When employers were asked how they evaluate resumes presented to them, many of them stated that they pretty much just skim through everything and linger longer on the information that appeals to them. And when asked how they prefer information to be presented in a resume, all of them agreed that “short and snappy” is the best — as riveting as long paragraphs can be, straight-to-the-point facts are just more readable and easier to remember.
So, if you’re in the job-seeking process and you will be submitting resumes to some of the most competitive organizations in the industry that you’re educated and trained to be a part of, you have a stronger chance of creating the right impact with a concise resume than one that’s packed with astonishingly elaborate details.
Smart Resume Writing Tips To Lock In The Interest Of Employers
How do you achieve concise and impressive? Here are resume writing tips definitely worth applying.
- Do away with the objective. This may be part of the traditional composition of a resume, but most resume writing experts claim that it adds zero value in today’s market.
- Always do research on the specific position you want and the company you’re applying to so you can effectively present your accomplishments, qualities, skills and values that truly make you the perfect person for the job.
- Add links to your resume that will allow evaluators to quickly access relevant information that you’ve provided online, such as the organization you used to work for, events you’ve taken part in (for work experience), etc. Likewise, since more and more hiring managers are using social media either to look for employees or verify information presented to them by applicants, it makes perfect sense to include a hyperlink to your LinkedIn profile in the Contact Information section of the resume.
- Use keywords and highlight them. What are these keywords? Basically, they’re terms that provide important information about you, such as the position you used to hold and job aspects you’re capable of carrying out. Incorporate these keywords into the statements in your resume and you can direct the evaluator’s focus toward those compelling items that set you apart from the competition.
- When you’re building a resume, always pay attention to structure. Expert resume writers advise always starting with the weightiest information. Also, make the resume is easy to navigate and skim through with bullet points and short sentences — again, “short and snappy” does the trick because evaluators really don’t have the time to read long winding paragraphs.
- If you’re a fresh graduate, a single-page resume is just the right length. However, for those who have been in the workforce for at least five years, limit the resume to two pages.
- Make sure there are no typographical and grammatical errors, so proofread everything at least twice; proofread it yourself then have another person look through it.