Unfortunately, we are living in a time when a lot of people are out of work. The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the job market, leaving many to wonder what is next. What is next? The answer is simple; make sure your resume is up to par. Without a solid resume, your chances of getting hired are slim. With that thought in mind, here are several reasons why your resume should be well written.
First Impressions
This point may be obvious, but in a rush to apply for as many jobs as possible, you may forget. Your resume is the first impression a potential employer gets. If you submit a resume filled with spelling and grammatical errors, your resume will be discarded without a second thought.
Your resume can fall on one side or the other of being boastful, which can also be an issue. You don’t want to claim you have skills that you can’t demonstrate. In an interview, you will be asked specific questions about the skills you list on your resume, and if you can’t answer questions about them, you will look like a liar and incompetent.
A worse scenario is that you get the job and then are asked to perform tasks based on the skills you listed on your resume and have no idea how to do them. On the other hand, you don’t want to be too modest with your resume. If you have a set of skills that is vital to a job, be sure to emphasize your expertise and experience with those skills.
Make sure that you keep the descriptions of your experience short. No hiring manager wants to read five or six pages about anyone. Reading a lengthy resume is time-consuming and is one of the biggest reasons resumes get passed over by a hiring manager. Keep your resume short, and you increase your chances of being hired.
It’s All About Algorithms
We live in an age dominated by digital devices and algorithms; then it should be no surprise your resume is likely to be scanned by a device called an applicant tracking system (ATS for short). An ATS works much in the same way that a search engine works.
ATS scan your resume for keywords that have been entered in a query field. Once an ATS has found resumes with the specified keywords, it then scans for relevancy to the open position. Next, the ATS assigns each resume a score and sends them to a hiring manager from highest score to lowest. Be sure that you know the skills and experience the employer is looking for and ensure they are listed on your resume (but only if you have the skills or experience).
Looks Aren’t Everything
When it comes to how a resume looks, you’ve probably heard old-school ideas about having designs on your resume or even your picture. Even before the advent of ATS, most hiring managers wanted uncluttered resumes that were easily scannable. With most companies now using ATS, there is a good chance that having borders, design, and photos will cause your resume to be rejected. You should only add your picture or use borders on a resume if you hand it directly to an employer. Even sending it through email could cause issues with formatting. Remember, a simple, clean design is your best bet when it comes to writing your resume.
Brian Bailie Jr Writing Service Produces Well Written Resumes
As you have read, having a well written, professional appearing resume is vital to your chances of getting hired. Call us or fill out our contact form, and we will be in touch about optimizing your resume so that you have a greater chance of getting the position you want.