Yes You Still Need A Resume – Here are other 10 things you’re forgetting

 

With all the social media and apps available for job searching — Jobr, Emjoyment, LinkedIn, Twitter — among several others, does one even need a resume any longer?

As times have changed rapidly with all the new technology on the market, resumes still seem to be the way to go when apply to jobs with new companies. And of course, as long as resumes are the way of things, you’ve got to focus on what it takes to make your resume tip top.

It takes practice to write a great resume. The best resumes vary depending on the job the applicant is going for. Since many companies receive hundreds (if not more) of them when they have job openings, you are going to have to make sure your resume is highly attractive and attention grabbing—and not in a bad way, of course.

 

Tailor your resume

 

Be sure this most important piece of paper (or .pdf file, if you are emailing it) is crafted for the company and job you are applying to. Make sure the job titles you have listed, and the descriptions as well, are all written with a focus on what job you are applying for. If your employment and/or educational background is spread out across the board, the idea of casting these things in a beneficial light with regards to the job you are applying for becomes even more important. Research the company and job, so you know exactly what it is you are applying for and how you can make the resume the best it can be for what you are going for.

 

Set your priorities straight

Show that you are right for the job early on in the resume and keep reinforcing your position with every part as you craft it. Be accurate, but sell your experience with a level of persuasion that carries force. Let them know that you have the drive and badly want this job. In your resume, focus on the tasks that are most relevant for the position you are after. Nobody cares to much about your soft skills on your resume, people want to see your technical skills and your experience.

 

This is one of the most important considerations to make when crafting a resume, and this factor cannot be stressed enough. Think about what your prospective employer considers of highest value among applicants and focus on this in your resume. This is the reason you’re not getting any phone calls, you must make sure to connect their needs with your career objective.

 

Repeat main key words

It is important to do this to a degree, but not to the point where it bogs your resume down. Figure out what the key words are regarding the position and make sure to give them the right weight and emphasis when putting this together. If the company is looking for a php developer for example, make sure to list php in all the jobs you’re had in the past. This reinforces your expertise and mastery of the subject. Please make sure that you do not repeat entire sentences.

 

Use numbers wherever you can

Make sure to use specific numbers you’ve generated in the past, whether it’s how many sales you’ve garnered or your efficiency at a task in terms of time. People who hire and those who run businesses are usually very number conscious and they will be impressed by this. Numbers often speak louder than other information.

 

Relevant experience

 

If you are lacking the relevant experience for the job you are applying for, then by all means, head out and get some. You can get a temporary position or an internship that is relevant, then you can list this first on top of your resume. It is also a good idea to use someone from this job experience as a reference. We have so many free educational resources at our fingertips that today we can learn any skill and any subject, all we need is a bit of desire and persistence. Google how to information, watch videos, search amazon for books or khan academy for free courses. Information is at your fingertips these days.

 

Make a contact if you don’t have one already

Find a contact where you want to work. Make a favorable impression on them, then mention them on your resume, and they could very well help you bypass the process of applying by referring you. At the very least, they can get your resume read. You can put this person’s name in the opening sentence of your cover letter, for example. Connect with people on LinkedIn, find out events the company is sponsoring or career fairs they are attending.

 

Use white space wisely

Make sure your resume is clear and concise. Put in only relevant information, and don’t bog it down with too many words or information that isn’t exactly relevant to the position you are going for. Usually, as it is often suggested, it is best to keep your resume down to one page. In my opinion this is bogus, all resumes are in digital format these days and it doesn’t hurt anybody to scroll the mouse wheel a bit. Don’t go more then 2 pages though and only go back about 10 years worth of experience.

 

Write and Format consistently

Make sure that you format and style is consistent. If there are various styles of writing a certain location or phone number, make sure stick to the same style each time you list a different place or number.

 

Proofread your resume

Last but not least, make sure you proofread it. Errors of any kind are generally the first thing to make the person reading a resume skip to the next one. It doesn’t look professional to have errors, and a profession is what you’re looking for, right?

 

Let me know if you have any questions below.