indirectly, it is based on your resume that the employer will judge your adequacy for the job. Imagine this: you have a top-class recommendation and job experience on your resume, and you have built an image of a capable overachiever on paper, but when you appear for the job interview, you fall embarrassingly short on all your claims and have no certifications to show for your skills. It is, therefore, vital that you keep your resume honest and to the point. The recruiter is looking for someone who can match the job description, not an imposter or a poser. You must be able to answer and own up to your resume to the very last detail.
Language
Words are your only powerful tool when creating your resume for the job. Using formal and informal language on a resume is a very minute detail that can affect your selection or disqualification. You must implement formal language and action words that describe your achievements and highlight your work on the page. Use words like "achieved," "designed," and "created" with your work experience to catch the eye of the recruiter. You may use informal language while talking about your sub-skills and hobbies. Another tip is to read the job description and pick out the keywords used by the recruiting company, research the company online and pick out its values and work culture. By using these keywords on your resume, you are bound to make a stunning impression of fitting right into the company.
Edit for the job
The recruiter must see you as a perfect fit for their company. It would be best if you were the answer to all their requirements. Therefore, you must know what they are looking for. Read the job description several times to understand what the recruiter will scan your resume for. Go through the company website and carry out thorough research to recognize the company's work and how you can contribute at your end to improve it. Now highlight the skills you will be bringing to the table that are in coherence with the company requirements and job description. It is not rocket science but an artful combination of recognizing the need and delivering on that front.
Highlight
The recruiter's decision of whether you are qualified for the job is solely based on your resume and what is visible to him on the page. They will give your resume a quick scan of 30 seconds but will already have made their decision by the 25th second. The only solution is to make sure you highlight your achievements and present them so that it is evident to the recruiter why you have applied for the job. Present your education before the work experience if you are a fresher for the job; however, highlight your work experience if you are confident. Make sure you have the relevant skills mentioned in the respective section. And have volunteer, freelance work in your sub-skills.
Skills
Skills and volunteer work are where you mention things and details that are irrelevant but at the same time important to you as a person of ethics. It is where the sneaky part comes in. The recruiter may not look at the hobbies section or your past education. But he will look at the skills you claim, as it is present right after work experience on your resume. It is an opportunity for you to stand out to your recruiter by mentioning skills and experience relevant to the job you are applying for and are an apparent fit for it.
Use numbers
One of the best ways to catch the eye of the recruiter is to mention numbers and statistics wherever you think it matters. The numbers stand out on the resume in the crowd of letters and never-ending words of achievement. It is also a good idea to illustrate the recorded results you have under your belt. Mention your grades, percentage increase in results that you brought about, number of projects, or any details that matter must be present on your resume in digits. Not only are they easy to spot, but they will also leave a positive impression on the recruiter selecting your resume for the job.
Design a timeline
Your resume should be a timeline of your work and how you increased your potential and leveled up at every step. It should be a graph of your gradual progress and how you reached this level. Even if you are a fresher applying for a job at a beginner's level, make sure you emphasize your free work, grades, internships, or apprenticeships for the job. Show your interest in the relevant fields and build yourself up for the job in question. A timeline will show your progress right from school and college to your last recent job. If you are highly experienced, prioritize what must go on your resume and choose to leave out the fluff.
Format and edit
A clumsy resume is bound to be rejected at first glance, with no exceptions. Formatting your resume allows you to draw attention to the relevant highlights by changing the fonts, underlining, and making it bold or in italics. Format the resume and edit the fluff so that all your work fits no more than 2 pages. A single page would suffice if you want your interviewer to be precise about your work. Keep your name and contact details at the top, and conclude your resume page with hobbies included. Give a sidebar to all the details that might help your position but are not strictly required.
Conclusion: Remember to tailor your resume for the job, so the recruiter thinks you are cut out for it. Implement these tips to the last dot when you are drafting your resume. Make sure you have both a hard copy and a soft copy with you during the interview. All the best!
