Your resume is the first impression you’ll make on a potential employer. This means it needs to grab their attention and hold it long enough for them to make the decision to contact you directly. Not only is the information important but so is the format. Is your resume too cluttered? A messy resume can be just as problematic as one that doesn’t convey the right information.
4 Tips for Creating a Top Notch Resume
Keep the Page Count Low.
Recruiters and hiring managers who receive ten page resumes do not read them. It is an immediate red flag that disqualifies a candidate, even unfairly. A resume is intended to be a short marketing tool to get someone interested in speaking with you more, not a definitive missive on everything you’ve ever done. Two pages are perfectly acceptable.
Use Bullet Points and Lists.
You want to make sure that the most important information is easy to find. The best way to do this is to highlight skills and accomplishments using bullet points rather than burying them in a paragraph. This is also the reasons why you want to start with your most recent experience first because that is what the reader is looking for.
Leave Off Personal Information.
Resumes can get cluttered quickly so it is important to know what to leave off. The best thing to eliminate from your resume is anything that does not directly relate to the job you want. This means taking hobbies off the list unless they are essential for your goals. Never include information such as marital status, birth dates, or anything that can allow a reviewer to disqualify you for discriminatory reasons.
Edit, Edit, Edit.
Finally, the best way to cut out the clutter is to make sure your resume is in perfect shape to submit to clients. Proof read it several times before sending it out. Make sure you check for grammar mistakes, misspellings and typos. If you can, have someone else read it to make sure there aren’t any problems that you overlooked.
Looking for Additional Resume Resources?
Browse our blog posts geared toward job seekers, or contact the experienced recruiters at ProSource Staffing.