Your resume has to hook the reader within seconds if you are to proceed to the interview stage of job application. Hiring managers receive hundreds of application for jobs. As a result, they are unable to go through all the resumes. Therefore, employers tend to scan resumes before deciding to progress candidates to the interview stage. The following is a list of things employers look for in resumes:
1. Responsibilities and Roles
For each job you apply for, ensure that you tailor your resume based on the requirements. In other words, employers look to ascertain that the job titles and the responsibilities included in the resume are relevant for the job being offered.
2. Experience
Employers scan resumes for the right experience for the job. As a result, you should ensure that your experience, be it one year in one job and two years in another- are communicated as consistent and relevant to the job being applied for. Additionally, specify where you added value and the exact contribution you made to any high-profile project.
3. Skills
Employers want to know the skills you have gained from your previous employment. For this reason, make sure to include all relevant skills acquired in your previous roles. These skills are crucial as they complement your experience illustrating your stability for the job being applied for.
4. Results and Achievements
Employers and hiring managers are interested in seeing results. In this case, if you attained above your target as a director, for example, ensure that you state your targets as amounts or percentages and illustrate how you overachieved.
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5. Education
Hiring managers and employers want to know your educational qualifications. Make sure to highlight the relevant academic certificates especially if they have been listed as important in the selection criteria. A clear and concise illustration of your academic qualifications will act as a hook to the hiring managers. They will not be able to leave you out among the candidates invited for an interview.
Additionally, you resume has to be friendly in terms of readability and clarity. To achieve these, pay attention to the following issues:
6. Easy To Read
Your resume has to be clear and consistent in all aspects. To achieve this, ensure that you use only one font type with bold being used to highlight. When outlining your skills, responsibilities, achievements and much more, it is recommended to use bullet points as opposed to rambling sentences. Finally, ensure that the resume is checked for any grammar and spelling mistakes.
7. No Inconsistencies
This is an important factor in what employers look for in resumes. The resume must be written as concise as possible and run in reverse chronological order. One thing you must counter check is your work history to ensure that there is no unexplained gaps or inconsistencies in achievements or responsibilities portrayed in the resume.
8. Keyword Search
Most people do not know that keywords are essential in any resume. To include these keywords, scan the description of the job to ensure your language mirrors it. The importance of this is that it will establish a link in the reader’s mind between you and the job requirements. However, in doing this avoid too much jargon.
9. Labels and Format
Format your resume in a manner that it will be easy for the one reading to open it. Save the resume in the right manner including your name while saving the document. This will make it easy for the people going to look at your resume. They will not have to download a software to read your resume.
Most people with skills and experiences required for a particular job have missed these positions as a result of unclear documentation of their resumes. As you want to be considered for any job being advertised, ensure that you gain a competitive advantage by structuring your resume as expected by employers. Make sure to apply these tips when writing your resumes. We at prolatest.com wish you all the best in your job applications.
