The main priority of any resume should be to get you the interview you want. Sure, it’s a nice way to log your accomplishments and document your professional journey, but how you present your past experience on a resume is an integral part of the interview process.
Your resume is the first impression, so make it count.
For starters, your resume is a first impression. Oftentimes a hiring manager or recruiter will see your resume before they even speak to you. So making the most of this impression is huge.
Building Your Best Resume
- Don’t use your full address. They don’t need your mailing address, no need to put it out there. A hiring manager may deem you are too far away (especially if you are living with your parents in a different state), or just inaccessible. It may appear a an inconvenience for you or them. So just use the metropolitan area that encompasses where you live, or the city you are prepared to move to for the job.
- Condense your word usage with key words that are in the job description you are applying for. According to indeed, employers glance at a resume for 6 to 7 seconds before forming an opinion. Make every detail pack a punch.
- Don’t put your LinkedIn url. Seriously? Separate yourself from the pack instead with a QR code in the top right corner. It’s a creative call to action and much more practical.
- Use tangible data that quantities your success. Rather than just using vague terms, be specific with your experience and accomplishments. Data driven results are far more effective, and attractive figures are much more appealing than the standard terms every other basic candidate is using.
- Don’t tell a story. This is not a novel. In fact, you shouldn’t really take up much space with anything that wouldn’t provide value to your character or primarily, the role you are applying for. Treat the resume as a vessel to get your foot in the door. Storytime can be shared once you are IN the interview.
