Whether you’re writing your resume for the first time or giving your current one an upgrade, crafting a compelling resume can be challenging. How will you fit all of your experience in just two pages? How can this document best represent you and give you that competitive edge? Here’s our pick of the top five most useful tips on how to create a killer resume.
Emphasize accomplishments, not responsibilities
Pen down your major career achievements from previous jobs, and include any quantifiable effort on your part that helped improve the productivity, quality or efficiency of work, or generate revenue for the company. With the intense competition for any given role, you will only fade into the background if you simply list your job responsibilities. Stand out from the rest by showing the positive impact and contribution you have made in your previous roles.
Keep it succinct
When hiring managers sift through resumes, they don’t have the time to read through everything down to the last detail. Their main focus is on evaluating if you’re fit for the role you are applying for. Put your resume under the six-second test: all relevant qualifications, experience and skills should stand out and the hiring managers should be able to get all these with just a brief glance. So, be concise, write the main points and remove fluffed descriptions. A good resume is generally no longer than three pages. Remember – less is more.
Include professional certifications
Including your certifications on your resume can make your job application stand out to potential employers and set you apart from your peers. Having one of these documents proves that you possess a certain level of professional experience or are proficient in a particular skill. Certified individuals are considered more qualified for competitive jobs and usually have an improved reputation in their industry.
Omit certain personal details
Be careful about sharing too much about yourself. Avoid including your NRIC (for privacy concerns), and your date of birth, race, gender and marital status as some employers may unknowingly develop certain biases against you. Only include personal details that would play a decisive role in your work employment process, such as your name, mobile number and email address. You may also add what type of driving license you have if the ability to drive can give you a competitive edge in the role you’re applying for.
Keep the design simple
Design matters more than you think. Your resume is a professional document, so keep it simple and professional. Use classic and easily readable fonts such as Calibri, Times New Roman and Arial in size 10 so that hiring managers do not need to squint while reading your resume. Stay away from bright colors like red, yellow and blue as they are viewed as unprofessional. Stick to classic ones like black and dark blue.
