A resume isn’t just a piece of paper that lists your qualifications for a specific job; it’s your chance to make a first impression on whoever might be hiring you. Nothing cuts your chances faster than a poorly crafted resume, which is why so many people come to us to locate the best possible resume writers. Over the years, we have discovered a few resume tips that you might find valuable.
1. Keep It Simple
No resume should be longer than two pages, and professional resume writers are trained to create a resume that includes all the important information without being verbose. A person who is looking to hire is probably sorting through dozens of resumes, and most only get a quick glance. It’s more important that your resume is simple and strong and meets the criteria for the job you are seeking.
Resume writers understand the importance of organization. For instance, when listing job experience, be sure to start with the most current position you have held. Employers might look at all of your job experience over the years, but they are much more likely to be interested in your experience during the last five years.
When writing your objective, keep it short but not too vague. It’s hard to be impressed by someone who wants an “engaging, challenging position with growth possibilities.” Doesn’t everyone want that? Instead, tailor the objective to the job. For instance, a person seeking a job as a computer technician should succinctly list their years of experience and knowledge of a wide variety of software and hardware. An engineer might briefly list certain certifications they possess.
Along the lines of keeping it simple, keep the design of the resume simple as well. You don’t need four different fonts and graphic designs cluttering up your resume. Use one font, skip the extra design elements and simply state in concise, clear language who you are and why you are qualified for the job. Professional resume writers understand that content is more important than design when it comes to a great resume.
2. Use The Right Words
One of the reasons why people hire resume writers to craft a resume is because these professionals know how to write and know how to make you appear to your best advantage. It’s all about presentation and language.
You could state on a resume that during one work experience, you were “responsible for 25 employees,” but it sounds better to state that you “managed 25 employees.” You could list that you “worked on a wide variety of personnel tasks.” However, it would be better to be more specific and state that you “handled payroll tasks, organized employee seminars and used Microsoft Excel for inventory management.” Employers wish to know what you can do, so don’t make vague, passive statements on your resume.
Also, it is imperative that all of the information on your resume is correct. Obviously, you don’t want any spelling or grammar errors, but other types of errors can be just as costly. For instance, perhaps your phone number or email address is incorrect or maybe the phone number of a reference. If employers can’t get hold of you or your references, it’s kind of difficult for you to actually get the job. If you hire resume writers, be sure the information you provide them is correct, otherwise, you will be wasting your time and money.
3. Network Your Resume
Finding a new job is a job, so treat it seriously. Once professional resume writers craft a great resume for you, it’s time to get out there and network. Talk to previous managers and co-workers and, if necessary, enlist the services of a head-hunter. In many cases, when it comes to job hunting, it can be all about who you know.
Once you hand in a resume, be sure to follow up with a quick, friendly phone call or email. Chances are good that many people handed in a resume, but only a few followed up after handing it in, and these might be the people who get the job. Give the hiring team a few days to look over the resumes, and then call or email and ask if any decisions have been made. If the job posting has a specific closing date, be sure to give the hiring team or manager a week to look over resumes before you call. However, if the job listing states that you should not call to follow up, be sure to respect that request.
It never hurts to consider hiring professional resume writers. These are experts that truly know what hiring managers want to see and how to make your resume stand out from the pack. Our goal at Top 5 Resume Writers, is to provide you with the best possible information about the resume services out there and help you choose resume writers that will provide you with the best possible resume.