You probably work eight hours a day. And that means you spend 1,842 hours at work per year. Over an average person’s lifetime, that can add up to 90,000 hours!
So, why waste all that time on a job that doesn’t excite you?
Maybe you’re afraid of change or competition on the job market.
And you’re right. The competition is fierce. But you shouldn’t feel miserable at work.
The good news is that it’s not difficult to learn how to write a resume that seriously boosts your chances of landing your dream job.
Here are seven 5-minute resume hacks that will help you create a competitive resume so you can land a job you love.
1. Structure Your Resume for Scannability
Hiring managers take around 6 seconds to scan a resume before deciding whether or not it’s worth reading.
That’s why you need to make sure that your resume attracts their attention right away.
Instead of struggling to format a resume on your own, try using a resume template. If you want to create your resume yourself, don’t forget to align your content to the left.
Use bullet points to create a visual hierarchy that recruiters can follow. Be sure to use bold, italics, and capital letters to foreground information you want the hiring manager to spot first.
2. Choose the Right Font
The font you pick for your resume is critical for readability.
Choosing a font that Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software can read and will still be easy on human eyes is more important than you’d think.
It’s best to avoid fonts like Comic Sans, Courier, or Times New Roman.
Even though Times New Roman is easy to read, it’s the most popular font for resumes. So, using it can make your resume look tired and dull.
Go for fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica instead.
3. Put Your Best Content at the Top
Recruiters will focus on the top third of your resume while scanning. So, you need to grab their attention and make an impression.
Start with a bang by adding a resume summary or objective after your contact information.
These are short, snappy introductions that capture and highlight a couple of your best skills and your career progress.
Follow up your summary or objective with your most relevant experiences, qualifications, and achievements.
You need to show recruiters that you’re a great match for the position from the start.
4. Make Strategic Use of Keywords
Instead of filling your resume with empty buzzwords, tailor your resume to the job description by adding relevant keywords.
Recruiters scan resumes with keywords in mind, so sprinkling these keywords throughout your resume is a smart move.
You can find keywords by underlining the experiences, skills, and qualifications that you have in the job offer. Include what you underlined throughout your resume, and you’re on the right track.
5. Add Numbers and Details
How can you make sure that hiring managers pay attention to your most impressive skills and experiences?
Add numbers and details. Have a look at this example:
Significantly increased customer satisfaction.
Increased customer satisfaction by 15% through staff training.
Which one sounds more convincing? That’s right – the second example.
Facts and figures prove your skills and help recruiters imagine you achieving similar results for them in the future.
6. Put Finishing Touches on Your Resume
One of the most important things you can do for your resume is to eliminate mistakes and typos.
Typos motivate 72% of recruiters to reject resumes. Even if you’re the most qualified candidate for the job, typos will get your resume thrown in the trash.
That’s why you want to check your resume twice. Use online tools like Grammarly or Language Tool. Also, ask someone else to proofread your resume. Your human proofreader can also comment on things like tone and content.
7. Polish your Online Presence
One of the first things recruiters do after reading a resume is research the candidate online.
You should expect hiring managers to look you up on Google and social media channels, especially LinkedIn.
Make sure that your resume and online profiles tell the same story and contain the same information. Any discrepancies will throw off hiring managers. So, don’t forget to update key dates and contact information.
Key Takeaway
Use these seven simple tricks, and you’ll become a more attractive candidate and land more job interviews. Now, you’re ready to compete in the race for your dream job.
