7.5 billion is the current world population, out of which 1.8 billion are only youth. Do you think there are 1.8 billion jobs out there?
The first step in applying for a job is same all over the world, writing a resume. It is your first impression. A piece of paper that will decide your future in just under 6 seconds! Yes that is correct my dear friends, mere 6 seconds, that is how much time the employers take to read a resume. To cover your whole education, past job experiences, achievements, under that short span of time and in that single page does need some tactics.
To keep the attention of the employers drawn to your resume, bear in mind the following points before writing a resume.
1) Difference between resume and CV
People usually confuse them to be the one and the same but there are major differences between a CV and a resume. They vary in their length, purpose and layout.
CV stands for curriculum vitae and it is detailed document about your education, job experience, achievements, awards and honors received and skills all in chronological order. It can be of two to three pages. They are generally not changed that much from one job profile to the other. Only minor changes are made.
Whereas the resume is just a single page document stating in brief about your qualification and experiences not necessarily in chronological order. And they are specific in nature according to the job.
2) DOs AND DON’Ts WHILE WRTING A RESUME
DOs
- a) Impactful personal profile
This is the first part of the resume and it should be impactful. It should be focused on you rather than on the employer. The employer takes on an average just 5-7 seconds to scan a resume. They looking for a person who is capable of handling that post and therefore, this message should reach them loud and clear that you are capable, worthy and ready to do that. Showcase your strengths in this section.
- b) Be specific
Tell about your achievements specifically. Don’t be vague.
- c) Proper layout
A resume should have a good design and layout. Most of them are rejected just because of lack of structure. All points should be bold and clear. It should be easy to understand. Underline your headings. Use bigger fonts for them.
DON’Ts
- a) Focus on the employer
The focus should be on you, what you have to offer in a clear and concise manner. They don’t require your full career history. Just stick to the relevant points. Don’t be objective.
- b) Stretch it unnecessarily
Resumes are brief documents. It doesn’t needs to be filled with all the details of your personal and professional life. Irrelevant details should be omitted. Only those skills and knowledge gained should be mentioned that are relevant to the job you have applied for.
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESUME
BASIC DETAILS – full name, contact address, phone numbers should be at the top of the page
PERSONAL STATEMENT – state your job interests here and how you can stay up to that mark.
STRENGHTS – your strengths should come next, any unique talent or knowledge that would guide you in doing the job.
QUALIFICATION – your education, the degrees you have obtained, any additional courses that you have done come here.
EXPERIENCES – relevant past job experiences
ACHIVEMENTS – accolades and awards you have won that are worth a mention come here.
TIP: Invest time to make your resume exceptional. It should be unique and creative so that you stand out from the crowd. Think out of the box and you are sure to land that dream job you always wanted.