Writing a Killer Resume
For any job-seeker, knowing how to write a killer resume is still one of the most important factors in getting yourself seen by your potential new employer. There’s been a lot said about resumes not having any worth these days, particularly in the online business world.
This is simply not true – employers still hold resumes in great sway. While a killer resume may not get you the job, it will offer you a far better chance of being seen by the people that matter.
Therefore, learning the secrets of writing a killer resume will put you way ahead of the competition.
Length
Nobody wants to have to wade through page after page of a resume, no matter how killer the content. Keep your resume to between one or two pages – any more is overkill.
Use Bullet Points
Human Resources (HR) and hiring managers usually have a lot on their plate – therefore, making your resume easier to digest will go a long way to having it read in the first place. Use bullet points combined with shorter sentences for a more effective approach.
Words of Action
One way to truly write a killer resume is to use what’s known as “action words” – words that make your resume stand out and are almost like hypnotic text to someone reading it. Examples of action words include “developed”, “managed” and championed”.
Strength is Everything
Let’s face it, your resume is the tool that will either get you seen by the hiring manager or result in your application getting filed under “B for Bin”. So sell yourself – make sure you have your strongest points about you at the beginning of your resume. Write them in bold and bullet point them – this is crucial for you to grab the reader’s attention, so make the strongest start possible.
Use Symbols
Some of the best writers of killer resumes make their resumes stand out by using symbols like %, # and $ – if it’s good (and successful) enough for these experts, then it should be good enough for you too.
Complement the Company
One thing that HR and hiring managers always complain about when it comes to resumes is that no real effort has been made to show why the applicant is right for their company. This results in the resume being binned. To make sure you don’t fall into this category, match your skills to the company’s needs and bullet point them to stand out. Trust me, this will place you near the top every time.
It’s all in the Personal Details
The secret to writing a killer resume is remembering it’s meant to be a short introduction to you. HR people don’t want to read your life story – so when you write a resume, make sure you only put personal details that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. Things like education, interests, technical skills, etc, can go in a separate section at the end.
Formatting
To keep your resume looking as professional as possible, always use a standardized font like 12-point Times New Roman or Courier. If 12-point is too large, make sure you don’t have your text any smaller than 10-point. Using a standardized font will also ensure that your resume will still read well on different operating systems.
Edit, Edit, Edit!
So you’ve written a killer resume – but none of that will matter if it reads like an 8-year old edited it. When you’ve completed your resume, make sure you take the time to proofread and edit it. Twice. Then ask a friend to do the same.
If this sounds like too much, think of it this way – if a hiring manager was to read an unedited release and saw multiple grammatical mistakes, he or she would immediately discount your application. After all, if you can’t even be bothered to make a proper effort on something as important as your resume, will your work ethic be any different?
There you have it – some of the most effective and proven tips to help you write that killer resume. By putting into action all the points here, you’ll have a far better chance of being seen by the people that count. Just remember that writing a killer resume is half the battle – the rest is up to you. Good luck!
