
5 tips to create an irresistible resume
Looking to increase your chances of being called to an interview? The power lies in how you craft your CV. Use these tips to create an irresistible resume.
An irresistible resume will make your job search easy and help you stand out from the competition. With a well-crafted resume, your chances of landing a job are high. It brings many interview offers your way.
The process of writing a CV changes through the years. It is essential to learn how to write a CV that correctly reflects your education, experience, and skills. Here are five tips to write a perfect CV and make it stand out from the other resumes.
1. Use the right keywords for visibility
You have a higher chance of catching a recruiter’s eye if you use the right keywords. Proper keywords improve your market visibility. If an employer searches for an employee and searches the database, they will come across your application.
Use words and phrases that are relevant to the job you are applying for. The keywords can be the requirements and qualifications. For example, if you are applying for a marketing job, use words related to marketing such as marketing consultant, lead qualification, marketing associate, etc.
The keywords should reflect what the recruiters are looking for in a candidate. Apply the keywords in your resume where relevant.
However, keyword stuffing can turn the tide against you. If a recruiter catches on, it can hurt your chances of landing the job.
2. Quantify your experience
Emphasize results and show the employer your results using quantifiable data. Do not state your responsibilities but show your accomplishments. It also helps the hiring managers give context to the size and scope of what you can achieve.
Most employers assume that past accomplishments indicate future results. For instance, you can indicate that you made 48 percent more sales in your previous sales job. There is no need to explain how you did it. You can answer that during interviews.
An irresistible resume highlights your strengths and downplays your weaknesses. Highlighting your strengths shows the potential employer the difference that you made to your previous employers. It gives you an advantage over others during the recruitment process.
When listing your accomplishments, start from the most recent to the oldest. Give concise and specific project descriptions and your role. Use numbers to show the impact and how you benefited former employers.
3. Customize your resume
One of the essential CV writing tips is customizing your resume. Customized CVs have better success rates than general ones. Add hard skills and experiences that are relevant to the job you are applying for and the current technology. You can also add soft skills such as excellent communication.
Customized resumes respond directly to the job description. It explains why you are the perfect fit for the role. To customize your CV, relate your accomplishments to the features of the job role.
Hiring managers look for candidates that understand the job they are applying for. Listing unrelated skills and experiences can also weaken your resume by distracting the recruiters from focusing on how qualified you are for the job.
4. Trim unnecessary information
Another tip when learning how to write an irresistible is to avoid unnecessary information. For example, the objectives section in your resume can cause recruiters to skip your application.
Statistics show that hiring managers spend an average of 3 minutes and 14 seconds on your resume before moving to the next. It would be best, therefore, if you avoid adding unnecessary information.
Avoid repetition and flowery language when writing a resume. For a concise resume, ensure that every word and sentence serves a clear purpose. Using big words and complex phrases can work to your disadvantage.
While it is crucial to maintain a concise resume, do not trim information about your accomplishments and experiences.
In addition, a resume should be at a readable length. It should be long enough to convey all the required information and short enough to maintain the hiring manager’s interest.
5. Use power words
For an irresistible resume, use power words such as accomplished, boosted, delivered, advanced, completed, and accelerated. Power words give your resume an additional impact by emphasizing your accomplishments.
Some established recruiters use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that filter power words. They also skim through your resume quickly because they receive a high number of applications. Including power words in your CV will increase your chances of getting noticed and getting an interview.
Take away!
Your resume is one of the important things that contribute to the success of your career. Make the first impression by putting yourself in the best possible light.
As you grow your experience, be sure to add to your skills and certifications. You should also update your references regularly. Finally, do not forget to add your contact information so that recruiters can easily find you.