About the author
Searching for a job is a lot like marketing. The only difference is that you’re selling yourself and your skills – not a product or service. It makes sense, then, to focus on writing a resume that highlights your experience, skills and the value that you can bring to the employer. The information you include on your resume can make or break your chances of landing a job. Here are six things employers look for when reviewing resumes.
1. Job Title
Everyone has a job title; it lets the employer know what you do. Maybe you’re a web designer, or a retail salesperson. Whatever the case may be, it’s important to include your job title on your resume, so potential employers can see what you’re offering at a glance.
2. Experience
The experience portion of your resume gives you a chance to highlight your accomplishments. Keep it short and concise, using bullet points if you can. Avoid naming any companies that you’ve worked for, just make note of your accomplishments while working in this position.
If you have no prior work experience, highlight the education and coursework that has prepared you for the role, or any internships that may have provided you with experience.
3. The Value You Bring
To catch the eye of the employer, you’ll need to prove that you bring some value to the table. That value will be demonstrated through your work history, which will focus on your achievements as well as your responsibilities.
If you lack work experience, focus on internships or volunteer opportunities that may have given you valuable experience. These can be just as effective at impressing or convincing an employer to at least call you in for an interview.
4. Soft Skills
Employers are also interested in your soft skills, which includes your ability to be a team player or to solve problems in a critical, innovative way. Go beyond simply listing these qualities, and briefly highlight examples that demonstrate these attributes.
5. Accomplishments
The job world is competitive, so candidates need to stand out in the crowd. How do you do this? Focus on your accomplishments. Employers want to see what you have done for your previous employers, as this gives them an idea of what you can do for them. Focus on accomplishments that are relevant to the position, and demonstrate your ability to lead or take initiative. Try to avoid reiterating accomplishments you listed in your work history or experience sections.
6. Contact Information
Employers need a way to contact you to extend an invitation for an interview, or to let you know that you have the job. Don’t forget to include your current contact information in your resume, mainly your: name, email address, and phone number.
Tip: Get a professional email address, like Gmail, before sending out any resumes.
If you have a LinkedIn profile, blog, or website, you should include links to them in your resume as well.
One final thing: Make sure that your resume is readable. It should be easy to scan, so the hiring manager can glance over it, and make a quick decision as to whether they should call you in for an interview. Remember, you have 10-20 seconds to make an impression – make it count.
This has been a guest blog post:
Helen Evans, Marketing manager of JobTonic.in, has been in the career development field for 5 years. She likes to share interesting tips to help people find their dream job. Her goal is to share what she has learned about searching job. Dream job is closer than you imagine
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