Who has time to write a resume? We know you have a busy life – and sometimes there’s just not enough time in the day to scan through articles to get the information you need. That’s why we created the Resume Cheat Sheet! We pulled the best tips, tricks, and advice from our archives and put them all in one place just for you.
Resume Cheat Sheet
Here are five solid resume tips from our experts:1. Amp Up Your Work Experience
There’s no law that requires your experience to be contained in a section called “Work History.” What about “Sales Achievements and Performance” or “Relevant Technical Leadership Roles?” Why not try “Operations Management Career” if your focus is a new role in manufacturing production or within a call center? This technique is especially effective if you’re trying to direct attention toward a specific part of your experience, helping to connect disparate parts of your career to the role you’re targeting. (Original Article: "How To Write Compelling Resume Section Headings")2. Customization is Critical
Remember, you always want to tweak your resume when you apply for a job. No two positions are exactly alike, and each employer is going to have different standards and requirements that are very important to them. Key in on those requirements, and be sure to incorporate them into your resume. You’ll know what these requirements are by reviewing the job advertisement and noting special keywords throughout; or, in most cases, the employer will state required skills or preferred qualifications. You’re a perfect match when you meet all of the required and preferred qualifications. (Original article: "4 Ways To Make Your Resume A Perfect Match For A Job Opening")3. White Space is Important
Most resumes have at least a half inch margin, but a full inch is preferable. If your margins are smaller, you risk losing content if the document is printed by the hiring manager. Plus, a resume that lacks a one inch margin is harder for the reader to peruse and may look cluttered or chaotic – two qualities that are not often sought by employers. (Original Article: "Top 6 Tips For Resume Formatting")4. Use Numbers and Symbols
Numbers and symbols quickly jump out at employers so use them whenever you can. Resumes have their own special rules and I always show all numbers as digits as they catch the eye. Percentages are always best as they show the impact of your efforts. For example,saying “Increased sales $750K over prior year” is nice but to some companies that is petty cash and your company might not like your giving out their private information; better to say “Increased sales 43% over prior year.” Simply avoid words that don’t define, such as “many,” “few” and “several.” (Original Article: "4 Ways To Turn Resume Fluff Into Marketable Facts")5. Determine the Right Keywords
There are simple ways to figure out what keywords should go on your resume.- Review the Job Posting - The job posting typically tells you the title or position, specific experiences, skills and education desired or required of a candidate. Highlight all these keywords and work them into your resume in context.
- Job Description - Conduct searches on career or job board websites for job descriptions of the position you are applying for. You will notice common keywords coming from each of the job descriptions that you can also use in context for your resume.
- Company/Organization Website - Review its website. You will notice there are field or industry specific terms that are commonly used that should also be applied to your resume in context.
