This Is How to Make Your Resume Stand Out
Everyone knows the importance of a good first impression. When it comes to your career, your first impression often isn’t something that you get to make in person: it’s something that your resume does for you.
Do you know how to make your resume stand out from the crowd? Many who are new to applying to jobs aren’t sure what are the best steps to take.
Base Your Resume on the Company
What is the company looking for, and how best can you show that you are the right person? This is the key question to consider when crafting a resume.
You’ll want to do a little research on the company (and the hiring manager, if you can) before beginning actual work on your resume. Review the job posting closely and make note of the language that is being used and the qualifications they are looking for.
Do a deep dive through the company’s website and their previous work. Get a good sense of their company culture, the way they present themselves, and the values that seem important to them.
Once you feel as if you have the image of the perfect candidate for this position in your mind, use that idea to create your own representation of yourself. You can’t lie, of course, but you can use language and aspects of your background to position yourself as the exact kind of candidate that this company is looking for.
Include a Header and Summary
Hiring managers have to look through huge piles of resumes every day. The more you can make your own stand out in their memory, the better.
A good way to do that is to put a header and summary at the very top of your resume. Not only will this help you to stand out, but it’ll also make it much easier for the hiring manager to get the basic information they need. Helping them helps you in the long run.
In your header, put your name bold and big. Then, include your basic contact information, including your address, phone number, and such. Underneath this, put a very brief summary of yourself as a potential hire.
This summary should be no longer than three sentences and should sum up all of your past experiences in a way that makes it clear why you’re a good candidate for this position.
Keep it Short and Simple
Yes, a resume can be two or even three pages and still be acceptable. Still, you’re better off keeping your resume short and to the point. You don’t have to include every single job you’ve ever held.
As we mentioned, hiring managers have to look through huge piles of resumes every day. The less time it takes them to get a full picture of you as a candidate, the more thankful they’ll be.
Be tough on yourself and edit down your resume to the shortest length where that full picture is still there. If you’re having trouble, consider hiring one of the many resume making services out there.
