Highlight Your Relevant Experience
In this section, tailoring your resume to the specific job you are applying for and highlighting your relevant experience can help you stand out to potential employers.
Use Keywords and Phrases
- Industry-specific keywords and phrases can help your resume get past applicant tracking systems (ATS) and into the hands of hiring managers. Examples of commonly used keywords and phrases:
- “resume writing tips”
- “job search strategies”
- “career advancement”
- “interview preparation”
- “professional development”
- “job search resources”
- “resume building”
- “job hunting”
- “career advice”
- “job market trends”
- “networking for jobs”
- “job application”
- “job search engines”
- “job search tips”
- “job search techniques”
- “job search process”
- “job search tools”
- “job search websites”
- “job search advice”
- “job search guidance”
Include Accomplishments, Not Just Responsibilities
- Including specific accomplishments, such as numbers and statistics, to demonstrate the impact you have made in your previous positions is of utmost importance. Examples of how to word these accomplishments on a resume:
- Increased sales by 30% through effective marketing strategies
- Reduced expenses by 15% through cost-saving initiatives
- Implemented a new project management system, resulting in a 25% increase in productivity
- Successfully trained and mentored a team of 5 new employees
- Led a cross-functional team to achieve a 20% improvement in customer satisfaction ratings
- Developed and executed a successful social media campaign, resulting in a 25% increase in website traffic
- Decreased company turnover by 15% through employee engagement and retention efforts
- Improved supply chain efficiency, resulting in a 20% decrease in lead times
- Achieved a 10% reduction in safety incidents through the implementation of new safety protocols
- Managed a budget of $1 million and delivered projects under budget and ahead of schedule
Keep It Simple and Professional
- A clean, simple, and professional design can make your resume more visually appealing and easy to read for potential employers. When choosing a font and layout for your resume, it is important to keep a few things in mind:
- Keep it simple: Avoid using overly decorative or fancy fonts, as they can be difficult to read. Stick to clean, professional-looking fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
- Make it easy to scan: Use clear, simple formatting and layout to make your resume easy to read and scan. Use bullet points, headings, and white space to break up text and make important information stand out.
- Be consistent: Use the same font and formatting throughout your resume to create a cohesive and polished look.
- Use a font size of 10-12 point: This will ensure that your resume is easy to read without being too small.
- Highlight your achievements: Use bold and italic formatting to draw attention to your accomplishments and skills.
- Consider using infographics and charts: Use of infographics and charts can help make your resume more visually appealing and make it easy for the hiring manager to understand your strengths and qualifications.
- Proofread: Make sure to proofread your resume several times to catch any errors or typos before submitting it.
How to Proofread Effectively
- Take a break before proofreading: After writing, take a break before you start proofreading. This will give your brain a chance to rest and come back to your writing with fresh eyes.
- Read your writing out loud: Reading your writing out loud will help you catch mistakes that you might miss when reading silently.
- Check for spelling and grammar errors: Use a spell checker and grammar checker to catch any errors.
- Check for consistency: Ensure that your formatting, punctuation, and capitalization is consistent throughout your document.
- Check for accuracy: Make sure that all the information in your document is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant.
- Check for readability: Ensure that your document is easy to read and understand. Check for awkward sentences, long paragraphs, and overuse of jargon.
- Check for completeness: Make sure that your document is complete and all the necessary information is included.
- Have someone else proofread: Ask a friend, family member, or professional to proofread your document. A fresh set of eyes can catch mistakes that you might have missed.
- Proofread multiple times: Proofreading is an iterative process. Go through your document multiple times to catch as many errors as possible.
- Do a final check: Before submitting or publishing your document, do a final check to make sure that everything is perfect.
CALL TO ACTION: After reading this blog post, take the time to update and tailor your resume to showcase your relevant experience and accomplishments.
