With hundreds of applicants for each job, it is now more important than ever to make sure you stand out from others. It can’t hurt to have a resume ready even if you are not actively searching for a new job. You always want to be prepared, so it is important to update your resume regularly so it is up to date. Here are some tips to help you stand out from your competition.
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- List your accomplishments – Let the results of your work shine by putting them first. While the work is important as well, employers want to see skills and how they differ from others’ skills. Show you’re not average by highlighting these accomplishments. Even if you have job position listed that didn’t quite make any excellent accomplishments, you can reword it in such a way that your job description sounds like an accomplishment. For example, if you are an editor, add what you edited, how much, and anything else that spices it up a little bit, rather than just saying you edited things.
- Do not exaggerate – People always give this advice, but many are still guilty of this. You are dealing with so much competition, so what may have been tolerable before will probably be under much more scrutiny today. Remember, there are plenty of other job seekers out there, so if your resume seems too good to be true, they will move on faster than you can snap your fingers.
- Review, review, review – While SpellCheck can be great, it doesn’t catch everything. Read it aloud, word for word to check for errors. Also, have another person read it and edit it, because they may catch an error that you did not see.
- Use common words in your industry – This shows familiarity. If you are in the industry, it only makes sense that you should talk like you are.
- Stay relevant – You do not need to add all of your high school jobs on there or where you went to high school. If you have a college degree and internships or other related jobs to the job you’re applying for, those should take the place of part-time high school jobs and high school. Once you’ve had some experience in your field, the potential employers want to see what you are capable of in your own industry. The rest will be irrelevant to them.
- Make it visually attractive – As mentioned before, HR personnel go through hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes per day, so make it stand out from the rest. If you are in marketing, advertising, or a creative field, it should be a visual representation of you. This is your chance to make a first impression to the hiring man or woman, so if your resume is boring they will toss it in the trash without even reading it. If it stands out even a little bit, they may take a look at it. Don’t go overboard, though, or you may be trying too hard.
Take a look at your resume. Is it following these tips? Your resume could be the only thing standing in the way of you and your dream job, so make it look presentable. Take your time, read through it aloud a couple of times, and ask for the opinion of others if you need help. Good luck!