Tweaking Your Resume - Part 1
By Gina Watson
 |
|
|
Since a resume is a marketing tool, you need to do everything within your power to sell what you have got in the best possible way. While crafting your resume, it is not enough to just list a whole lot of credentials. It is essential to understand what the job requires of you, which are the credentials that are most relevant to the job posting, and how you should bring that forward and present it to the reader.
Another thing that must be kept in mind is that every other position will have a different requirement and this is where the challenge comes to surface. You simply cannot change what you have done, in the form of work experience, training or education. However, what you could possibly do is to tweak it in a manner that is most beneficial to you.
- Key words: Recruiters have so many resumes to go through that yours is either read with interest or it is thrown into the trash can – it is as simple as that. Hence, it is absolutely necessary that your resume stands out and it catches the reader's eye. This can be achieved through the smart use of key words. Electronic resume scanners are also programmed to look out for key words or active verbs in resumes. Remember, that generally, the key words that are hunted for in resumes are those that are found in the job advertisement. So read the posting very carefully, pick out the key words that apply to you, and try using them (some, if not all of them) on your resume, wherever you think it is applicable. This can be done with every posting you apply to, and the result is that you have a range of resumes that caters to the requirements of various postings.
- Eliminate irrelevant data: Everything that you have done in the past may not necessarily be relevant to your current job search. Similarly, a variety of positions that you are applying to could require credentials specific to each. In such a case, thoroughly study your existing resume, and safely remove any data that you think is highly irrelevant to the post. Do this for each type of job that you are applying to, and you will have resumes that are specific to the postings. Also remember that too much of information clutters the resume and the real focus is likely to be lost. Retain only that which is the most important and the most relevant, and it will go a long way to make an impact upon the reader.
- Highlight specific skills and accomplishments: One of the simplest ways to get the reader's attention is to mention those skills of yours which is relevant to the job search, especially if it has been requested in the job announcement. Mentioning a variety of skills that are irrelevant to the applied position will not do good to add value. Use powerful active verbs, have relatively short sentences and utilize the profile section for the purpose of showcasing your abilities. Moreover, accomplishments to your credit should also be placed in the forefront. Directly below the profile, you could have a ‘Career Highlights' section or a ‘Key Accomplishments' section. Pick out those achievements (just a few of them) in your career history which have had the greatest impact and those which demonstrate your caliber in the relevant field and place them under such headings. Paying particular attention to this factor will increase your chances of capturing the reader's attention.
