Are you currently getting your resume ready to apply for your dream job? If you have looked for work on employment sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, or ZipRRecruiter, you may likely have noticed some employers receive hundreds, if not thousands of applications for an open position. The entire process can be extremely daunting and time-consuming, and leave the door wide open for your resume to fall through the cracks– which is exactly what you don’t want!
Follow these tips to get your resume through the door and into the hearts of your dream employers:
1. Submit your resume as a PDF file.
Why? Fancy formatting often gets jumbled and lost. By converting your resume into a PDF, you are essentially “locking in” your formatting preferences. That way, anyone who reviews your resume CAN’T accidentally delete anything and none of your references or relevant experiences disappear into the ether.
Saving your resume as a PDF is simple. The next time you edit your resume, save a copy through your word processor by selecting the “.pdf” format. Within a few clicks, you’re done!
2. Use strong, clear phrases that illustrate how you made a difference in your previous work.
It’s not enough to talk about what you did at your last few jobs. You need to be able to convey how you made an impact for your previous employers and team mates with your unique set of challenges and skills.
If you need some help jogging your memory, here are a few examples to get your thought process going:
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- Cut costs
- Achieved cost-savings
- Saved time
- Maximized profitability
- Optimized productivity
- Automated workflow
- Improved throughput
- Reduced waste
Use this as an opportunity to value what you bring to the table, because that’s exactly what your future employers are looking for. They don’t just want employees, they want skilled employees who are willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. Please make sure to let them know what you can really do from the get-go, starting with your resume.
- Use Strong Action Verbs
Candidates who use power phrases with specific examples in their resume will stand out. Not only does it demonstrate your vocabulary and writing skills, but it is also an opportunity to showcase your personality. Here’s a list of action verbs to make your resume stand out.
- Use phrases that quickly communicate your drive to improve the organization.
The phrases ‘improved’ and ‘increased’ stand out on a resume. These phrases indicate that a potential employee has proven examples of success on their resume and can likely help a company to improve their key performance indicators. .
- Use phrases and keywords in your resume that match the job description.
Read at least 10 job similar descriptions and look for patterns and common phrases. Make sure you include them in your resume. Keywords will help you get past the ATS (Automated Tracking Software) that is frequently the barrier to getting your resume noticed. That’s right, a bot more often than not scans your resume before it gets into the hands of a real, live, human being.
Following some of the steps above will insure that you move beyond the robot army and secure the job of your dreams. But this takes work, discipline, and elevating your resume beyond the fray. Follow the steps above and you have set up a good foundation for getting your resume noticed and getting that first, initial interview. And for much more help and assistance with your job search, please read more on visit our blog: https://careertrackcoaching.com/blog/
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! We have coaching for every step of your job hunt journey. Our goal is to respond to you within 24 hours:
