How to make your Resume Stand Out from the Rest
Applying for a new job is hard enough as it is, especially when you’re competing against multiple other applicants who may have exactly the same experience and prospects as you do. So how do you get one step ahead of these people? How do you compete?
Below are some easy tips to follow to make your resume stand out from the rest.
Gain Qualifications
The best way to beef up your resume is with a broad range of qualifications that demonstrate diversity as well as a dedication to knowledge growth. However, everyone’s availability is different, and becoming a full-time student or spending large chunks of time driving to and from campus is not always an option.
There are training facilities available, such as Careers Australia, that offer a number of learning pathways including online, face-to-face, or a flexible combination of both. This will allow you to gain the qualifications you’re after at a pace you choose.
Watch Your Words
Even if you just used your resume the week before for another job application does not mean it is up-to-date for this current job. Read the job application carefully and take note of all keywords used to describe each skill and position expectation. Then, tailor the wording in your own resume to reflect this.
This will show employees that you understand precisely what the job entails and that you know how to adapt your own skills to these specifications. It also shows that you are not recycling a previous submission but are genuinely interested in this new one.
Have a Simple Layout
How your resume appears visually will have a huge influence on how engaged the person reading it is going to be with the content. It has to be easy on the eyes. To achieve this, avoid large, unbroken chunks of text, and instead keep the paragraphs short with double-spacing in between.
Maximise the white space and your resume will be instantly more appealing. You can also enhance this by using bullet points to highlight your skills and achievements, and headings to break up the different sections.
Keep it Professional
Yes, there are plenty of fancy fonts and colours to use when putting together a resume; however, that doesn’t mean you should use them. Your resume should be professional, and this is often apparent from a first glance. Use a basic, clear font, and only use bold or italics for headings or key statements/points.
As well, follow an understandable formula for presenting the resume information: profile, qualifications, skills, achievements etc. Don’t jumble them up; it will just get confusing. Also, don’t embellish your writing. Keep it succinct and to the point. Prospective employers don’t need a story filled with flowery descriptions and imagery – they need to know you can do the job.
Employers or recruitment agencies don’t have the time to interview everyone, which is why submitting a resume should act as your punchy first impression.
Keep it relevant, easy to read, and tailored to suit the job description and you are already going to be standing ahead of the pack.
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to putting together a resume?
