A hiring manager may go through 50 – 300 resumes for a job opening. You have to make yours stand out. Here is a brief checklist to help you make your resume as effective as possible.
1. Specific Objective
Does your objective specify exactly what position you are applying for and why you should be considered?
Here is a template you can use:
To obtain a position as [title of position] with [Company Name] so I can use my [type of skills/training] skills to [what you’ll do for the company]
2. One page and easy to scan.
Employers spend as little as 10 seconds scanning a resume. Is yours setup in a way that your key skills, strengths, and experiences stand out in a scan?
Use bullet points and key words that describe your skills that are relevant to the position.
Look at your resume from the perspective of an employer. Does it convey the most important information clearly and strongly?
3. Use numbers
Use numbers where possible. Numbers help the employer know what type of results you accomplished and are an easy way to raise some eyebrows. Saying that you “Managed event budgets” or “Increased membership in student org” is a little vague. Instead, state, “Managed a $10,000 annual budget” or “Increased membership by 50% through innovative outreach initiatives.”
4. Use action words
Instead of listing your responsibilities in a passive voice, like “manage database” – state what you DID. Employers don’t care so much about what your job title was, as to what you DID in that job. Writing the same description as, “Accelerated project completion by 5 months through restructuring the database” tells the employer what you actually did. More good action words.
5. No ‘references’
Employers are very capable of asking for references if they need them. Listing references on the resumes takes up valuable real estate on your one page and isn’t saying anything about you.
7. No personal interests
Your resume has to convince the employer you have what it takes to perform in the position. Personal interests do not say this at all. If you’re just trying to get across that you’re a cool and well-rounded person, save that for the interview.
8. Reverse chronological order
List your experiences from last to first. One reason is that your last experience should be your strongest – it’s good to impress an employer with that right off the bat.
9. Use a professional e-mail address
Bigplaya91@gmail.com was cool when you were 15 and had pimples, but not for the office. Change your e-mail address if necessary and make it clean and professional. Use your name in it. Professionals get countless e-mails and e-mail addresses. When we want to send you an e-mail we’re much more likely to find your address if it’s the same as your name, or as close as you can get to it.
