How To Build A Strong Resume

You may know how to build a standard resume, but do you know how to build a strong resume? If you are like many who have their resumes passed by employers on a regular occasion, you probably do not. This is what could be keeping you from getting the position that you are most interested in, and this is why you need to know some very basic and very effective tips at making your resume stand out as a strong and compelling document for employers to consider you by. Below, are the most helpful tips on making your existing resume as strong as possible.

Focus on What You Have:

The number one thing to consider when building a resume that stands out is to consider what you have to offer an employer, and not what you don’t. What do we mean? Simply, by choosing the right wording and format, you can help your resume focus on your strengths as opposed to your weaknesses. So, if you have an employment history that has had a lot of short term positions or perhaps a lot of positions in various fields not connected to your present intended career; you can’t use a standard chronological resume format as it will highlight the chronology of your less than consistent career. Instead, you would ideally use a skills based or functional resume format t focus on the skills and achievements you have to offer an employer as the highlighted part of your resume. Moreover, how you word things will also help in the strength of your application in both your cover letter and resume. Make sure to term all aspects of your career history that may be seen as negative, in a positive and educational manner; so as to root out any negative thinking on the part of the employer, and to show how you are a changed individual by the experience-and for the better.

Keep It Short:

Though you may think that more is always more value to an employer, most often, unless each qualification has serious significance; employers and hiring managers do not have the time or patience to read through pages of career experiences that you have-and will not. This said, keep your resume between 1-2 pages, and only include the most important and compelling of responsibilities, experience, achievements, and related qualifications. The more you can say in a shorter amount of space, the better.

Use Clear Sections:

Another key point to consider when creating a resume that is strong in its approach is to use clear sections to organize the kind of experience that you have to offer. This way, if an employer wants to see what education you have, they do not have to search. Moreover, if they want to know what your skills are, they will find it quickly and easily under a section marked “Skills”. Remember, you want to make the process of reading your resume as easy as possible for an employer-as they will most likely have many resumes to review in the process.

Use Action Statements:

Ever heard of a little something called the action word? You need them absolutely in your resume if you want to get attention, and compel an employer to read on. This means that you need to introduce each responsibility or achievement with a verb that has an action in it that is measureable. Good examples of action words you should use on a strong resume are: implemented, succeeded, developed, partnered with, managed, etc. This shows employers what actions you own.

Customize:

Lastly, though you may think you can use the same resume-unchanged-for every position that you apply to, as long as you alter the cover letter; you cannot, that is if you want to get any positive results. This said, review the job posting and the company website a few times, if necessary, to see what kinds of values, skills, and required education and experience they want; and incorporate all that is applicable into your resume. Employers will be looking for these key values and skills, and thus, you should incorporate them to make them more apt to consider you for an interview.