As the Class of 2022 graduates and start job searching, students might be looking for job opportunities and internships. Throughout the application process, it is vital to have a resume that concludes your academic and professions experiences in a concise manner. Typically graduates need a one page resume, while seasoned professionals might need a longer one.
Research has found that most recruiters only look at a resume for 6-7 seconds, so it is important to get across all the necessary information without losing interest. Here are some helpful tips that you should follow if you want to stand out and show recruiters that you are the best for the job.
Keep It Short
As stated above, because of the fact that most recruiters don’t spend too much time looking at each resume, it is necessary to keep it short. You should generally keep it to one page unless you have information that can’t be cut out. An example of this would be if you have a lot of applicable work experience.
Another way to go about it is to only include recent work experience, that way you can only include recent and relevant information. It is not necessary to include your whole career in a resume.
Include information that is relevant to the job you are applying to. While you might want to showcase the vast experience you have in varying fields, it is important to keep the work experience on your resume to the experiences that will aid you in the job you are applying for. Including all of your job experiences might take away from the qualifications that will serve you in the job you are applying for.
Check For Errors
The first thing a recruiter will notice on your resume is consistency in formatting and spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. It is likely that you will automatically be dismissed for the job if your resume has errors and is sloppy. Make sure you double check your work and ask your peers to review it as well just to be sure. This is important as issues such as this can point to a lack of technical skills and can make the recruiter assume you have a lack of attention to detail.
Use the Right Language
To get your qualifications across it is important to use the right language. Instead of writing your job description, refer to the progress you helped achieve within your role. By using strong words such as “improved” and “established”, you can come off as more confident while still providing the same information.
Optimize Your Resume
Many companies these days use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. This means that if you don’t optimize your resume, there is a chance that it will never reach the hiring manager for the job you applied for. To avoid this from happening, pay attention to the relevant keywords in the job listing and incorporate them into your resume.
Make Your Own Template
While it is great to use professional templates for your resumes, employers appreciate originality. You can take inspiration from professional templates that you come across but making it your own can be a great way to set yourself apart from the crowd. Pay attention to format, design and what does relevant experience mean. You can customize your Resume as long as you make sure the information is still the main focus. Don’t make it too crowded as it can take away from your qualifications. Make sure to remember to keep the important information to the top, and expand on it, while keeping the less relevant information without going into too much detail.
Tailor Your Resume For Each Job
It is normal to want to show versatility and all of your accomplishments on your resume, but it is not always the best thing to do. It is important to constantly tailor your resume based on what jobs you are applying to, make sure to pay attention to the job responsibilities and highlight similarities with previous jobs experiences you have. Cut out work experience that is not necessary for the current role you are applying for. Put yourself in the employers shoes and try to see what would be valuable to them and what wouldn’t.
