When a recruiter posts about an open position up for hiring, they receive n number of resumes to go through. A busy hiring manager who has to submit the first list of potential candidates for the post will much rather skim read through the resumes than read in detail. What they look for are keywords and points relevant to their requirements. This is when efficient resume writing, and enhancing your resume steps in. Your CV should stand out in an array of similar ones for the same position.
On a beginning level, there are a few basic rules that every resume must be careful of and follow-
- Cover all the basics.
- Explore other resumes for inspiration.
- Use as few words as possible.
- Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible.
- Use keywords that employers are using in their job descriptions.
- Proofread several times to catch typos and misspellings.
The most crucial document you’ll submit throughout your job hunt is your resume. It’s your first chance to introduce yourself to a potential employer, so you might say it’s your frontline fighter. Making the most of every second is crucial since hiring managers and recruiters only spend six to seven seconds on every CV. A great CV may make you stand out from the competition, while a bad one might eliminate you from consideration.
Common Mistakes
It could be time to give your CV a much-needed makeover if you’re sending out several CVs with no response. Graduates frequently make CV errors that, while they may not seem like a huge problem at the time, can significantly lower your chances of landing the job.
A basic resume writing tip or tweak could land you the position you pursue. Enhancing your resume is a constant process as it is the document that describes you, professionally, to a person whom you’ve never met.
- Spelling Mistakes
Checking through your resume from beginning to end, whether you do it yourself or have someone else do it, might be the difference between getting accepted and being refused. Several employers report CVs having the most basic grammar and spelling errors which paints a negative and unserious picture of you.
- Exaggerating/Over-Explaining
Lying on your resume is more of a common practice than you think it is. People often are found to include skills, language fluency, and other details that they don’t possess in their resume.
When you over-justify and explain yourself with paragraphs on paragraphs for the most basic things, it acts as a barrier between the recruiter and you. They might just toss it away rather than read through the comprehension-like resume.
- Messed Formatting/Length of CV
One of the first things companies check for when reviewing your CV is the poor layout. It may give the impression that you don’t pay great attention to detail, which may reflect poorly on you.
Make sure the arrangement is as close to flawless as you can because your CV is you on paper. This prevents mistakes and abrupt font changes in the middle of sentences.
The standard length of your resume should not be more than one page. The page should stand out and scream out your achievements, and milestones in a professional manner. Employers look for more quality than quantity; over-explaining every point and making your resume 4 pages long is a no-no.
How To Enhance Your Resume
- Keep It Short But Detailed
One page maximum is preferred by the majority of companies for resumes. For managers and recruiters who review dozens of resumes daily, a concise resume makes it simpler to find essential information fast.
How can you reduce fat? Remove any references to high school because they aren’t pertinent when looking for a college internship or an entry-level job. To summarize your previous job experience and education, use bullet points rather than paragraphs, and exclude references—employers will request these if you are hired.
- Talk About Achievements Not Roles
When you reach the “Work Experiences” tab, you tend to just list the company, your role, and the duration. Enhancing your resume writing is when you will write about the accomplishments and responsibilities gained you through that job.
The accomplishments could be developing a new skill, winning awards, voluntarily raising funds, etc.
- Make Your Job Skills Modern
Your employer wants to know if you’ll fit into the team and be a team player in addition to the typical marketing, design, and coding talents, and they depend heavily on your soft skills.
It’s crucial to integrate these 21st-century work skills with your technical expertise. Including these under your skills can enhance your CV and put your best foot forward.
- Emotional Intelligence
- Team-Working Spirit
- Persuasive
- Good Listener, Adaptive
- Personal Branding
An effective strategy to sell oneself is through the creation of a personal brand, which is often accomplished by creating a unified identity across social media profiles and a website. The goal is to establish a web presence that will help you present yourself in the best possible light, particularly when applying for jobs.
You can start by including a specific color scheme, font, or formatting to your resume that you think best represents yourself and your skill set.
- Emphasize Contact Info
Your address is no longer required on your resume, but you should still be sure to include a contact phone number and a professional email account. In addition to any online profiles you may have, such as your LinkedIn page, and, if you so want, your pronouns.
Highlighting and including the correct contact information will lead to fewer discrepancies.
