Guest Post by Alina B.
Applying for a new job is one of the most stressful things you can do, even if you are a professional with years of experience. Each job out there is different from the others and has its own requirements that you need to be mindful of. And even if you comply with all the requirements and are perfectly eligible for the job, it is vital to showcase that through your resume. That is why everyone needs to know how to write the perfect resume to increase their chances of landing their next job.
Luckily, there are some simple writing rules that you can use to make your job application stand out. Whether you’re writing a transportation manager’s resume or looking to become the next warehouse associate for a logistics company, these tips will go a long way into ensuring that your application is taken very seriously by your potential employer.
10 Simple Resume Writing Rules When Applying for a Job
1. Use Keywords from the Job Post
While everyone reading this guide would already know that reading the job posting carefully is very important before creating your application, not everyone utilizes the actual keywords within those job postings.
Employers usually add certain keywords to their posts, such as ‘invoicing’ or ‘sales experience’, perhaps in the ‘requirements’ section of the posting. If you have some of the particular communication skills mentioned within the posting, try to use the same keywords in your resume. This will make it very clear to the employer that you have the skills they need and have gone through their job posting very carefully.
2. Keep it Brief
Keeping your resume or application brief does not mean that you have to write everything on just one page. It means that whatever you are writing should be as concise, to-the-point, and structured as possible. No employer wants to read long essays about something that may not even be relevant to their job offer.
If they are more interested in finding out about you as a person, you can focus on that during your video interview, which might be the next step, especially in these times of social distancing.
A structured resume looks professional and visually pleasing at the same time. Using short sentences, bullet points, and sub-sections are great ways to make this happen.
3. Use a Professional Service
If you’re not very good with writing or just need some help, you can also consider using a professional service to help with your resume. Check ResumeWriters or TopResume, they might give you a good view of how professional writing services work and what they can offer.
In particular, resume writing service can help you create a powerful resume that will instantly stand out and give your employer a very clear view of your competencies. You can always seek help for you resume, whether it is to edit or proofread it for you. There are a lot of resume editing services for that. But before deciding read a ResumeWriters reviews or TopResume reviews to familiarize yourself with the results you can expect.
4. Use a Clear Font
Using clear and easy-to-read fonts like Arial or Times New Roman is one of the simplest things you should be careful of when writing a resume. Make sure that your text’s size is between 10 and 12 points to make it readable and not huge at the same time. Also, try to reduce the amount of empty space in your resume to make it more focused.
5. Start with the Most Relevant Information
To capture your employer’s attention right away with your application, be sure to include the most relevant information about yourself regarding the job before anything else. You may have years of experience in other fields, but always mention whatever is relevant at the start so that your employer can see that you are indeed fit for the job being offered.
6. Mention Important Achievements
In your ‘experience’ section, write about the few best achievements you have made in previous roles rather than listing down your responsibilities. This will show your employer that you successfully achieved certain results in your prior job rather than just showing up for work. Mention some numbers or percentages wherever applicable to provide a quantitative look into your achievements.
7. Don’t Use Unnecessary Sections
If you are looking at some Resume Writers reviews and find that people suggest using certain sections or subheadings, or find a resume template that you want to follow, then be sure to only use the sections relevant to your experience.
For example, a resume template might have a ‘volunteer work’ subheading, but if you don’t have any experience with it or is not relevant to the job, don’t use it. Quickly jotting down some basic sections on a paper will help you visually see what information you have for each one before you start typing.
Writing down some rough ideas for the sections and content of your application will help you type it much quicker and in a more structured manner.
8. Be Careful About Margins
Writing a resume is one thing, but properly formatting it is quite another. It is essential to have the right kind of margins on your page to make your resume look professional and ‘clean.’ Typical margins should be 1 inch from all sides and single-spaced lines. You can increase both of these values to fill up space more evenly, but be careful not to go overboard. Going over 2 inches for the margins is not recommended.
9. Read, and Read Again
If you read a Resume Writers review or two, you’ll see that people are generally happy with their professionally-written resumes’ grammar and formatting. However, whether you’re writing yours yourself or having it written by someone, be sure to read it a few times to see for any mistakes.
These could be very simple spelling or punctuation errors to larger errors with regards to numbers. This is a very easy way to make the wrong impression on your future employer so ensure that everything is in order before submitting your application.
10. Show an Interest
Of course, you can show some genuine interest in the job being offered to stand out a little. Your resume doesn’t have to be absolutely clinical, and it can have some personality. If your new job is similar to your current or old job, then you may find it difficult to be excited about it because career burnout is a very real thing. However, there are ways in which you can start loving your career again, so try to do that, and it will come across in your resume too.
Conclusion
As you can see, writing an effective resume is not that difficult if you abide by some very simple rules. Whenever you are applying for a job be sure to follow these tips and you’ll find that your resume will end up being a very clear and concise look into your eligibility for the job you’re applying for. Just be sure to keep it brief, include only relevant information, and present it in a very formal manner through proper formatting. When you do these things, your job application will come across as professional, and you’ll make a great first impression.