Looking for tips to make effective Ways to Make Your CV Stand Out, you are at the right place! As we have heard that the first impression is the last impression. It is true to some extent, as the first impression is the key to the later interactions with someone. An effective resume can do the job!
Your resume is the first thing that is going to interact with the employer. So, it depends on your resume that either you will have a meeting for an interview later or not. Is it effective enough? It will not be wrong to say that all your carrier can base on how effective your resume is!
Your resume should have all the qualities to make it more effective, get noticed and convince the employer to select you for the job.
Components of a CV
A resume usually includes the following things:
- Brief introduction
- Summarized educational achievements.
- Goals you want to achieve.
- Previous experiences (if any)
- Relevant skills that you have
Here is our pick of top 10 tips that can help you to make your resume more effective and stand out.
1. Choosing the Right Format and Layout
Your resume should always be in a particular format describing your achievements, degree, hobbies etc. in proper order. Following rules of formatting can help you make an outstanding CV.
I. Order:
There are three standard resume formats:
a) Chronological
This is the most traditional format in which the experiences are listed in the order they took place. These types of resumes are best suited for a conservative field.
b) Functional
These types of resumes list your experiences according to your skills. This format is usually used when you are switching your career direction or have gaps in employment. This highlights your skills more than your work experience.
c) Hybrid
For most job seekers, a hybrid resume format, also called a combination resume, which puts equal emphasis on skills and work experience, is the best choice. However, in some cases, a chronological or functional resume might work better. It depends upon the type of job you are applying for.
II. Font size
It is important to use a font that is easy to read on-screen, ATS-compatible, and commonly available. Avoid using script fonts or custom fonts unless you are a designer. Do not use a font size below 10.
III. Header
The top of your resume should include first the most important thing, your name! Then, it should describe the title of the job you are applying for.
A resume headline is a concise, one-line description of who you are as a candidate. A well-written headline can grab a recruiter’s attention and encourage them to take a more detailed look at your qualifications.
Your headline is a short but powerful addition to your resume, often the first thing a recruiter reads. Take advantage of the opportunity to make a strong first impression. You can also add your contact information here like the following.
2. Compatible with Applicant Tracking System
An applicant tracking system (ATS), is software that organizations use to manage their recruitment process. Most applicant tracking software uses a process called resume parsing, which extracts your resume data into a format readable by the software. Resume parsing pulls your contact information, work history, and skills from the resume.
ATS keywords are particular words or phrases employers identify as requirements for a specific position. Therefore, you should use them in your resume to help you get noticed by the employer. It is really important to successfully pass through the ATS before it reaches the hiring manager for consideration. So, read carefully the job listing and must insert role-specific and industry keywords and place them in the right location.
3. Contact Information
Your resume must include your contact details preferably your personal number, a professional email, and your address/city. Create a strong LinkedIn profile and be sure to include the URL on your resume (if sending a soft copy).
4. Send Your Resume as a PDF
Saving your resume as a PDF (rather than a Word document) ensures that hiring managers see the same formatting as you do, irrespective of the device on which it is opened (phone, tablet, or laptop). PDFs look more professional and are less problematic to upload. But ensure to follow all the instructions of the employer (if any). Mostly it is clearly written how to send your resume and in what form.
5. Visually Appealing
Did you know that the hiring managers usually spend just six seconds looking at the resume? Well, now you do!
Maximize that time of the hiring manager by making your resume super-clear and easily readable. You can use different software that provides multiple templates for your resume like Canva.
Canva is free software with hundreds of templates for you to use. Make your resume catchier by simply just editing your details in those already available templates.
6. Be clear About Your Goals
Your resume must present just the right mix of meaningful information relevant to your goals. Without a goal, you do not know what information to include, what skills or successes to highlight, and what details to eliminate. Take the time to define a goal (or multiple goals) before writing your resume.
7. Be Specific and Relevant
Telling each and everything about your achievements may sound good. But the employer might not be interested in knowing all about you. They are just looking for the things about you that can help them to achieve their target of the given job. So, you should try to highlight the skills that meet the basic requirements of the job and make you superior to other candidates applying for the same job.
8. Keep it on One Page
It is much better to make a good, strong one-page resume than a two-page resume that is filled with unnecessary information. So that the hiring manager can see at a glance how well-suited you are for the specific job post.
9. Avoid Grammatical Errors
Spelling and grammar mistakes can be extremely damaging to your resume’s chances of landing you a job interview. So, be careful while writing your resume. You can recheck your resume for any grammatical errors by using free versions of different software e.g., Grammarly.
10. Use Correct Tenses
The use of correct tenses is very important as it shows your professionalism towards your job. If you are referring to previous employers that you are no longer with, use the past tense. List every accomplishment (e.g., work experience, education background, and skillset) and responsibilities in the past tense. If you have graduated from college, any activities you have participated in previously would remain in the past tense. However, if you are mentioning your work with an organization that you are still a part of, it is best to use the present tense. Avoid combining present and past tense under one heading.
Conclusion
The format, the appearance and the authenticity of your resume is the fundamental step for you to be appointed for a job. All your career is going to build upon the basis of your resume to get noticed by employers. So be sure and careful about what you are writing in your resume and how impressively it is written. A good resume can launch you in your desired field with more opportunities on the way.
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