Tips for Resume Writing

There is not really any doubt about why it is important to know how to write a good resume. The quality of a resume has a huge bearing on whether a potential employer invites you for interview or not. Understanding the art of resume writing gives you the chance to ensure you get to the top of a long candidate list. Today’s job market is very competitive with huge numbers of candidates out there chasing the same jobs. Therefore, you really do need to make that bit more effort to create a compelling resume so that you get invited for interview rather another candidate that has been willing to put in more effort than you.

What Is a Resume?

The first thing to know when you sit down to write a resume is that this is a simple document of no more than one or two pages that highlights your skills and sells you as a good candidate for a particular job. The task can be likened to creating an ad to sell a product or service. One would write down all the main points about the product or service with a view to attracting a buyer. With resume writing, it is a mistake to simply document your education, career history, and experience in an uninspiring way. You need to write a good resume if you genuinely want that coveted position.

The Importance of Writing a Great Resume

It only takes a few seconds for a resume to bring you to the attention of a would-be employer. It has to be acknowledged that resumes generally are not the most riveting type of document, and most prospective employers have to make their way through hundreds before deciding who to invite for interview. Most readers will scan each resume briefly and it will be rejected if nothing immediately catches their eye. However, those who understand how to write a resume correctly are the ones who are going to get all the attention. For this reason, you must ensure your resume has visual appeal so that the reader takes extra time over it. A good resume is cleanly written and easy to read. The individual sections should be concise and powerfully worded. If possible, keep each section to a few lines. In addition, make sure your work is free of spelling and grammatical error. Any mistake will be obvious in a sparse piece of writing and will be immediately noticeable. Choose the right format and ensure all important information, such as education, previous work experience, and contact information is included. Often, those who are unfamiliar with resume writing will merely rush something together and leave out the key points that the reader really wants to see.

Those who fully understand how to write a resume will thoroughly research the position they are applying for before completing their application. Therefore, it is a good idea to understand the qualifications that are needed and what the prospective employer is looking for in a candidate, which you can glean by carefully reading the requirements of the job. From there, you can document your previous jobs and accomplishments. You need not feel limited to just work experience. You may have suitable qualifications or experience at a personal level. When you have written this information down, arrange your ideas and thoughts in a way that sells you to the reader. Do not forget to stick with a clean, simple format.

A great many candidates are reluctant to “boast,” but this is precisely what you need to get across once you know how to write a good resume. A candidate needs to get over the idea they are bragging and understand they are merely writing down what an employer wants to see. The reader needs to understand your capabilities and potential. Liken yourself to a product – an item separated from yourself. Now start writing to sell that item. Try to get the reader’s attention with strong, powerful words. Give your resume an assured and confident tone and let the reader know that you are the best candidate for the position, and that you can handle any challenge presented to you.