As someone who has been on both ends of the job search spectrum, I know that a lot of time and strategy goes in to creating a resume that stands out enough to convert the way you need it to. First impressions are the most important and your resume is often the first thing that a hiring manager is exposed to prior to having a phone conversation or speaking in person. Theres no doubt this process can be overwhelming, especially if its been a while since having to prepare one, but its necessary if you expect anything valuable to come out of it.
I’ve had my fare share of both bad and good experiences with the versions of resumes I’ve sent out into the job search market. Unfortunately, the bad versions caused a lot of missed opportunities, however because of this I realized how important it was for me to create a resume that would give me quality leads I could be satisfied with. With a less than enticing resume, I risked being considered for opportunities despite the extensive experience I had or value behind the words on paper.
Even now, being on the opposite end, reviewing resumes of potential candidates for the purpose of placing quality individuals in front of top level executives, I see how people take the task of writing a competitive resume for granted. A task that may be considered and viewed as irrelevant is a powerful tool and the only thing separating you from what could be a life changing opportunity.
Rules to Creating a Competitive & Converting Resume
Ditch Your Objective Statement
Having an objective on your resume has become outdated. Its not only vague, its already a given that your purpose for applying, is to be considered and hopefully be hired. So, instead of dedicating space to reiterate the obvious reason for applying, replace your objective with a self branding statement highlighting & summarizing Who You Are & What Value You’ll Bring. This would essentially be a Career/Professinoal Summary including any experience, knowledge and skills you believe would align with the job opportunity and will give the recruiter or hiring manager a glimpse at how you as a potential candidate will align with the existing employees and how well you’ll fit in the organization.
Customize Your Resume
Anytime I’m asked for advice on writing an effective and competitive resume I emphasize how crucial it is to construct a tailored resume that incorporates terminology similar to whats outlined in the job posting. This of course doesn’t a guarantee a spot in the top picks, but it gives the best fighting chance possible. Being uninterested in taking time to do this will easily be picked up on. Read the job posting and pull out top keywords you can then go back and incorporate in previous job descriptions. Make sure they are relevant, and only reference the keywords, don’t copy and paste full sentences from the posting. By assuming the terminology you have in a generic resume will suffice for all, you’ll find that the lack of effort will most than likely be picked up on by the hiring manager, causing your resume to be overlooked or set aside.
**Make sure you have a backup of your original resume stored as you’re customizing others accordingly.
Structure Consistently & Clearly
As important as it is for you to have a resume worded with intent, you should also pay careful attention to the way your resume is structured. Choose a clean layout that provides an easy flow and narrative for whomever will pickup and read. Be careful not to include sections that don’t relate. Show your side creativity and personality where appropriate but don’t overdo it. Instead of displaying your skills in list form, you may want to show this off in a form of rating scale.
Reach Beyond the Job Post
Consider taking a tour of the company’s website or dedicate articles that may outline valuable information you could use to your advantage. If the company supports an outside charitable organization or participates in volunteering events, this could be an opportunity for you to showcase your involvement in similar experiences as well. This is a way to impress them beyond your professional experiences and show them you relate to their values in other ways.