10 tips for resume
I am constantly asked for advice on how to improve resumes. While there is no magic method for creating a great document, there are ground rules for how to improve your resume and increase your chances of being contacted by a recruiter or hiring manager. Even with these tips, it is still important to begin with as well-crafted a resume as possible. Use a reverse-chronological format.
10 Expert Tips for How to Improve Your Resume
When it comes to applying for a new job, your CV could be just the ticket to get you that initial foot in the door and secure an interview — but how do you ensure your CV is added to the interview pile rather than thrown straight in the bin? Putting together a successful CV is easy once you know how. It's a case of taking all your skills and experience and tailoring them to the job you're applying for.
But what if you don't meet the right criteria? Well, I've put together the following tips to help you get started in creating a successful CV and securing your first or next arts job. There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some common sections you should cover. A successful CV is always carefully and clearly presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper. The layout should always be clean and well structured and CVs should never be crumpled or folded, so use an A4 envelope to post your applications.
Always remember the CV hotspot — the upper middle area of the first page is where the recruiter's eye will naturally fall, so make sure you include your most important information there. A good CV is clear, concise and makes every point necessary without waffling.
You don't need pages and pages of paper — you just keep things short and sweet. A CV is a reassurance to a potential employer, it's a chance to tick the right boxes. And if everything is satisfied, there's a better chance of a job interview. Also, employers receive dozens of CVs all the time so it's unlikely they'll read each one cover to cover.
Most will make a judgment about a CV within sections, so stick to a maximum of two pages of A4 paper. The clues are in the job application, so read the details from start to finish. Take notes and create bullet points, highlighting everything you can satisfy and all the bits you can't. With the areas where you're lacking, fill in the blanks by adapting the skills you do have.
For example, if the job in question requires someone with sales experience, there's nothing stopping you from using any retail work you've undertaken — even if it was something to help pay the bills through university.
It will demonstrate the skills you do have and show how they're transferable. When you've established what the job entails and how you can match each requirement, create a CV specifically for that role. Remember, there is no such thing as a generic CV. Every CV you send to a potential employee should be tailored to that role so don't be lazy and hope that a general CV will work because it won't.
Create a unique CV for every job you apply for. You don't have to re-write the whole thing, just adapt the details so they're relevant. Under the skills section of your CV don't forget to mention key skills that can help you to stand out from the crowd. These could include: communication skills; computer skills; team working; problem solving or even speaking a foreign language. Skills can come out of the most unlikely places, so really think about what you've done to grow your own skills, even if you take examples from being in a local sports team or joining a voluntary group — it's all relevant.
Under interests, highlight the things that show off skills you've gained and employers look for. Describe any examples of positions of responsibility, working in a team or anything that shows you can use your own initiative. For example, if you ran your university's newspaper or if you started a weekend league football team that became a success.
Include anything that shows how diverse, interested and skilled you are. Don't include passive interests like watching TV, solitary hobbies that can be perceived as you lacking in people skills. Make yourself sound really interesting. Use assertive and positive language under the work history and experience sections, such as "developed", "organised" or "achieved".
Try to relate the skills you have learned to the job role you're applying for. For example: "The work experience involved working in a team," or "This position involved planning, organisation and leadership as I was responsible for a team of people". Really get to grips with the valuable skills and experience you have gained from past work positions, even if it was just working in a restaurant — every little helps. References should be from someone who has employed you in the past and can vouch for your skills and experience.
If you've never worked before you're OK to use a teacher or tutor as a referee. Try to include two if you can. It's crucial to review your CV on a regular basis and add any new skills or experience that's missing. For example, if you've just done some volunteering or worked on a new project, make sure they're on there — potential employers are always impressed with candidates who go the extra mile to boost their own skills and experience. This content was originally published by Creative Boom.
Katy Cowan runs the Creative Boom website voluntarily — she is a trained journalist, writer and PR professional. This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Culture Professionals Network. Get the basics right There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some common sections you should cover.
Presentation is key A successful CV is always carefully and clearly presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper.
Stick to no more than two pages of A4 A good CV is clear, concise and makes every point necessary without waffling. Understand the job description The clues are in the job application, so read the details from start to finish. Tailor the CV to the role When you've established what the job entails and how you can match each requirement, create a CV specifically for that role.
Making the most of skills Under the skills section of your CV don't forget to mention key skills that can help you to stand out from the crowd. Making the most of interests Under interests, highlight the things that show off skills you've gained and employers look for. Making the most of experience Use assertive and positive language under the work history and experience sections, such as "developed", "organised" or "achieved".
Including references References should be from someone who has employed you in the past and can vouch for your skills and experience. Keep your CV updated It's crucial to review your CV on a regular basis and add any new skills or experience that's missing. This content was originally published by Creative Boom Katy Cowan runs the Creative Boom website voluntarily — she is a trained journalist, writer and PR professional.
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Be a name-dropper. Utilize your performance reviews.
Job seekers, beware! All it takes is just one to strike your job search dead in its tracks. Definitely something entry-level workers need to be on the lookout for when writing your first resume. Think your resume is bulletproof? Even the most experienced professionals still find themselves guilty of making resume mistakes.
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The goal of a resume is to be a marketing document that entices recruiters and hiring managers to feel compelled to meet you. Most hiring managers spend their days wading through resumes from qualified job seekers. What will set yours apart?
Top 12 Tips for Making Your Resume Standout
Writing a resume is very different than writing a CV. A resume is usually used with individuals who have extensive work experience and diverse skillsets, rather than fresh graduates with no previous work experience. Here are a few tips to enhance your resume, and help you land that job you always wanted. Keep your resume short and to the point; use bullet-points to illustrate related education or work experience in each specific area, rather than a paragraph of writing. Market yourself Using positive action words throughout your resume will reflect on your personality. Highlight your strengths Even if you have to be repetitive.
Top 10 Tips for Writing a Winning Resume
Although it seems like common sense, having a rock-solid resume that includes all pertinent components is critical to landing your next job. Crafting an exceptional resume these days has the added challenge of attracting not only hiring managers but the software bots doing their upfront work. Everybody has a tip or two, and most are good when combined with wording that will make its way past the software screens. Before you start work on writing or updating your resume, review resume examples that fit a variety of employment situations. Then select a style and format that best highlights your strengths and achievements. Add your information to the resume template, then tweak it to highlight your skills and abilities. Several basic types of resumes are best for job openings. Decide on one that best fits your work experience, educational background, and skill set. Take the time to customize your resume; it is well worth the effort as it won't seem copied. When formatting your resume, use a basic font that is easy to read, both for hiring managers and for applicant management systems.
A thoughtful carefully constructed resume using information you have obtained through research about a specific company and industry does more than ensure that you get an opportunity to interview. It also prepares you for the interview and will contribute to your ability to effectively make a case for hiring you allowing you to close the deal.
Getting a new job a can be a long process and there are many stages and they are all important and need careful consideration. Writing a resume is a minefield , hirers judge them in a matter of seconds and are quick to throw them into the wastepaper basket. There are many traps which people fall into.
Top 20 resume tips and advice for 2019 [with expert insights]
When it comes to applying for a new job, your CV could be just the ticket to get you that initial foot in the door and secure an interview — but how do you ensure your CV is added to the interview pile rather than thrown straight in the bin? Putting together a successful CV is easy once you know how. It's a case of taking all your skills and experience and tailoring them to the job you're applying for. But what if you don't meet the right criteria? Well, I've put together the following tips to help you get started in creating a successful CV and securing your first or next arts job. There is no right or wrong way to write a CV but there are some common sections you should cover. A successful CV is always carefully and clearly presented, and printed on clean, crisp white paper. The layout should always be clean and well structured and CVs should never be crumpled or folded, so use an A4 envelope to post your applications. Always remember the CV hotspot — the upper middle area of the first page is where the recruiter's eye will naturally fall, so make sure you include your most important information there. A good CV is clear, concise and makes every point necessary without waffling.
Ten Resume Tips
This has not only helped us create the best resume examples and guide for , but also put together solid data-driven advice for job seekers. Will the video overtake paper? Will the traditional resume finally die? Every employer wants you to be passionate about what you do. When he was applying to a Content Marketer position at Hotjar, Louis shared his side project on his resume. Having interviewed over 10 interviews with top marketers for his podcast, he knew this would catch their attention. The key was to be as specific as possible, including results and specifics. He believes this was one of the things that moved the needle for him.
