In any job that you wish to pursue, your resume should be able to stand out from the competition and showcase your career highlights. When crafting your resume, many individuals tend to get caught up in the fancy language and the amount of experience they have. While your resume should show professionalism and a proven work experience, there are some other key aspects you should be careful to include.
Résumé Introduction
Your resume introduction should be a summary of your work history and position in your chosen industry. Think of it as an elevator pitch in which you give a clear and concise summary of what you do and why you are qualified. This can rest underneath your name and contact information on your resume. By placing this resume introduction before your work experience, you will better prepare your potential employers for reviewing your qualifications and past successes.
Think of it as a summary on the back of a book. Rather than diving into a book with no clue as to what you will be reading about, reading this summary better prepares you for the story and makes you feel more connected to it from the start. Try the same tactic with your resume, and you may receive more interviewing opportunities than you originally thought.
Don’t Go Overboard with Job Responsibilities
One mistake many people make on their resumes is believing they have to write out all of their responsibilities in sentence format for each job they held. However, going overload with the information may be taxing for potential employers, who are most likely sifting through a hundred or more applications. Having paragraphs listed on your resume will rarely grab the attention of the company you are applying for. Instead, try listing three or four bullet points of your accomplishments or responsibilities for each role. This will give the organization a better idea of what you can accomplish under their employment.
Skills Section
Even though some of your skills may be evident through your work experience, including a skills section will better encompass your overall work ethic and abilities. This is an eye-catching section you can include a variety of skills in. Any potential employers will be happy to see what you can bring to the table in their organization. Include a variety of hard skills and soft skills to show employers your dynamic abilities. The skills section is also an area you can include aspects of yourself that may not have been noticeable through your job experiences, such as communication skills, digital fluency, and more.