A lot of people ask whether you must have a professionally written resume. The answer is very clear.
While you do want a professional resume, many experts do not tell you that resumes just account for a limited part of their hiring decision. Resumes are just the start of the interviewing process and therefore need to be a crisp marketing document.
Here is what makes an outstanding professional resume that will stand apart from the rest.
- It is simple to review.
Everything in the resume is well organized: spacing is appropriate, business names are in bold, roles are italicized and project details are organized using bullet points. And, without fail, there should be no mistakes anywhere. Employers prefer a standard font that will be consistent on screen and on a hard copy.
- It portrays an engaging job success tale.
A resume tells a story highlighting the candidate’s professional path. In a high quality professional resume there are not any info gaps. Within the first seconds of reading, employers are able to observe the exact pattern of the candidate’s career development. The work history is ordered chronologically with the latest position in the top and showing a very clear progression of executive roles and much more responsibilities.
- It records accomplishments in addition to responsibilities.
In addition to your work history, companies really want to know whether you are an above average candidate who is capable of producing quantifiable results. It is always preferred to highlight your duties by describing your most noteworthy accomplishments.
Real world cases:
Rather than “Ran operations for global markets,” state “Built operations to eight new states in the Midwest region.”
Rather than “Led sales and marketing department,” write “Led sales and marketing staff and attained 27 percent yearly increase while enlarging the funding by just 7.5%.”
- It tells the truth.
When a hiring firm reviews a resume, it should be free of experiences and claims that raise a red flag during the review. Everything reads as credible and the information is not exaggerated. Better still, the professional resume has hyperlinks into the individual’s LinkedIn page and personal site, which details a portfolio of her work. This makes it simpler for hiring managers to check the work history, which then increases the perception of the candidate as an honest individual.
What is the best way to get through to an interview round? Be honest and truthful about your experiences and achievements.
While significant accomplishments and recognizable business names will provide you an edge, make no mistake: Firms will likely complete a background check and a lie about your history will quickly send your resume to the recycle bin.
- It makes a warm introduction easier.
The best way to submit a professional resume is via a recommendation.
Not everybody is going to have a relationship with someone at their dream organization, but knowing somebody who will refer you is the best means to get an hiring manager’s attention.
When your professional resume arrives via a recommendation by a respected colleague, it compels the hirer to want to find out more about you.
Simply broadcasting your resume all over the Internet will not get you the best results. That may sound discouraging, but here is the truth: you need to go out of the way to receive a warm introduction if possible. You can also get resume writing services to make it easier for you too.
If you do not have a connection with anyone who works for your desired employer, do some research and networking to discover a common relationship and ask your potential referral for a call.
As soon as you’ve developed a connection, inform them about the job opening you are considering and ask if they could recommend you. If it’s possible to make this occur, your resume will likely find its way into the right hands.
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