The first impression matters. When applying for prospective jobs the first impression you make is through your resume. In essence, your resume should speak on your behalf. It tells a prospective employer who you are and what you can do. It will define if you will proceed to the next steps – the interview or skills test.
These are the important factors to keep in mind:
Keep It Simple
- Summarize the most recent years of your career (work experience) in one or two pages
- Be direct, concise and stay focused on employment-related details
- Do not list your references in your resume. Note that they are available upon request
- Do not include irrelevant information such as hobbies, marital status, etc
Keep Your Design Professional
- Use a clear and commonly used font. To name a few, Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri are suggested
- Emphasize your accomplishments and qualities using bullet points
- Organize your information in a consistent, chronological manner.
Be Organized
- Ensure your name and contact information are prominently displayed at the top of each page
- Outline your work experience in reverse chronological order. Include dates of employment, positions held, and all names of companies for which you have worked for
- Under education, list only the most recent degree you have earned
- Create a section that lists your experience and level of proficiency with technologies
Proofread
- Proofreading is crucial in this stage, grammar mistakes may be an automatic red flag for some employers
- Tip: On MS Word press F7 for spell check.
Be Sure to Market Yourself
- Present yourself as a solution. Address the employer’s needs in your resume
- For IT positions, it is important to list all the technologies you have experience using and to what proficiency
- Use short, simple sentences. They convey information most clearly
- Focus on achievements that set you apart from others with comparable experience
- Elaborate on the responsibilities you performed at various roles
- Explain what you did, how you did it, who you did it with and why the company was better off with you there
If you are trying to apply for a job and have any additional questions, email any of our recruiters so they can help you tailor your resume to any of our jobs!