As you apply for different jobs, it’s vital to create a quality résumé for every position you wish to pursue. Taking the time to enhance your résumé can help you capture the attention of hiring managers and potentially help you secure employment.
Knowing what to look for and how to enhance your résumé can make the process of finding a job much more manageable. But one thing to note here is that creating a résumé has never been easy. This is why it’s critical to optimize your résumé to make the first impression last on the recruiter.
Today, we will be learning how to enhance your résumé so that you get your desired job!
What is the Need to Enhance Your résumé?
Improving your résumé gives your document a greater and better chance of capturing HR’s attention. When you write a clear, concise, and well-organized résumé, it showcases your professionalism. This may lead to securing a potential job interview.
Moreover, enhancing your résumé ensures that you already have the relevant qualifications for the job you are applying for! In addition, properly showcasing your skills and abilities helps the managers understand what distinguishes you from the other candidates and what makes you the best candidate for the job. Thus, it is best to update your résumé every now and then!
Tips to Enhance your résumé
From now on, before submitting your job application, review your résumé and consider what sections or areas you need to improve.
Review everything – from the font you choose to the context that is included. Doing this will help you create a résumé that effectively represents you as a potential candidate. Here are the ways through which you can enhance your résumé.
- Use a Reverse-Chronological Format
Most employers and applicant tracking systems prefer a reverse-chronological format because it is easier to understand the information you include in a reverse manner. For example, as you list your work experience or qualifications, it is best to begin with your most recent qualification or position, followed by the rest. Basically, the information you put forth must be in descending order. This format helps the hiring managers understand you better.
Research shows that the applicant tracking system rejects 75% of the résumés because the qualifications and experience are wrongly listed. This is why it is essential to use the reverse order so that your résumé is readily selected.
- Highlight your Relevant Qualifications
Your résumé needs to showcase that you are the best candidate for the job. Therefore, it is essential to review the job description thoroughly to understand the role you are applying for. Further, determine how your qualifications align with the job and organize your résumé in a way that best highlights these qualifications.
Also, ensure that the experience and qualifications are in sync with the job role. For instance, if you are applying for a teacher’s position, it is vital to include the roles you have had in the education sector or qualifications like B.Ed, B.El.Ed, etc.
- Use Keywords
Read the job description carefully and note down any particular keywords or phrases. Consider how they match your qualifications or work experience and use them throughout your résumé. Since many companies use an applicant tracking system, keywords can help the software detect your résumé and ensure that it reaches the relevant hiring managers. This will assist you in having the job as per your education and expertise.
- Include Recent Experience
While reviewing your résumé, try to include some recent job experience and then move on with the rest. Including your recent positions lets the hiring manager know that your skills and abilities are up to date. This can have a lasting impression on the hiring manager, and you can get your desired job with a decent pay grade. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
- Quantify your achievements
Quantifying your achievements is vital to enhance your résumé. Consider what you did in your previous positions and what you accomplished. Instead of listing a general job experience, provide greater detail with numbers and percentages.
For instance, you can mention that you ‘increased sales by 30% in three months’. This statement not only showcases that you contributed to increasing sales for your company, but it also explains the time frame within which you accomplished it. Putting all this information together can help HR understand the unique abilities you have!
- Use Modern Fonts & Colors as your Cover Letter
Consider using a modern font like ‘Calibri’ or ‘Verdana’ instead of ‘Times New Roman’. Modern fonts will make your résumé look updated. However, avoid using fancy fonts, as it might make it hard for HR to go through your résumé.
It is vital to match the style of your cover letter with your résumé and vice-versa. For instance, use the same fonts and colors for both documents. In addition, use the same kind of paper for hard copies. Matching your résumé with the cover letter represents a cohesive job application. So, make sure to implement this extremely essential point!
- Try to Stay Organized
Keep your résumé clear and concise. Review and cut out the unnecessary words, phrases, graphics, and elements that don’t add any value. Make sure that everything you include promotes you as an apt candidate for the job. Removing unnecessary information can help you present a clear résumé.
Apart from this, look for more ways to organize and enhance your résumé. For instance, group the sections of your résumé and make the headings bold to catch the attention of the hiring manager. You can also use a different font for your headings and subheadings. This will differentiate the sections, which will ultimately result in improved readability.
- Make a Summary Statement
Instead of writing a résumé objective, try using a modern approach, i.e., writing a summary statement. A résumé objective explains your career goals, while a résumé summary statement outlines your unique abilities and qualifications.
The summary statement makes it easier for the hiring manager to determine your skills and abilities before reviewing the rest of your résumé.
- Optimize your résumé
Some recruiters review your résumé on a mobile or tablet. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize it as per the digital devices, along with having hard copies for the same. Ensure that the résumé you submit is responsive and readable across all digital platforms.
- Proofread the résumé
After you have put forth all the information, make sure that you proofread it. Proofreading is essential to ensure that the résumé has no spelling or grammatical errors. This not only shows that you are educated but also demonstrates your professionalism and attention to detail.
The Next Steps to Enhance your résumé
As you continue along your line of work, treat your résumé as an ever-evolving document. Update it at regular intervals and include relevant skills and expertise you have gained over the years. Also, don’t forget to attach a cover letter along with your résumé. This will increase your chances of getting the job you desire.
If you are also looking to enhance your skills, connect with us today! Let us know what pre-existing skills you have and which ones you wish to acquire!
