Let me introduce you to Jade Anderson who is a guest blogger. Jade has written a strong article outlining some of the best resume tips to use in your resume writing strategy.

A resume/CV is and has always been the most important tool in the search for a job. Resumes are the first point of contact between you and the recruiter. Resumes are what get your future employer’s attention; they show where you have been, where you are and where you are going. Essentially, resumes reflect you on paper and therefore it is important you get it right. Whether you are on the lookout for a new job, or have neglected your resume for too long, several key tips follow to help you write your resume.

What defines you?

When an employer or recruiter is looking at resumes, they take an average of just 6 seconds to look over each resume. To stand out, your resume must portray your personal voice. Employers want to see your goals and ambitions and how your determination can help their company.

Understanding how your passion can be integrated into a career path helps you understand what positions will be best for you and how you should portray yourself to be appealing for such positions. Perhaps you will discover you need to take an extra course to be better suited for a position. With online courses from training organisations such as Upskilled, it might be easier than you think.

Be real and authentic. Your resume should reflect you, rather than you forcing yourself into a generic resume template.

Think about your audience.

Each position you apply for will differ slightly; it’s for a different company, a different role, or even a completely different industry. Therefore, your resume should be tailored for each application you make.

Consider your audience. Recruiters might be responsible for sourcing you but that does not mean they do not know what the industry, company and employer are looking for. You must have a clear idea about the companies and industries you are targeting as well as the problems, requirements and traits found in the position.

Take note of recent accomplishments.

In terms of your career, a lot may have happened since you last updated your resume. You can achieve a lot in one year, and if you are constantly focused on the work at hand, these accomplishments can pass you by.

Think back and add any certificates, new skills, or meaningful accomplishments you have made, provided they’re relevant to your career.

Cull irrelevant material.

Your resume should be short and to the point. Employers only look at each resume for a short amount of time so it is important you present your most important details in a concise manner.

If you need to cut down on material but are not sure where to start, start with your oldest and most irrelevant job. Only include experience and achievements that are current and relevant.

Include keywords.

Job descriptions and posted openings contain keywords and relevant terms. These same keywords and phrases are looked for within resumes by recruiters and employers to find candidates that suit the position. Computer programs such as applicant tracking systems (ATS) crawl the applications and search for these keywords.

Therefore, it is important you identify the most important keywords in your industry and include them strategically throughout your resume.

Make yourself contactable.

This might seem extremely obvious, but your contact information is the most important part of your resume. Often, people can get a new number or email address earlier in the year without updating their resume. When it is time to apply for a new position, they forget all about it and are unreachable.

Another important thing to consider is having a URL link to your LinkedIn and even a link to any published work you have online, if that is what your job involves.

Having an effective resume in 2018 involves having a unique personal voice with clear career goals. Ensuring your resume is concise, easy to read and original is key to attracting potential employer’s attention. On the other hand, if you are not searching for a job, it is still beneficial to update your resume regularly with recent and relevant accomplishments.

Jade Anderson is an experienced In-house Editor at Upskilled. With a background in online marketing, Jade runs several successful websites of her own. Her passion for the education industry and content is displayed through the quality of work she offers.

I hope you enjoyed reading Jade’s article. I’ll be posting more articles from other guest bloggers in the future.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone