Writing a resume might seem straightforward, but in practice, it’s one of the hardest parts of applying to jobs. Nowadays, there’s so many templates, suggestions, and information located online that it can feel almost impossible to figure out how to distill the best things about you as a candidate down onto one piece of paper. Here at Employment BOOST, our professional writing staff follows tried-and-true principles of resume writing – here are a few that you can apply to your own resume!
Include an Areas of Expertise section.
With modern technology, most resumes are scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords that an employer might be looking for. If a resume doesn’t include those keywords, your resume might not even be seen by the hiring manager. Including an Areas of Expertise section, where you list both soft and hard skills that you consider crucial to your field of study and the position you’re applying for, can help your resume make it through those pesky computer programs and onto the desk of your potential boss.
Tailor your resume to every job you apply for.
Each job you apply for will likely be slightly different, so why wouldn’t your resume be different as well? Changing your professional title or some of your listed specializations can make a huge difference for hiring managers who are looking for individuals with a certain background and experience for a position. Of course, it’s important to keep most things consistent, but feel free to tweak a word or two to better match the description of the job you’re going for (And FYI, this applies to cover letters too!).
Replace your Objective with a Personal Summary or Mission Statement.
If you’re applying to a position, a company can safely assume you’re interested in working for them. Instead, use that valuable page real estate to list some of your strengths in the workplace, or personality traits that make you stand out as a candidate. It’ll differentiate you from the competition, and provide your potential employer with even more reasons to call you for an interview.
Don’t worry too much about “visual flair”.
Most resume advice nowadays advocates for bold colors and unique layouts, professing that they’ll make your resume more memorable. But remember those applicant tracking systems we talked about earlier? Those often throw away resumes that are too busy or have too many visual elements – as they deter from the system’s ability to accurately scan the resume. Designing a resume that’s classic and streamlined also allows potential employers to focus on your accomplishments, not just how cool your resume looks.
Be confident!
It’s stressful and anxiety-provoking to apply to a new job, but it’s important to present yourself in the best light possible by listing all the accomplishments, qualifications, and skills you’ve earned. This is your moment to show the world why you – yes, YOU – are awesome, and exactly the right person for this job. And if your resume strikes its readers as particularly decisive and self-assured, potential employers will walk away with a much higher opinion of you – which, in the end, might make the difference between a pass and an interview.