When applying for a job, you want to stand out to make an impact on potential employers, right? Crafting a resume that separates you from other applicants can be challenging. Still, it’s also an opportunity to get a foot in the door at your dream company! So, here are a few tips to help you start building the perfect resume!
Tip 1: Customize your Resume
Many companies rely on software to sort through applicants, so you need to tailor your resume to get noticed. Always include keywords from the job posting, and focus on relevant work experience. It’s okay to leave out some past jobs or internships if they aren’t related. Each job posting expects different skill sets and responsibilities, so you may end up with several versions!
Tip 2: Ditch the template
You can find plenty of resume templates online, but if you want to stand out, your resume needs to be unique. Hiring managers go through dozens of applications per day, and after seeing the same templates pop up enough times, they’ll all start blending together.
Past that, if you focus too much on making your resume visually pleasing, it might make it difficult for a company’s sorting software to find the keywords it’s searching for, which means your application might never be seen in the first place. You can look through sites like Canva for inspiration, but you have a better chance of hearing back if you craft a resume yourself.
Tip 3: Include Statistics
One of the best ways to capture an employer’s attention is to include concrete statistics. Attaching tangible results to your past work allows you to showcase what you’ve accomplished. If you have experience managing a company’s Instagram, be specific. What kind of content did you post? How many likes did it get? Employers are well aware of what social media managers do, and they want to know that your 15 interactive Instagram posts reached 148% more accounts than in previous months. So, quantify, quantify quantity!
We all know applying for jobs is a stressful process, but having a well-organized resume that you are comfortable with can make things a lot easier. A resume is your first impression, so make something that employers will remember. Following these tips can help you set yourself apart from other applicants, so get crafting! And remember—your resume is more than just a list of past experiences–it’s an opportunity to show what you’ve learned along the way.