7 Things You Should be Including in Your Resume to Make it Shine
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These days, even with a strong economy, job recruiters, on average, receive hundreds of resumes a week. With recruiters and hiring managers spending no more than six seconds on a resume before deciding whether to call you, according to the site Business 2 Community, it’s important that you put your best foot forward to ensure you don’t get lost in the shuffle. When it comes to writing a resume, you should include these seven things to really make it shine.
An Online Portfolio
Only seven percent of job seekers have an online portfolio even though we live in a digital-first world. Having a professional website or professional social media profile can showcase both the breadth and quality of your achievements. An online portfolio also demonstrates to employers that you are digitally savvy.
Volunteer Work
Not including your volunteer experience on your resume is a huge mistake, according to hiring managers. Your volunteer work sets you apart from other candidates by highlighting your passion and commitment to helping others. Your volunteer work can also showcase a skillset that you may not by utilizing in your current, 9-to-5 job. In a recent study conducted by Fortune Magazine, 92 percent of hiring managers say that volunteer activities help to build leadership skills, which can give you an edge over the competition.
Keywords from the Job Post
Many companies now use applicant-tracking software to sift through the thousands of resumes they receive for each job posting. To ensure that yours falls into the hiring managers lap, you need to include some of the keywords that appear in the job post. This allows the computerized system to recognize that you’re a good fit and push you through, increasing your chances of landing an interview.
Quantifiable Accomplishments
List the accomplishments that are quantifiable. Make sure you include numbers like, dollars saved, percentage increase in traffic, or hours saved, etc. Including these numbers are the best way for you to back up your achievements.
Part-Time Work
Don’t be afraid to list side projects, freelance work, or internships. Even if your part-time positions aren’t a stable 9-to-5 position, it still shows a stable work history. Listing any part-time work or projects you’ve been a part of can also demonstrate transferable skills and will look better on a resume that might have stretches of unemployment.
Bullet Points
No matter how accomplished you are, it is important that you stick to a one or two-page resume. You’ll need to summarize your accomplishments and experiences in short fragments. Putting together a resume from templates, can help you accomplish this by providing you with an easy to follow format that includes bullet points. Bullet points allow hiring managers to quickly notice relevant parts of your work experience.
A Profile
The section for your profile has replaced the objectives section on today’s resume. Write a short synopsis of your career path and skill set at the top of the page. If you’re new to the job market, include your education and extracurricular activities that are applicable to the position you want. If you are a seasoned professional, include your years of experience.
A stellar resume can put you on the right path to landing your dream job. Including these seven elements will help you stand out from an overcrowded field.
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