So, you’ve written your resume and it still doesn’t feel right. Maybe it looks great and covers all the bases, but it’s missing that spark, or you’re worried it won’t grab your potential employer’s attention. Use these five tips to polish your resume to perfection and land any job the first time around.
Your resume is your strongest tool to get the job you want, but only if it’s put together the right way. Remove the objective statement, use exciting verbs and keywords, and make your numbers and previous experiences work in your favor to increase your chances of standing out from the crowd. This is YOUR guide to making your resume shine brighter than the rest.
Get Any Job You Want with These Pro Resume Refinement Tactics.
Axe the Objective Statement
You don’t need to tell your employer that you’re looking for a new experience or demanding position. Sending in your application is proof enough that you want a job with them, so the person reading your resume doesn’t need you to state the obvious.
Instead, talk more about what you enjoy doing and what you excel at. Tell the reader why you’re valuable and how you could fix a pressing problem for the company.
Use Exciting and Engaging Language
Presentation is one of the primary differences between an average steakhouse and a Michelin 5-star restaurant. There’s nothing wrong with a good dish of meat and potatoes, but it’s not as impressive as dishes packed with intricate flavors and textures. It just doesn’t have the same “wow” factor, which is what you want in your resume.
You don’t need to change every single sentence or rewrite your resume to make it look amazing. Change phrases like “organized and delivered products” to “oversaw logistical systems” to make it sound more engaging. Switching out verbs is usually good enough on its own.
Use Similar Wording from the Job Post
Keywords are a big deal, so ensure that you’re using the right ones. You can usually find them in the job posting or the company’s “about us” page. Look for opportunities to make your previous job titles and qualifications resonate with the reader and get through their electronic filtering systems. You don’t need to copy and paste every single keyword, but you do need to speak their language.
Use Numbers to Make You Look Better
Your future employer wants to know how you’re going to improve the company; in fact, that’s their number one concern. Numbers are tangible and prove this and other statements of worthy, so you can (and should) use them to your advantage. Think like you’re on “Shark Tank,” but sell yourself instead of your business.
Put a number on any achievements you think your boss will want to see. Tell your new marketing supervisor that your plan boosted sales by 25 percent, which was two times higher than the previous year. Ensure that you’re explaining how those numbers translate into reality instead of making the reader look at a gigantic formula. A few well-placed numbers and statistics go a long ways to convince them you’re the right fit.
Mention Previous Accomplishments
You never know when your previous experiences and skills will come in handy, which is exactly why researching any new companies is essential. You may have unknowingly picked up useful skills for that job along the way that aren’t included in your current resume, so it’s important to always review carefully.
Don’t forget to list your best possible jobs. If you have many, pick at least three of your best and longest positions; cull the rest. Add in any competitions won or accolades earned, too, both inside and outside of work. It is important to avoid overloading the reader with your history; one or two examples is often fine.
A well-written resume is one of your greatest assets when job hunting. Taking the time to perfect and customize it for each employer is essential to staying on top of the stack of applicants. You’ll land the job in no time with a little extra preparation and polish when writing your next resume.
