The job market is hot right now. Anyone looking or wanting to test the waters and see what’s out there should find all kinds of opportunities. Remember however, that you are not the only fish in the water. What makes you different?
Here are some tips for writing a great resume that will stand out from the crowd:
Your resume is your marketing tool. Think of it as your billboard. The goal is to get you the interview. It should showcase your value – how you can meet the need of the hiring manager. Make them want to speak with you and learn more!
- Think About the Person Reading Your Resume
It’s important to remember that there’s a real person reading this. It may begin with the HR person. And it’s also important to remember that it’s HR’s job to find some awesome candidates to interview and present to the hiring manager.
How can you make their job easier? How can you write your resume in such a way that HR gets excited while reading it, thinks you’re perfect for the job and is willing to push your resume to the hiring manager? What will make the hiring manager say, yes, let’s get something scheduled with this candidate? I want to learn more about him/her.
- Think About the Specific Job You’re Applying To
One of my favorite tricks to help communicate that you are the perfect person for a job is to read the job description and list out key phrases. Then, when you’re writing or editing your resume, find ways to incorporate those words and phrases from the desired job description into your resume. This can be super useful when a machine or human recruiter skims it.
- Think of your Resume as a Storytelling Document
Many of the tips that I’ve mentioned all point to the general idea that your resume should clearly and concisely tell the story of “you”—helping hiring managers understand why you’re the right person for the job. This is, in fact, the entire purpose.
Ultimately, when you re-read and edit it, make sure your resume tells the story of your background, the skills you gained along the way, the experiences that you’ve had. Why the position posted is the perfect next step for you.
More resume guidelines coming next month… In the meantime, if I can help, please feel free to reach out so we can make sure your marketing tool (you) is being showcased the right way!
