In today’s world, a resume isn’t just about checking the boxes on a job application. It’s an important marketing document that can determine your success in finding a job.
Resumes come in all shapes and sizes, but there are certain universal skills that all successful resumes share. If you want to write a great resume to stand out above the rest, check out the tips below.
The Skills You Need
A great resume isn’t just about having the right education or work history. You also need to stand out with some truly unique skills that set you apart from the crowd. Try to incorporate many of these skills on your resume to make it stand out.
Marketing
A great resume isn’t just about getting the job. It’s about getting the job and then successfully marketing yourself once you’re there. Your resume is essentially your marketing tool and the best way to gain employment.
Many skilled marketers, salespeople, and communicators find their way into the marketing sector, so this is a useful skill to have. Your resume should reflect your skills and interests, and not just your job history. When crafting your resume, try to imagine that you’re not just competing with people who are already employed, but that you’re also competing with people who are dreaming of an opportunity like yours.
Writing
The best way to stand out above the rest is to write a great resume that’s full of engaging content. If you’re lacking in creative writing skills, there are plenty of job opportunities in advertising and public relations, so you can learn to write professionally.
While there are many well-written resumes out there, not all of them are created equal. If you want to write a great resume, take the time to learn from the best. Seek out resumes that are well-crafted and full of compelling content. Learning to write a compelling resume that will allow you to stand out above the rest is a valuable skill to have.
Research
If you’re applying for a job in financial services, you’ll need to understand the business and be able to cite key statistics and figures about the industry. To get the job, you’ll need to prove to the employer that you’re an expert in your field and can handle the responsibility of providing analytical thinking for the company.
If you lack the research skills to back up your opinions, you’re definitely setting yourself up for a fall. If you want to stand out above the rest of the applicants, learn how to do research and cite your sources. This is especially important if you’re applying for a position at a smaller company where you don’t already have a foot in the door. Without this, you’re essentially applying for a job with no track record.
Syntax And Style
While your resume should be concise and to the point, it also needs to be easy to read. If you want to write a great resume, learn how to use correct English and avoid using jargon. If you’re using a personal computer, make sure that your resume looks good on the page. You shouldn’t have to zoom in to read it – it should be easy to understand on the first read.
To test your resume’s readability, see if you can understand it when applied to a specific person. If you’re applying for a job at a small company that you’ve never worked for before, make sure that you look up the person’s name in a thesaurus to find the best words to describe their job and overall employment history. Don’t just use the first five words that come to mind – make sure you choose the right ones.
Punctuation
Just because you formatted your resume doesn’t mean that you need to follow all of the rules of punctuation when you’re writing. If you’re applying for a creative job, go ahead and use commas instead of periods at the end of your sentences. If you want to stand out, use a different punctuation style – in the right place, with the right amount of sentences, you can definitely use all of the appropriate punctuation.
For instance, instead of using periods at the end of your sentences, try using question marks or exclamation points. These punctuation marks can make your resume pop!
Overall
In addition to the above tips, you need to ensure that your resume is a well-crafted document that will engage the reader. Remember – nothing stands out above the rest but unique content that’s detailed and relevant to the position you’re applying for. Make sure that each section of your resume is tied to a particular keyword so that you can find it when an employer is searching for specific content.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what makes your resume great, ask a friend or family member to read it. They’ll be able to easily identify the skills that you put into it and give you valuable feedback on what you should change. When applying for a job, never send your resume to the potential employer without first having it reviewed by a professional.