Professional Resume Making Tips:
Making your own resume is a tough job because of the magnitude of the trickiness this work boasts. You have a personal connection to information, and you would like to add things to your curriculum vitae according to your past experiences, but a resume that is strong enough to get you a job might just have other points in more limelight. With that, the writing style needed to write down your achievements and professional experiences in a resume ought to be known.
The types of curriculum vitae blunders a person is prone to making know no bounds. The more adept or skilled a person is in his/her field, the more difficult it is to figure out what to write in a resume and what not to write there. However, labeling a curriculum vitae as a Sisyphean task is going to be entirely wrong. As an executive research consultant, I have made three major guiding points to eradicate the possibility of the most common blunders found in resumes:
1. Quantify your accomplishments:
Using bullet points to provide details in your curriculum vitae (CV) is one of the most effective strategies for presenting your achievements in a clear and concise manner. This approach not only enhances the readability of your CV but also allows potential employers to quickly grasp the significance of your accomplishments. Bullet points help break down complex information into digestible chunks, making it easier for hiring managers to understand your contributions. This method is particularly recommended by many experts who offer tips from the pros on crafting an impactful CV.
One of the primary reasons for using bullet points is that they contribute to a pleasing and more organized presentation style. When your CV is well-organized, it naturally draws the reader’s attention and keeps them engaged. Imagine a hiring manager sifting through dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes. A CV cluttered with long paragraphs is likely to be skimmed over, whereas a CV with bullet points stands out for its clarity and structure. This is why tips from the pros often emphasize the importance of presentation. A well-organized CV can significantly enhance your chances of making a strong impression.
However, it’s not just about using bullet points; it’s also about how you use them. Rather than writing something vague like “organized a marketing conference,” which is too general and doesn’t convey the full extent of your responsibilities or the impact of your work, it’s essential to provide specific details.
This is where tips from the pros become invaluable. Professionals suggest quantifying your achievements to give them more weight. For example, instead of the vague statement, consider a more detailed approach: “Organized a conference of 90 people for two working days, which produced a marketing boost of 11% over the span of six months.” This revised statement not only specifies the scale of the event but also highlights the tangible results of your efforts.
Quantifying your achievements is a critical strategy that is frequently mentioned in tips from the pros because it provides measurable proof of your contributions. Employers are not just looking for candidates who can perform tasks; they want to see the impact of those tasks. By including numbers, percentages, or other quantifiable data, you demonstrate the value you brought to your previous roles. This approach also helps differentiate you from other candidates who may list similar responsibilities but fail to show the outcomes of their work.
Another advantage of using bullet points is that it allows you to focus on the most relevant information. Tips from the pros often advise tailoring your CV to the job you’re applying for, which means highlighting the achievements that align most closely with the job description. Bullet points make it easier to customize your CV because you can easily add, remove, or rearrange them based on the job requirements. This flexibility ensures that your CV is always targeted and relevant, which increases your chances of catching the eye of the hiring manager.
In addition to quantifying achievements, tips from the pros also suggest using strong action verbs in your bullet points. Words like “achieved,” “managed,” “led,” and “improved” convey a sense of accomplishment and leadership. They show that you were proactive in your previous roles and played a key role in driving success. For instance, instead of saying “was responsible for managing a team,” you could say “led a team of 10 to achieve a 20% increase in productivity over six months.” This not only highlights your leadership skills but also shows the direct results of your management.
Moreover, tips from the pros recommend focusing on the impact of your actions rather than just listing duties. It’s important to communicate not only what you did but also why it mattered. For example, rather than simply stating “developed a new training program,” you could expand on the impact by saying, “developed a new training program that reduced onboarding time by 30%, leading to faster integration of new hires and increased team efficiency.” This approach ensures that every bullet point on your CV adds value and demonstrates your effectiveness in your role.
Additionally, tips from the pros highlight the importance of consistency in your bullet points. Ensure that each point follows the same structure, beginning with a strong action verb, followed by a description of what you did, and concluding with the results or impact of your actions. This consistency not only improves the readability of your CV but also reinforces your attention to detail—an essential quality in any professional setting.
When writing your CV, it’s also crucial to consider the length of your bullet points. Tips from the pros suggest keeping each point to one or two lines. This brevity ensures that the information is easy to scan, allowing hiring managers to quickly identify your key achievements. However, being concise doesn’t mean omitting important details. It’s about finding the balance between providing enough information to showcase your accomplishments and keeping the content succinct.
Furthermore, tips from the pros advise using bullet points to highlight your soft skills as well as your technical skills. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are highly valued by employers, and demonstrating these through specific examples in your CV can set you apart from other candidates. For instance, instead of vaguely mentioning that you have “good communication skills,” you could say, “facilitated cross-departmental meetings that improved collaboration and reduced project completion time by 15%.” This not only shows your communication skills but also how they contributed to the company’s success.
Lastly, tips from the pros encourage revisiting and refining your CV regularly. As you gain more experience and achieve new accomplishments, update your bullet points to reflect your most recent and relevant work. This ongoing process ensures that your CV remains up-to-date and continues to present you in the best possible light.
2. Highlight Your Success at the Top:
When crafting a resume, it’s essential to understand how recruiters and hiring managers interact with this critical document. One of the most important tips from the pros is to pay special attention to the top one-third of your resume. This section is often referred to as the “prime real estate” of your resume because it is where the reader’s eyes naturally focus first. Given that recruiters typically spend only a few seconds scanning each resume, this top section becomes your best opportunity to make a strong first impression.
The significance of the top third of your resume cannot be overstated. According to tips from the pros, recruiters are highly focused when they first glance at a resume, and the content within this area will largely determine whether they continue reading or move on to the next candidate. This is why it’s crucial not to waste this space with generic statements or lengthy introductions that do little to distinguish you from other candidates.
Instead, you should use this area to showcase your most compelling and relevant achievements. Tips from the pros suggest that you include a concise summary or profile section that highlights 3-5 of your most significant accomplishments. These should be directly related to the job you’re applying for, providing clear evidence of your value as a candidate. By doing so, you capture the reader’s attention immediately and encourage them to read further.
One of the most effective ways to utilize the top third of your resume is by crafting a powerful summary statement. Tips from the pros emphasize the importance of making this statement both impactful and succinct. Your summary should not be a mere description of your job duties; rather, it should highlight your unique selling points (USPs) — those specific achievements, skills, and experiences that set you apart from other candidates. For example, if you have consistently exceeded sales targets, led successful projects, or implemented innovative solutions that saved your company time or money, these are the kinds of details that belong in your summary.
Another tip from the pros is to use quantifiable achievements in this section. Numbers and statistics are powerful because they provide concrete evidence of your capabilities. For instance, instead of saying, “Increased sales,” you might say, “Increased sales by 25% over six months, resulting in $500,000 in additional revenue.” This not only makes your achievements more credible but also allows the reader to quickly grasp the impact of your work.
In addition to highlighting your achievements, tips from the pros recommend tailoring your resume’s top section to the specific job you’re applying for. This means customizing your summary and key accomplishments to align with the requirements and expectations outlined in the job description. By doing this, you demonstrate that you are not only qualified for the position but also that you understand what the employer is looking for. This level of customization can significantly increase your chances of standing out in a competitive job market.
Moreover, tips from the pros suggest keeping the design of the top third of your resume clean and easy to read. Avoid cluttering this space with too much text or overly complex formatting. Instead, use bullet points to organize your achievements and make them easy to scan. Bold or italicize key points if necessary, but be mindful not to overdo it. The goal is to make this section as reader-friendly as possible while ensuring that your most important information stands out.
Incorporating keywords from the job posting into this section is another tip from the pros. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, and including relevant keywords can help ensure that your resume makes it through this initial screening process. By placing these keywords in the top third of your resume, you increase the likelihood that your resume will be flagged as a good match for the position.
It’s also important to avoid common mistakes in this critical section of your resume. Tips from the pros caution against using vague or overly broad statements, such as “hardworking professional” or “seeking a challenging role.” These phrases do little to differentiate you from other candidates and can make your resume blend in rather than stand out. Instead, focus on specific achievements and skills that demonstrate your value.
Additionally, tips from the pros advise against using personal pronouns such as “I” or “my” in your resume’s top third. Instead of saying, “I am a skilled project manager,” you could say, “Skilled project manager with a track record of leading teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.” This creates a more professional tone and keeps the focus on your qualifications rather than on you as an individual.
Another key consideration, according to tips from the pros, is ensuring that your contact information is easily accessible in the top third of your resume. While your achievements and summary are crucial, recruiters also need to know how to reach you if they’re interested. Make sure your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile (if applicable) are clearly visible and up to date.
Finally, tips from the pros remind you to revisit and revise the top third of your resume regularly. As you gain more experience and achieve new milestones, update this section to reflect your most current and relevant accomplishments. This ensures that your resume remains fresh and continues to present you in the best possible light.
3. Customizing for the Particular Job Opening:
Yes, you heard it right! A custom resume for each job position you apply for is essential. While it may sound surprising and difficult to do, this is one of the most effective strategies that can significantly increase your chances of landing the job you desire. Many job-seekers overlook this crucial step and instead send the same generic resume to multiple employers. However, crafting a resume that is tailored to each specific job can set you apart from other candidates and make a strong impression on hiring managers.
Experts emphasize the importance of highlighting different skill sets for different jobs. By customizing your resume to showcase the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for, you demonstrate that you have carefully considered the role and how your background aligns with the company’s needs. This kind of differentiation can make you a standout candidate, as opposed to someone who submits a one-size-fits-all resume.
For instance, if you’re applying for a marketing position that emphasizes digital strategy, it’s important to highlight your experience with online marketing campaigns, SEO, and social media management at the top of your resume. Conversely, if you’re applying for a position that values traditional marketing methods, you would emphasize your experience with print media, event planning, or direct mail campaigns. This targeted approach shows that you understand the specific requirements of the job and are prepared to meet them.
One key tactic is to modify your curriculum vitae according to the specific job description. This means changing the sequence of bullet points to align with the job’s priorities, ensuring that the most relevant experiences are listed first. Additionally, incorporating keywords from the job posting into your resume’s introduction and throughout the document can increase your chances of getting noticed. These keywords are often what hiring managers and applicant tracking systems look for when scanning resumes, so using them strategically can be highly beneficial.
Furthermore, experts advise that the higher and more responsible the position you are applying for, the more modifications and changes you need to make to tailor your resume to match the job profile. Senior roles often require a more nuanced approach, where you not only demonstrate your technical skills but also highlight your leadership abilities, strategic thinking, and contributions to previous organizations’ success. By carefully crafting your resume, you can clearly show why you are the best fit for the job.
Get in touch with one of our recruiters at JRG Partners, discuss your candidature, and share your resume with us to get insightful advice and input from us.
In conclusion, crafting a resume that gets you hired requires more than just listing your qualifications; it’s about strategically presenting your skills and experiences to align with the specific job you’re applying for. By following these tips from the pros, you can create a resume that stands out to hiring managers and effectively showcases your value as a candidate. Remember, a well-tailored resume is your ticket to making a strong first impression and moving closer to landing the job you want. Investing time and effort into perfecting your resume will pay off as you navigate the competitive job market with confidence.
