Building & structuring a powerful resume is a daunting task. Given the domination of technological tools used for screening candidates, it becomes more difficult to make your resume stand out among fellow job aspirants.
I am going to share few important tips that can help you optimize your resume & provide you a level playing field.
- Customized & future looking resume: Your resume is a marketing document & it should contain key highlights/achievements that resonate with your current career goals. The impetus should be to include your accomplishment, credentials & experience related to your objective & less to those which are not. Experienced professionals may only include minute &/or related details about the earlier experience. In case you are a senior professional, you may even merge your earlier experiences & include only those achievements that are relevant.
- Integrate right keywords: Needless to mention every corporation &/or recruiter scouts for right candidate through a relevant keyword search. Your resume should have right keywords so that it can be aptly evaluated & shortlisted for interview. You should also consider replacing old lingo with current language of your profession failing which your resume shall be overlooked.
- Mention your X-factor: What are key strengths/ impressive achievements you want your prospective employer to notice while showcasing that you are a potential fit for the role? The best way to do this is to highlight your achievements prominently in your resume. You should include one big achievement( “ the X-factor”) with each organisation you have worked. You should also include “ X-factor” statement in your professional summary explaining your key accomplishments in your previous roles/assignments. Besides, you should also include a separate section detailing your key awards/recognition & achievements. You may do so by asking yourself the following questions:
- What is my top accomplishment in each position?
- Which of my achievements have the most impressive numbers?
- What have I been publicly recognized/appreciated for?
- Swap career objective with summary: Gone are the days when you used to include your career objective on the top of your resume mentioning what your expect from a particular role. Instead, you should include a brief synopsis of your work experience, expertise & future roles you are interested in. This gives a clear picture of what you bring to the table, what you expect & how your selection can be a win-win proposition for both.
- Write lean: Achievements/accomplishments you mention in your resume should be quantifiable & measurable. Include absolute numbers, percentages ( growth , target vs actual etc) & blend it with narrative to give it shape of right selling proposition. Further, you should add context to help prospective employers better understand the magnitude of your achievements. Every bullet point should have an action verb. Besides, exclude phrases such as “ responsible for “ , “ my duties include” & small words/characters such as “ a”, “ an” to make bullet point crisper
- Keep it simple: Do not overdo your resume with attractive, design, colours & patterns. Keep it plain & simple and include design or pattern that sync with your industry norms.
- Contact information: Includes your email address, website, link to professional social media accounts & a phone number. Exclude your complete mailing address
In case, you’re willing to get a consult on resume, feel free to get in touch.
