How to Create a Winning Resume

In this increasingly globalized and competitive job market, having a resume that stands out will be vital to ensure your chance to be considered for a job. HR personnel are most likely swamped with countless resume from applicants with somewhat similar background from all around the globe. Therefore, other than having the required experiences and skills, you also need to know how to write a resume and properly frame them in a way that would win the attention of the recruiter. Otherwise, your resume might end up in the ‘no’ pile after just a quick glance. Here are a few tips to create your winning resume.

Tailor it to the position you apply for

Every job opening has its own specific descriptions and requirements for what kind of person they are looking for. With this in mind, it will be a mistake to create just one general resume and then use it to apply for all of the different positions. A resume that is too general has a high chance of being quickly brushed off for the clear lack of effort. Instead, you should read carefully the job descriptions and requirement, then tweak your resume to properly reflect it. Pay attention to the keywords that are used, such as ‘leadership’ or ‘team player’, and make sure you incorporate those qualities in your resume. A winning resume will show that you have put some work in researching about the positions and that you have the right qualities to fill the position.

Concise writing in bullet points

Keeping the content of your resume succinct and to the point, while still managing to convey all of the important information is vital for a winning resume. Giving out too many details, especially when it is not related to the job, and writing in paragraphs can deter the hiring manager from even reading your resume. Bullet points will help you summarize your points and make it easier for the reader to process the information. Always keep readability in mind when putting together your resume!    

Keep it professional

Related to the point above, keeping it professional means only putting in information that are relevant to the job. Avoid unrelated personal details, such as beliefs or politics, and others that might distract the recruiter. Additionally, being professional also applies to the design of the resume. Fancy fonts and layout may attract the attention of the reader, but overdoing it will only make your resume hard to read. Of course, there are exceptions depending on the industry and the preference of each recruiter. But when in doubt, keeping it simple and easy on the eye is always a good choice for your winning resume.      

Emphasize on accomplishments                                                     

Often times when describing past job experiences, people tend to write only what their position entails. The better way to do this is by focusing on the accomplishments you have achieved when you were on your previous position. Give out actual numbers if possible, such as the total sales you made in a month. These achievements will give the recruiter a much clearer sense of your capability. Always be truthful and do not forget to provide actual experiences and/or certificates for the specific skills that you have listed in your resume. Your main goal for a winning resume is to impress the recruiters and convince them that you can bring many beneficial things to the company.  

Attach a cover letter                                                                                                            

While a resume is mostly comprised of lists, a cover letter is the chance for you to truly describe it all in detail. Explain how you deal with problems and how you have grown from your past mistakes. You can also explain why you are the best person for the position while providing relevant proofs. Convince the recruiters that your experiences and skills will be a great asset for them. Some employers are not even going to consider your resume if there is no cover letter attached to it, so be sure to prepare one!

Writing a winning resume takes time and effort, but that is exactly what your potential employer will look for. It will show that you are a candidate who has done your research and that you are serious about your application. Follow all of these tips and your resume will surely end up on top of the pile. A call from the hiring manager will soon follow!