11 Tips to Improve Your Resume Today

With the employment market tightening up it is even harder now more than it has ever been before to get your foot through the door to obtain an interview to land the perfect job. The following 11 tips will help you improve and enhance your resume today so your resume is easy to read and clearly identifies your abilities to your prospective employer. Therefore, providing you with the opportunity for your resume to stand out from other resumes and applicants.

1. Leave out the cover title page

Cover title pages only create a barrier for the prospective employer that is reading your resume. They never get read and they don't create any purpose in your resume. So don't waste any time, effort or money in creating or having a title page on the front of your resume.

2. Put your name and phone number in the footer of each page

By putting your name and phone number in the footer of each page helps the prospective employer when reading your resume to remember who they're reading about quickly without having to glance back to the front page. It also assists with collating the pages just in case for some reason the pages are separated.

3. Number your pages X of Y

Numbering your pages X of Y in the footer of the page (e.g. Page 1 of 6), will assist if the pages become separated. If one page is missing the prospective employer reading your resume will easily be able to pick this up.

4. Include achievements with your employment history

Including an achievement with your employment history helps build integrity about your work ethic and your ability. It demonstrates that not only could you do the job but you also did it at a higher standard and was recognised for it.

5. Keep your font consistent

Whatever font or font size you use in your resume ensure it is consistent and use it right the way through your resume. This will make it easier for the prospective employer to read and not be confusing on the eye.

6. Have someone proofread it for spelling or grammatical errors

Having someone proofread your resume for spelling and grammatical errors is very important. There is nothing worse than submitting a resume to a prospective employer to find that you've misspelled a word or have grammatical errors through it. This in itself could diminish how successful you are in getting an interview.

7. Know the difference between a resume and a CV (Curriculum Vitae)

It is important to know the difference between a resume and curriculum vitae as some employers will ask for a resume and others will ask for a curriculum vitae. The difference is simple. A curriculum vitae is a document that sets out every type of employment and work experience that you have had throughout your life. A resume is work experience and employment that you've had that is relevant to the position you are applying for and sometimes only goes back for the last 10 years.

8. Steer clear of pretty borders, pictures and fancy fonts

Fancy fonts, pretty borders, and pictures only confuse the eye when the prospective employer is trying to read your resume and absorb the importance of the content you are trying to portray. Ensure your resume is clear, concise and utilises white space effectively and steering clear of pretty borders, pictures and fancy fonts.

9. Ensure your referees will promote you in a positive light

Having referees that will promote you in a positive light to your prospective employer is really important. You would be surprised how many referees I have called throughout a recruitment process that either wouldn't comment on the individual or had nothing nice to say about the individual. However, it was obvious that the individual was unaware of this. In some cases this could be the difference between whether or not you are successful in landing the position that you've just been interviewed for. If you're unsure of how your prospective referee will promote you, ask them what they are likely to say if called before you place them in your resume as a referee.

10. Ensure when you list your knowledge and skills that these are changed and rearranged for each different position you apply for

Having your knowledge and skills listed in order of importance to the position you are applying for will make it easy for the prospective employer to read your resume and feel confident about how good a fit you will be into their business. If you can line up your knowledge and skills to reflect those that are listed in that position or job description your also giving yourself that extra opportunity as these will be the first ones the employer will read under your heading skills and knowledge. Don't make the employer work hard to read and understand your abilities.

11. Use verbs

When writing your resume you want use words that describe activity, action and demonstrates doing. Such as: high levels, has the ability, sound skills, demonstrated skills, demonstrated ability, proven ability, experienced in, I facilitated, was involved in, etc., to begin your sentences.

I hope these 11 tips have enabled you to improve and enhance your resume today and provide you the opportunity to stand out from the rest of the crowd.

For further advice and direction throughout the recruitment process including writing strong selection criteriacontact us at www.dowellsolutions.com.au