Create a Killer Resume and Cover Letter

How to Write a Resume that Lands Dream Jobs

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If you aim to get hired, mastering the art of resume writing is crucial. We get it; crafting a resume can be daunting. You’re faced with the task of sifting through your experiences and selecting those that best demonstrate you’re the perfect fit for the job. The dilemma intensifies when you encounter a deluge of online advice, often contradictory. Some insist on a succinct one-page document while others suggest a comprehensive three-pager to cover your entire experience. So, where does that leave you?

This article does not aim to provide you with a comprehensive list of strategies for crafting a winning resume. Instead, it offers valuable tips to help you avoid common errors that could potentially turn off prospective employers.

Resume mistakes 95% of candidates make

A significant proportion of resumes find their way to a recruiter’s trash bin due to the violation of one fundamental rule. Upon receipt, recruiters scrutinize resumes not in search of magnificence, but rather professionalism and grammatical accuracy. The first red flag they look for errors, so presenting a polished, error-free document is crucial.

Research shows that creating a highly effective resume should include three main elements: quantitative results, a simple design, and a quirky interests section. Click To Tweet

Mistake number one – sloppy language with many typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes. Before you send the resume, have it reviewed by three different sources, a friend, a professional, and spell-checking software. Spell check is covered when you write the resume in Google Docs. It would be wise to hire a professional editor to review the document before sending it to the recruiter. 

Mistake number two – A long, formal summary won’t stand out. Don’t lose yourself in paragraphs extolling your drive and result-oriented work ethic. To a recruiter, it’s just another text block, indistinguishable from countless others. Instead, craft a concise, impactful summary that hits home, spotlighting the relevant experiences that position you perfectly for the role.

Mistake number three – it includes too many buzzwords. Terms like driven team player make recruiters cringe because your attempt to catch their attention sounds like all the other ones they read. Write the resume in a natural style, use bullets, and include quantitative results when needed. Focus on the results you achieved. 

Mistake number four – having a too-long resume. The average recruiter spends around six seconds reviewing the resume, and they don’t usually read what’s on the second page. So, it would help if you increased the margins, decreased the font, and cut down the experience irrelevant to the position. 

The elements of a resume that get you hired should include

Research shows that creating a highly effective resume should include three main elements: quantitative results, a simple design, and a quirky interests section. 

Let’s talk about each of them. 

Quantitative results

It’s surprising how many resumes overlook the power of quantitative results, a crucial element that attracts attention. Neglecting to include tangible data is a missed opportunity, as studies show these specifics often differentiate a resume that secures an interview from one that ends up in the bin.

Employers are not seeking cookie-cutter resumes pulled from the internet; they want a preview of what to expect if they were to hire you. For instance, if you’ve spearheaded in-house marketing strategies in your current role, let potential employers know how they were implemented, assessed, and the Return on Investment (ROI) achieved. Detailing such strategies and their impact can give you a competitive edge.

Your resume should talk about your daily activities, but it should focus on the results and include measurable metrics and achievements to showcase your value for the company. When you include data and measurable metrics in your resume, you should use PDFChef tools to convert and split the document into sections to ensure that the recruiter receives the resume in the shape you created it, and that downloading it doesn’t alter its formatting.   

 A simple design that hooks the recruiter

These days everyone thinks that they need to stand out from the crowd. Recruiters see hundreds of resumes that overhaul from video resumes to heavy graphic-detailed resumes and even resumes hidden in boxes of candies. They may work in some specific cases, but you aim for a strategy that works all the time. The format that pleases the recruiter at all times is a black-and-white template that consists of the following sections, in this exact order: 

  • Summary or objective
  • Experience
  • Education
  • Volunteer work
  • Skills and interests

This is the most familiar template recruiters work with, and they find it easier to digest it. They scan the resume for 6 seconds to decide if you’re a good candidate, and if it comes in an unfamiliar form, they may not even have a glimpse at it. 

The summary can hook them up. You should do it in bullets and not paragraph form, and it should include three or four highlights of your experience relevant to the position. 

The interests section should be relatable, unique, and quirky

This is a hack you can use to build a personal connection with the recruiter reading your resume. Most resumes have a skills section that often doesn’t offer enough value to make it stand out. However, research tells us that people rely on emotions, not information, to make decisions, and recruiters make no exception to this rule. 

Brands often leverage emotional responses through their advertising campaigns, a strategy you can emulate in your resume to engage recruiters.

Wondering what to include in the interests section? It could range from fitness to cryptocurrencies, reading, or cooking. Select a topic that could serve as a conversation starter during an interview. For instance, if you enjoyed a vacation to Thailand, indicating your passion for travel to exotic locations could pique the recruiter’s interest.

With these insights at your disposal, your resume is poised to distinguish itself from the pack. You’re now equipped to secure your dream job.

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11/08/2024 06:08 am GMT

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