Are you getting ready to apply for a new job?
Before you step into the recruiter’s office, make sure you have the best resume prepared. That sheet of paper can tell the recruiter everything about you in a matter of seconds, after all.
Building your resume shouldn’t be a quick and easy task. You have to plan it out and know what to put on it for it to grab people’s attention.
Don’t know where to start? We’re here to help. Check out our guide here to build the perfect resume:
Emphasize the Upper Third
Did you know most recruiters only check out your resume for 6 seconds? That’s a quick skim so you need to grab their attention in those few precious moments.
You can start by building your resume from the top. Divide your resume crosswise and into three distinct portions.
Now, look at the top section because that’s where recruiters will spend the most time. It’s where their eyes will land first, after all. This means your upper third should contain all the best information.
This is where you put your previous employment history, achievements, and name.
Focus on Achievements, Not Duties
Take this piece of resume building advice to heart: don’t list your responsibilities from your previous work. The recruiter already knows what a customer service supervisor does, after all. If they don’t know what your last job was about, they can easily read about it on Google.
Instead, focus on writing down achievements. Did you manage to sell a record-breaking amount of products before you quit your last job? Make sure to put that on your resume!
Everything you add should impress the recruiter. It shouldn’t read like a list of basic job descriptions.
Make It Skimmable
As mentioned, most recruiters skim through a resume. You only have six seconds to grab their attention and make them take a longer look at your information.
Do this by formatting your resume properly. If you have to, use a good resume template online. You’ll need a layout that puts all the right information in the right place.
For example, you need to use headers. These divide your resume in a neat and orderly fashion. It also helps the recruiter identify quickly what they’re looking at.
Color coding, neat font, and a proper layout of the text can help make your resume easier to skim too.
Visuals Matter
There’s a saying that people shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but people do it all the time! Recruiters do it too so you should add some color or style to your resume to make it stand out. It also shows the recruiter that you care about the quality of your work.
Don’t hesitate to use resume templates. Keep in mind that a visually-grabbing resume will always garner more attention. Experts made these templates with that goal in mind.
Use More Than MS Word
Don’t use Microsoft Office to build your resume. The result looks plain and ugly. Even with some embellishments, it will still look like a flat resume spat out by a Word processor.
Use advanced tools like Adobe Spark, InDesign, or Photoshop. If you lack experience in designing, use a template and then customize it. These tools all allow you to craft a unique, skimmable but informative resume that can get you hired.
Start Building Your Resume Now!
Building your resume requires careful planning and a few design tactics. Get the right app, a template, and understand what kind of information to put and where to place it. With the right layout, you can make your resume stand out!
But this is only the beginning. If you want more employment tips and advice, come check out our other content here. You might find the guide you need today!
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