You just interviewed with a potential employer for a job you really want. Congrats! Your resume is already drafted. Or is it?
If you’re like the 95% of Jobseekers who rely solely on a resume to get the job they want, you might be waiting a while for that dream job to happen. Especially if you’re applying for roles that require additional work experience or a specific educational background.
Even though you’re only weeks away from knowing whether or not you’ll get that job, it’s not yet too soon to start thinking about your next move. And what might that be?
If you want to write a resume that gets you the job you want, you need to start building your brand. And that means creating a resume that is as unique as you are.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about writing a resume that will make your recruiter (and potential employer) say “Yes, I’ll bring this person in for an interview.”
Understand What Is Expected
Before you start writing your resume, it’s important to understand what is expected. Your resume is your chance to sell yourself to a potential employer. So it’s essential that you tailor your resume to fit the needs of the specific job you are applying for.
Resumes can vary widely in format. Some are chronological, while others are narrative. You might want to include both in your resume. And then there are those super-specific resumes, like the one attached, which is just what it says on the tin. But no matter what style you choose, your resume needs to include the following:
- Your name
- Your contact information
- A brief summary of your relevant work experience
- A clear indication of your skills and capabilities
- Optional keywords
Make sure that you understand what is required for the role you are applying for. Most importantly, make sure that your resume is formatted in a way that the hiring manager will easily read and comprehend.
Choose The Right Profile
The first thing you’ll need to do is decide what type of person you should be applying to. You need to choose a job profile that will make your resume stand out. The perfect job profile should match your skills and experience, but also match the needs of the employer. Once you’ve got that perfect fit, start thinking about tailoring your resume to fit that profile.
There are four basic types of job profiles:
- Administrative (8.3% of jobs in 2016)
- Accounting (7.2%)
- Business (20.9%)
- Engineering (22.2%)
If you’re applying for a job in an office environment, you might want to consider an administrative or accounting position. Or if you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, consider a business or engineering role.
Whatever you do, make sure that you choose a job profile that is compatible with your resume. In addition, make sure that your resume is compatible with the job search website that you’re using. Most job search websites will let you know if your resume is compatible with a particular job.
Make Sure That Your Resume Is Fresh
Even though you interviewed for a specific job, that doesn’t mean that the job is guaranteed to you. The hiring process is often times not straightforward, and it can sometimes even take a while to find out whether or not you’ve got the job. So it’s imperative that you don’t re-use the same resume for multiple jobs. When you apply for a job, the hiring manager will first check your resume, and then might contact you for an interview. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a call, and if you’re not, you’ll have to re-submit your resume for consideration.
Make sure that you update your resume whenever there’s a chance that it will be seen by a potential employer. Even if you don’t get the job, at least your resume will still be considered.
Include Relevant Education
If you’re looking for a specific job title, it might be a good idea to include your relevant education. While you don’t need to have a college degree to be successful in today’s world of work, including relevant education can certainly help.
You can list your education independently from your work experience, and you don’t need to include your graduation date. To keep things simple, just list your current school or the school that you attended years ago.
If you decide to list your education, make sure that it is relevant to the position you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job as an engineer, including your bachelor’s degree in business is not going to help you much. However, if you’re applying for an accounting job, including your bachelor’s degree in business administration is going to be very relevant to your application.
Your Resume Is Your Brand
Just like with your clothing or your accessory collection, the way you format and style your resume can be a reflection of your personality. Choose a resume format that makes you stand out, and get creative with your design. If you’re worried that your resume isn’t going to be considered unique, get a resume objective expert to help you. They can give you tips on how to make your resume stand out, and help you choose the right career path for your unique skills and experience.
Your resume is your chance to make a lasting impression on a potential employer. So, take your time and make sure that you format and design your resume to be considered for any job that you apply for.