Consider your resume as your business card that you share with potential employers. Nobody wants to hand in some sloppy business cards when there is a chance to introduce ourselves. Believe me that it is always obvious when a resume was prepared in a rush and when it was well thought through. So let’s talk about simple rules on how to avoid obvious mistakes and make your resume more effective. Because we want our resume to help you get an interview.
DON’Ts
1. Do not exceed two pages unless you are applying for executive-level jobs or Nobel laureate.
2. Do not overcomplicate the font you use (Times New Roman, Calibri, Tahoma, and Arial are preferable).
3. Do not include your picture.
4. Do not use more than four or five bullet points under each job experience.
5. Do not use headers and footers in case the resume is scanned through the applicant tracking system (ATS). The ATS may not be able to read any information you add in there.
6. Do not make grammar mistakes (they are unacceptable). Sometimes, we do not see our mistakes after re-reading a document many times. I will suggest giving it to read to someone else or leave till the next morning. You will be surprised to find a couple more mistakes.
DOs
7. Do make sure that the information is correct and true.
8. Do ensure that information in the resume is consistent with what you have on LinkedIn.
9. Do add accomplishments instead of stating the job responsibilities. Stating only the responsibilities will not help you to stand out among others (see below a tip on how you can write each bullet point).
10. Do tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. My suggestion is to open the job posting beside your resume on your screen and answer a simple question after reading each experience and skill the employer is looking for: “Can I do it? What specific achievements/contributions I have made to prove that I can do it better than the rest of the applicants?”.
In order to reply to the above question in an effective way, I’d like to share with you one of the practical tips that I found very useful when I was searching for a job myself. Geoffrey Scott, a hiring manager at Resume Genius, explains in one of his articles 3 parts of a strong bullet point:
- 1st: Action Verb (should always be first)
- 2nd: Quantifiable Point
- 3rd: Specific and relevant job duty
Example: Trained (1st) 5+ cashiers (2nd), managing their cash limits and guaranteeing quality customer service at all times (3rd).
In conclusion, a little bit of research and time that you dedicate to tailor your resume based on the job posting will pay you off eventually. So, don’t take a chance and use these simple tips to get where you want to be at the end of this journey.
Good luck with your job search!
