To have a recruiter give your résumé a second look, you need to make it compelling and persuasive. This means that you will need to create it with the intent to persuade. Remember, you want to induce the hiring manager / recruiter to call you in for an interview.
If you write with that goal in mind, your résumé will look vastly different than if you write a generic résumé – whose purpose is to inform or catalog your job history. You do not want this; you want it to highlight the skills, experiences and qualities – in a compelling manner- that will highlight why you are the best person for the job.
So here are 4 tips on how to write a persuasive and compelling résumé.
- List benefits and results. Instead of just listing your job skills, describe your accomplishments in terms of benefits and results. This will help you stand out from the crowd. For each job or temporary assignment, develop a list of major accomplishments, placing the most emphasis on your recent achievements. Think about what problems or challenges you have faced? What actions you took to overcome them? How did your actions benefit the company? Then quantify those answers; most companies value workers who enhance profits and save time and money.
- Sell yourself. You only have one shot to make a great impression. Compose a clear objective. State what you want to do, for whom, where, and at what level of responsibility. Your résumé is a word picture of yourself, so highlight your strengths and one or two outstanding skills or abilities. List your education, training, and any relevant awards.
- Use a simple layout. Recruiters spend only about six seconds reviewing a résumé before making an initial decision on a job seeker. So keep your layout simple, with a clear visual hierarchy, and make the information easy to find – avoiding visuals. Recruiters know what they are looking for; making them search for it is not a good idea.
- Customize your résumé for the job posting. Recruiters and hiring managers look for a particular candidate who possesses every skill that they have outlined on their job posting. If you want a recruiter or hiring manager to give your résumé a second look, you have got to the present the picture to them that you are perfect for the job. A generic one-size-fits-all résumé cannot do that.
Are you currently looking for a new position? Have you created a compelling and persuasive résumé that will earn you those coveted second looks? We want to help you stand out from the crowd. Send us your résumé today! We look forward to hearing from you. If you are looking for job opportunities in Colorado, contact The Job Store today.