Your resume is the only document a recruiter bases their entire decision upon. This small list of achievements, in a well-structured format, is the first barrier of entry for job-seekers. This quality also indicates the level of importance it holds.
After the pandemic of 2020, the job market is starting to revive with work again, which means more active recruitment. Additionally, skills, achievements, and work experience remain the primary lookouts for a recruiter.
With more people applying to each job today, making the best resume possible is imperative. Apart from the fundamental aspects of a resume, which most people know, we will focus on factors that improve or make a stand-out statement.
Here are some factors to consider:
Start With The Right Format
A suitable resume format is everything. You can use a free template online based on your job type, personality, and preference. However, there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind to allow a professional output.
Here are a few essential points to consider. Allow a margin of about one inch on all sides of your resume. Do not use the whole width of the paper. This presents a neat and reliable format that is also fillable.
Next, use a font size of between 11 and 12 points. Anything too big is overwhelming, and too small could make it illegible. The header of your resume should contain all your contact details, and this makes it easier to track your details for the recruiter. Furthermore, use a single or 1.5 line space.
Always break down your resume into sections. Having a saw of information without logical headings and sequences makes your resume harder to understand. We will discuss this further ahead.
Always use bullet points on the resume. Bullet points are an industry requirement that makes the content easier to read and decipher, and this also means you must use them skillfully and consistently throughout the resume. Do not jump formats without purpose.
Do not use unwanted graphics or images which provide little relevance to your work.
Structure Of The Resume
The structure or the formal format is an outline that job seekers use for their resumes, mainly of three types.
Chronological Resume Structure
The chronological resume is one of the most used formats, and this is both easy to create for the job seeker and convenient to understand for a recruiter.
On a chronological resume, the subheadings follow as they occurred in your educational and job history. Each subheading depicts a different job or academic achievement, with relevant bullet points explaining the details below.
These clearly indicate your growth trajectory, making it easier for the recruiter to build trust in your skills.
Functional Resume Structure
A functional resume emphasizes your skills without specific attention to your job history or path.
This resume format is popular among those who work freelance, looking for new job roles or careers, or have gaps in their chronological employment.
The most significant advantage of this format is that it allows a recruiter to understand each aspect under individual skills. It provides a more wholesome idea of your talents instead of giving a mere job history.
Combination Resume Structure
A combination resume contains aspects of both the above formats. Candidates who have ample work experience to club their skills together use this resume format—at the same time, continuing to showcase their career history.
Showcase Your Creativity
Some resumes are also an opportunity to showcase your creative side. Especially in jobs that demand creative outputs. For example, while applying for a designer, marketer, etc. Your resume creation itself becomes a part of your portfolio of work.
This creative edge has, however, seeped into most professions. Stand-out resumes, as they are called, are now often used to grab the attention of a recruiter.
A great example of this is a video resume. These are short videos, ideally attached with a CV/resume, where the candidate provides extra visual pointers to a recruiter. This video can be you talking into a camera, a montage of your work, or an explanation of your skills and achievements.
While applying to creative outlets, many companies also seek portfolios over resumes. A portfolio is nothing but a repository of your work instead of an in-depth presentation of certificates and skills.
Compelling Introduction
Each resume starts with a winning introduction. A few lines about yourself highlight your essential qualifications, showcase a few skills, and provide a convincing argument to the reader
This resume introduction often includes a career objective, a short overview of a brag-worthy project, a personal note on the job role, or a general “about me” section. Ensure this section is short, to the point, and adds value to your recruiters.
Explain Relevant Achievements
Specific skills and talents are an excellent way to elevate your resume from the stack. These include additional certifications, online training programs, details of independent projects outside of the workplace, etc.
Few candidates have standout projects where their roles have been a driving force. Providing a brief description of these projects can help the recruiter better decipher your value for their team.
Highlight Skills
Merely educational qualification and job experience are no more recruitment criteria. A combination of hard and soft skills is hugely relevant in today’s industry.
Hard skills are those job-specific abilities that explain your value on the job. These are skills such as computer skills, coding skills, languages, and much more. Creating bullet points about and listing each helps recruiters make better decisions.
Soft skills are additional non-professional skills that explain your personality. These are skills such as organizational abilities, professionalism, time management, team working abilities, etc. Note that you must only add a few of these soft skills, keeping them relevant to the job.
Finally,
Lastly, ensure your resume is tailor-made for every job posting. This process mainly includes altering your introduction. Keep your resume crisp and concise without leaving out any pieces of information. Use hyperlinks to websites or cloud-storage folders for additional information.
Once you consider a resume fully ready, please send them to a few friends and family for proofreading, feedback, and pointers.
