Did you know that most companies use a software that screens your resume for keywords and phrases? If your resume does not match the job description, then your application could be automatically thrown out. This is why it is so important to have a strong resume. Today, I am giving you 4 resume tips that will land you your dream job + a free resume template!
Resume tip #1: categories
The first resume tip is all about the categories your resume must have! All of these categories are included in the free resume template that you can download here. First, you want to include your contact information. Some things you will want to list include your name, address, phone number, and email (it is optional to include a link to your LinkedIn). After you include your contact information, you will have a category for your education. You can list where you went to school, your degree, any honors you received (dean’s list, magna cum laude, etc.), and your GPA if you think it will positively contribute to your application. Next, you will include your job experience. If you have never worked before, you can include any relevant experience (volunteering, etc.). Make sure your job experiences are in chronological order (listing the most recent one first). Lastly, you will want to include any extra activities, recognitions, or certifications that you have. This is where you can list the extracurricular activities you participated in. Following the free resume template will help you organize your resume and get it through the screening process!
Resume tip #2: action verbs
This is one of the most important resume tips I can give you. Your job experiences need to stick out! It is absolutely necessary that your job descriptions begin with an action verb. If it is a current experience, then you will want to use action verbs ending in “ing” and if it is in the past then used the past tense form “ed.” You can find my favorite list of action verbs to use in your resume here. I love this list because it breaks down your experiences into categories. For example, if you “led a project,” it will give you stronger action verbs to use instead such as “organized,” “operated,” “oversaw,” etc. Using these action verbs will make your resume shine and stick out to recruiters!
Resume tip #3: job descriptions
There is so much more to consider then action verbs when writing your job descriptions. For each job experience, I suggest that you include 3-4 bulleted points. Each bulleted line should go into detail of what you did in that certain job. For example, let’s say you worked retail. Instead of saying “worked on a team,” you should say “worked with a team of 25 associates to boost sales goals, units per transaction, and conversion through constant communication and celebrating accomplishments.” See how much more detail is in that line? This is what recruiters want to see! Another thing to consider with job descriptions is making sure you use numbers. As you can see in the above example, I said a team of 25 (not just a team). Employers want to know how big the team was, how much sales you had for the year, how many projects you were on, etc. Remember, it’s all about the DETAILS.
Resume tip #4: other things to consider
There are just a few more resume tips that you will want to consider. Make sure your resume fits to just 1 page. The free resume template I made for you will help you fit everything to one page! You should also tailor your resume to the job you are applying to. It is not a “one fits all” kind of scenario. There will be jobs where you might need to add other experiences to your resume so it will pass the screening process. Last but not least, and probably the most important resume tip in this whole blog post, is to proofread your resume not once, not twice, but a lot!! Have your friends read it, your parents, or anyone else that you think could help you. It is probably going to be an immediate toss out if you have misspellings on your resume.
Don’t stress about the process! It might take several revisions before you come upon a resume that works for you! The free resume template that I have provided has gotten me jobs at some of the largest companies including JPMorgan! Make sure you download it here before you forget. If your curious how I got a job at some of the largest companies, you can read about that here. Comment any questions you have below!
Staying styled, southern, and sweet –
Casey
