Resume is not simply a piece of paper that you fill out without any attention to detail and expect a plethora of opportunities to come your way. After conducting more than 200 interviews and going through tons of resumes, I have found a few aspects that make a resume stand out from the crowd. In this post, I am going to share a few tips which I promise will elevate your resume game and put your resume in the top 1% of the resume pool.
The success of your job application can hinge on your resume.
Simply put, if you create a generic resume and use it to apply for all available jobs, it is unlikely to lead you to a high-quality job. A "Good resume" should ideally encompass most, if not all, of the aspects listed below:
Truthful
Relevant Work Experience
Demonstrated Impact of Work
Job-Relevant Skills
Clear and Concise
Crafted Specifically for the Job Description
Truthful:
Every word on your resume matters and you must be prepared to discuss everything you've included. Embellishing your experience or exaggerating your role in a project can backfire if an astute interviewer detects dishonesty, potentially ruining your chances of landing the job. Remember, integrity in your resume is paramount; not only is it unethical to deceive, but even if you manage to get the job, falsehoods can lead to challenging situations down the line.
Truth over tactics
Relevant Work Experience:
You may have a wealth of experience in various areas, but if it doesn't align with the expectations of the job role, it won't help you secure the position. Therefore, it's crucial to apply for roles that match your experience and to invest genuine effort in tailoring your resume for those roles. In this scenario, quality trumps quantity. Rather than applying for a thousand random jobs that don't fit your experience, focus on applying for ten jobs that are pertinent to your professional background.
Quality over quantity
Demonstrated Impact of Work:
This quality is often neglected, with individuals merely listing generic tasks they performed in a project. Knowledgeable managers understand the types of work that truly influence a project's success. Therefore, it's crucial to highlight the impact of your contributions when discussing project involvement. This provides the interviewer with insight into your abilities and demonstrates a sincere commitment to making a meaningful difference in any task you undertake. Illustrating the impact is more effective than relying on clichéd phrases like "enthusiastic person," "quick learner," or "hard working."
Work over words
Job-Relevant Skills
I've noticed a trend where individuals list random nouns like Postman, Putty, etc., on their resumes. If you're not aware that these are not skills but software tools used for specific tasks, it clearly indicates a lack of preparation. It's crucial to list relevant skills for the job you're applying for, and you should be proficient in each skill mentioned. Listing everything under skills without the ability to discuss them can frustrate interviewers. Therefore, only include skills pertinent to the job and ensure you are well-prepared to discuss them.
Competence over claims
Clear and Concise
Your resume content should be clear and succinct. Overloading it with excessive words and unclear details will be counterproductive. A resume must be to the point, meaning you should communicate your qualifications and skills for the job with brief, impactful sentences. It's advantageous to begin your resume with a concise professional summary to simplify the recruiter's task. Opt for words that are meaningful rather than complex sentences that add no extra value.
Essential over excessive
Crafted Specifically for the Job Description
Lastly, even though it may seem challenging, always tailor your resume to match the job description. This is particularly beneficial if your resume is screened by automated filtering software and is also crucial for manual shortlisting. Applying only for relevant jobs simplifies the process of customizing CVs for each job description. Recruiters highly value resumes and cover letters that are tailored specifically to the job role advertised, as it demonstrates your genuine interest in the position.
Specificity over sporadic
Adhering to the aforementioned guidelines significantly boosts your odds of acing the interview game compared to those flying solo without guidance. Stay tuned as I unveil more insider tips and best practices for mastering job interviews, giving you a peek behind the curtain of the hiring process.
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