Is your resume the best it can be?
Posted August 23, 2013
Do you know how much time the average recruiter spends reading your resume? Fifteen seconds. That’s right, you have 15 seconds to grab that person’s attention and make them want to read more. How can you make your resume stand out—in the right way— so a recruiter or hiring manager will want to read further?
1. Make it easy to skim. Organize your resume with bold headings and bullet points and start each section with the most impressive skill or job responsibility. Even if your resume is longer than one page, the most important information needs to appear on the first page.
2. Clean it up and cut the clutter! Leave white space around the edges and remove unnecessary information like supervisor contact information or the line about “References available upon request.” Format the resume using tables to ensure that your columns are perfectly lined up.
3. Tailor it. One resume does not fit all jobs. You’ll want to send a custom resume for each job you apply for. If you want to make things easier on yourself, put together a master resume that covers all your bases. Don’t worry about length—it can be multiple pages— as long as the bullet points cover any direction that you plan to go. For example, if you’re looking for opportunities in manufacturing, make sure all relevant information is included. When you find a job opening in your area, go in and eliminate the bullets that don’t address that type of position. Then add an introductory statement geared toward the specific position that you’re applying for.
4. Focus on what’s important. Don’t waste the reader’s time on irrelevant information. If it doesn’t relate to the specific job, leave it out. Use the 80/20 rule: 80% of each of your bullets should focus on the direct relationship between your old job and this one, and 20% should provide supporting information. Make it easy for the reader to see you in this role.
5. Sell your successes. In the job market, past success is an indicator of future success. If you did something well before, people will assume you can do it again. And don’t worry if you can’t easily measure your successes in numbers. You can show how your bring value and benefit in other ways, like improving communications, increasing efficiency and encouraging team engagement.
When you have less than a minute to make a first impression, you want to make a good one. Make sure your resume speaks for you quickly, easily and concisely. Want to know more about impressing employers? Contact the team at Ambassador anytime! If you are looking for temp agencies in Georgia, contact us today.