4 Tips for Resume Writing You Should Incorporate Now
Most hiring managers will spend under 30 seconds skimming over your resume, or about the same amount of time that it will take you to read this paragraph. It’s becoming more difficult to make a positive impression on paper in such a short amount of time. If you’re not receiving as many interviews as you would like, you need to start incorporating some of these tips for resume writing.
1. Showcase Relevant Experience
Sending out the same resume for different jobs might have worked in years past. Now, it’s important to customize your resume with specific skills so that they are targeted for the position you are applying for. If you don’t have relevant experience, then include pertinent projects, internships, and volunteer work.
2. Leverage ATS
Since a growing number of companies are using applicant tracking systems (ATS) to filter out unqualified candidates and expedite the hiring process, there’s no longer a guarantee that your resume will even be reviewed by human eyes. But you can increase the likelihood that it will make it past ATS with simple formatting, using the right combination and density of keywords, omitting career objectives and proofreading the document before sending it out.
3. Less is More
Although it might be tempting to send numerous pages outlining your background, unless you have 10+ years of relevant experience, it’s recommended to condense your resume down to just one or two pages. Avoid long paragraphs with vague descriptions of your past jobs, personal information and hobbies. Instead, use concise, bulleted statements with statistics when appropriate to highlight your most significant accomplishments. Use bold or italics to highlight important information, like job titles and companies. Some hiring managers also like to see links to your LinkedIn profile, online portfolio, blog, or website.
4. Consider Going Digital
The equipment industry is experiencing a gradual transition from companies requesting traditional resumes to digital presentations. Creating infographics or videos can be a more effective way to communicate your qualifications and stand out from the rest of the competition.
Resumes should be customized to the position for which you are applying. It’s still appropriate to send a cover letter along with your resume that is personally addressed to the hiring manager. Beware of formatting issues when emailing or uploading your resume to a company’s website. PDF is often considered to be one of the best formats that is universally compatible across most operating systems. Many companies use background check service providers that conduct an even more extensive verification of your qualifications, so don’t be tempted to stretch the truth on your resume either. Follow these tips for resume writing and get the benefits of more call-backs and interviews. Before you know it, you’ll have your dream job!
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