7 Essential Tips to Create a Resume that Lands You the Dream Job
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A resume is the threshold for any job opportunity. Without a solid resume, you won’t even be able to take the first steps towards achieving the career of your full potential. Your resume is the first thing an employer sees about you, and it will decide whether or not you get your chance to pitch to the hiring managers. 

So, here’s everything you need to know about how to create an impressive resume that attracts the attention of employers. 

1. Tailor your resume for each different job application.

A resume is not one-size-fits-all. Try not to submit the same resume for the various jobs you are applying for! 

Pay attention to the job descriptions of each of your job applications. As a job description explains the qualifications and skills set required of you for a job role, it also conveys what an employer or a company needs. So, be sure to read through the job description thoroughly, and understand not only the things that they are looking for, but also the things you can contribute to them accordingly. If you have anything that can fulfill any requirement of the job (e.g. a certain skill or certification), put it on your resume. This helps to better match your resume to a job opening and increase the possibility of your resume getting picked up by employers. 

2. Keep it concise, crisp, and clear. 

Employers or hiring managers don’t have the luxury of time because there are usually a ton of resumes and job applications which they need to go through. Hence, the idea of reading a complicated resume jam-packed with words might just repel them, as doing so is perceived as time-consuming. If you want to make sure that they are willing to pause and read your resume, needless to say that creating a concise, crisp, and clear version of a resume is the way to go! 

  • Use short and succinct sentences. Don’t use 10 words to describe what could actually be written in 3 words! Make sure that your points are clearly expressed in a simple and direct manner. 
  • Write numbers as numerals, instead of spelling them out. Replacing “twenty-three” with “23” definitely makes things so much simpler and easier to read. In addition, upon receiving your resume, employers are drawn to see achievements shown in concrete numeric data. For instance, “Increased company sales by 80%.” It’s a sign that you are capable of creating value for the company. Therefore, it’s a bonus.
  • Declutter unimportant details and only include essential information. Get rid of whatever that is not relevant to each specific job you are applying for. Each point you want to express might involve a lot of details, but writing an effective resume will require you to summarize it. Don’t bore them with unnecessary or non-essential details. Go straight to the main points that well reflect your strengths and passion for the job. Your resume has to be brief but comprehensive. 
  • Value Add!  Employers are looking for individuals with the right attitude and people who can see things from a hiring managers perspective. Demonstrating that you are part of the solution is a powerful way to put you ahead of the pack and making sure you are poised to give yourself the best chance at getting the perfect role.  

3. Use Power Words

Power words are basically action-oriented words that convey strong positive meanings. Putting them on your resume will help you highlight your good qualities and achievements, thereby making a good impression on employers. 

For example, a sentence with the power word “lead”, that reads, “Led a company to venture overseas.” It helps the employer to easily recognize that this particular candidate has the potential to lead, which is an advantage. 

According to a survey, employers suggested that there are 15 words that best capture their attention. 

The top 15 power words to put on your resume are:

  • Achieved
  • Improved
  • Trained/Mentored
  • Managed
  • Created
  • Resolved
  • Volunteered
  • Influenced
  • Increased/Decreased
  • Ideas
  • Negotiated
  • Launched
  • Revenue/Profit
  • Under Budget
  • Won

4. Include the Right Items on your resume

More often than not, job seekers include unnecessary items that taints their resume and, even worse – puts you out of the game for that role.

  • Name and contact information. It’s the most basic information of all, yet it’s also the most important one, as it allows employers to get in touch with you. 
  • Resume objective or headline. Tell your employers what you can contribute to a company. Keep it short and sweet. Make it catchy and easy to remember as well. 
  • Your education. Only write down educational experience(s) that are relevant to your job application. The education section on your resume should show several key informations as such:
  1. Name of the education institution.
  2. The certification you earned. 
  3. The course of your study. 
  4. The time period of your study or graduation year. 
  5. Your GPA.
  6. Any relevant outstanding academic achievements. 
  • Professional history/key experiences. List all relevant job experiences you have had to strengthen your profile. If you have little or no job experiences, you may list the key experiences you have gained so far from outside the academic field. It can be an internship experience, an extracurricular activity, and whatnot. All these give employers a clear perspective on what you can achieve. Also, if possible, use numbers to showcase any prominent results. As mentioned earlier, employers value candidates who can deliver measurable solid outcomes. 
  • Your hard skills and soft skills. We live in a skill based society today. Employers nowadays emphasize on finding the right employees with the right skills. So, don’t be shy to list down the hard and soft skills you possess. However, please be reminded to only share the skills that are compatible with the requirements of a specific job! Relevancy and customization are always important! 
  • Additional achievements and certifications. Consider including any external accomplishments that can further polish your image as a potential employee. 
  • Volunteer work, if any. Many companies have been actively promoting the spirit of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Therefore, candidates who have a history of volunteerism will most likely resonate with employers. 

5. Use the right format

Now that you have understood what items to include on a resume, it’s time to package them in the right format! 

  • Choose the right font and size. Save the fancy and hard-to-read fonts for another purpose. It’s best advised to use Arial or Times New Roman, font size – 10 to 12. These fonts are simply readable and generally favourable among all. So, it’s definitely a good choice. 
    • Leave decent spaces. Set reasonable margins on your resume. Also keep spaces between lines of sentences. Doing these make your resume look neat and legible, rather than messy, cluttered, and difficult to read. The latter could be such a turn-off for employers, as it does not reflect a candidate’s professionalism and consideration towards others. Nevertheless, do note that it’s not recommended to leave too many spaces that are too big a size on your resume, so that it won’t look sparse. A sparse resume does not show enough credibility. 
  • Opt for a clean design. Less is more. Don’t go overboard with putting decorative elements or features on your resume. If not, you will have less space to express your points. On the other hand, having a clean, tidy design for your resume makes it easy for employers to capture the essence of your resume or rather, you yourself. 

6. Check and double check

When your resume is complete, proofread it before you send it out. Check for any typo or grammatical errors. At the same time, check if the contents of your resume are tailored specifically to the job position you are aiming for. Make any changes if necessary. 

7. Send it out right.

When all is said and done, it’s time to send out your resume in the right way. 

  • Save it as a PDF file. As we know, this is a very easy and simple step, yet  it’s so crucial. All it takes is just a few seconds to ensure that all your items and design on your resume won’t look jumbled up when a Hiring Manager opens the file. Do keep a MS Word document handy for HR or Recruiters who need to input your CV through a ATS ( “Applicant Tracking System”) so it can be effectively “parsed” through the system. 
  • Name your resume file clearly. It may seem like a trivial step, but it’s one of the little important things that show professionalism. You could name it as “first name_last name_resume.”
  • Include a short and polite introductory message with your attached resume. Whether or not you are sending your resume via email or another way, it’s best to leave a message that introduces yourself and the job you are applying for. Do mention about what materials (e.g. resume, cover letter) you have attached to the message. Then, sign your message off with a “thank you” and your signature. 
  • Write a clear subject title. The subject title is the first thing your employer sees in your message. It will decide whether it’s worth his or her time to continue reading your message. Hence, you have to give a direct and brief subject title that clearly communicates the purpose of writing the message for your job application. It should consist of the job title and your name. 

If you follow these essential steps while creating your resume, you are just one step away from your dream job. 

In a nutshell, a resume should be like your own advertisement of your passion and strengths which suit the exact nature of a job well. It is not supposed to be a mere fact sheet of what you’ve simply done over the years. 

If you are in need of more advice and would like to get started on your job search. Feel free to contact us via https://careerhorizons.com.my/  or reach out to me personally for a confidential discussion on how we can help you advance your career. 

James

(james.choong@careerhorizons.com.my)

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