Any guesses on how much time does a recruiter spend on a resume?
Turn those 6 seconds into 30 seconds by creating a professional looking resume. Then turn those 30 seconds into 5 mins by writing about skills and experiences that are extremely relevant to the posted job. Read below to help your resume achieve its ultimate goal: getting an interview call for your dream job!
In week 2 of the 6 week long “Dream Job Search Bootcamp”, we’ll talk about how to write the perfect Resume!
What is a Resume?
Resume is a one page summary of your education, previous experience, skills and other relevant information. A resume creates parallel between your experience and that needed by a company.
What a Resume is not?
A resume is not your autobiography. It does not need to include every single job, internship and project you have ever done, or every single achievement you have had since high school. A resume must only include information that is RELEVANT to the role you are applying for.
Is a Resume different from CV?
A resume is not synonymous with Curriculum Vitae, or CV. According to thebalancecareers.com, a resume is competency-based: it showcases your skills, notable achievements, and work experience and is tailored to the position that you apply for. A CV on the other hand is credential-based: a detailed listing of your education, certifications, research experience, professional affiliations and memberships. It is typically used for applying in the fields of academia, scientific research, etc.
Can my Resume be 2 pages?
Unless you have a PhD to boast, stick to a 1-page Resume. Even if you have been in the industry for 10 years, you can still condense your resume to 1-page by showcasing only your RELEVANT skills and experiences.
How can I write a perfect Resume?
BEFORE YOUR START:
Before you start drafting your resume, complete the 5 steps below:
- Define your job search goals (read my post on job search goals here)
- Do a self-assessment to find your top strengths and weaknesses (use the Skills Assessment Worksheet)
- Research field of interest and potential employers
- Make a listing of job postings you are interested in, and review the job descriptions thoroughly
- Brainstorm concrete examples from you work history
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
Now start drafting your perfect Resume. It should have the following sections:
- Contact information: Make it easy for recruiters to contact you. Provide phone#, email and address at the minimum. You can also provide a link to you LinkedIn profile, website, etc. Make sure your email is professional: NO richa-rockstar@gmail.com!
- Professional summary (optional): A summary statement if written well, can add value, especially if you have been in the workforce for some time. This should be no more than 2 sentences long, and very clearly highlight your core value proposition.
- Experience: This is the core of your Resume. Include relevant work experiences and internships in this section. If you have been doing some pro bono (read full-time voluntary) work for a while, it should go in this section as well. For my students/recent grads, your academic projects also belong here. Showcase each experience through 2-4 bullet points. Each accomplishment statement must start with action verb (struggling to write accomplishment statements? Download my FREE guide here).
- Leadership: Companies love to see this section. Include any extra-curricular activities, either at work or school, in which you assumed a leadership role. Some examples are: a leadership role in international student design competitions, board membership in professional societies, etc.
- Education: This is an obvious one. If you are starting to struggle with space, I suggest limiting to your last two degrees, with name of college and year of graduation at the minimum. Any honors or awards can also go here.
- Professional Certifications and Courses (if applicable): Online course certifications like Coursera have explored in popularity. Include them in this section, along with other professional certifications like PMP, CFA, PE, etc.
- Skills and Extras: This is a catch all section. Include:
- Skills and job requirement related keywords for ATS (applicant tracking system)
- Professional membership
- Relevant hobbies
- etc
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
After you have written your Resume, perfect it by ensuring it is error-free. Ask atleast 3 of your friends to proof-read it. Also, instantly download the FREE Resume Cheat Sheet that I have created to ensure you have included all the important information to make a great resume.
It is easier to place someone in the “NO” pile, than in the “YES” pile. Craft the perfect resume and convince the recruiter that you deserve an interview spot to prove why they must hire you for that job!
In my next post, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step process of how to draft a great Cover Letter. SIGN UP at www.pinkcareers.com to stay tuned!
Today’s challenge:
Write the first draft for your Resume. Then post all of your Resume related questions on the PINKCAREERS facebook group!
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