A resume is a critical tool in the job market. Still, many job applicants underestimate its value to attract a potential employer. That is why many experts with vast experience and excellent skills do not get an offer no matter how hard they try. Isn’t it a pity? Find out how with a resume, you can attract an employer.
Carefully Study the Vacancy
Many applicants fail due to their ignorance of the job description. It is like reading the prompt for the same-day essay in college. Take some time to read the full vacancy description, underlining the buzzwords.
Let’s say you’re interested in applying for the position of junior/senior expert in search engine optimization (SEO). Except for the title of the job, you might highlight and make use of the following keywords:
- semantic core
- buzzwords, keywords, key phrases
- website optimization
- metadata (title, description, headings, tags)
- Serpstat
- WebSite Auditor
- Search and research
- link building
- Google Analytics
- SEO tools
- ad campaigns
- content management
Make sure to input all of these words and terms into your resume and cover letter. This way, you make your own document SEO-optimized for search engines.
If you create a LinkedIn or Facebook page for business purposes, inserting the vacancy keywords is necessary. Make sure to use as many buzzwords as possible during the interview too.
Related: Get Noticed with Our LinkedIn Portfolio Services
Stand Out from the Rest of the Candidates
Study the job market to understand what other people usually write. Avoid repetitiveness. You may download some examples of resumes but change them as much as possible. To understand your unique selling proposition (USP), you should brainstorm with people who know you from previous workplaces/schools and make a list of achievements that you are most proud of. Perhaps, you can speak several languages fluently. Probably, you have successfully promoted a campaign that increased revenues.
It is also necessary to mention that you have read information about the company. Do not hesitate to show that you already learned all the details about it that you found online. Based on that, clarify why you would like to be hired by this organization. Make them feel special. You may add what exactly you are looking for in a recruiter and team and even specify the career regrets.
Outline/Structure Your Document
The process of creating any piece of writing should always start with an action plan. You need a plan in many aspects of your life. In writing, we call it an outline. It should provide an overall picture by highlighting the sections that should be included. In most cases, a resume structure would look this way:
- Full name and contact details
- Job title and salary expectations
- Career goals
- Brief intro of a candidate
- Areas of expertise
- Skills (technical, personal traits, etc.)
- Working experience
- Educational background
- Achievements and rewards
- Of Note
You may also add a short conclusion along with a link to your portfolio. It is not recommended to insert a portfolio right in your resume not to make it look overloaded. In general, the structure of your doc is inclusive of grammar and formatting. The components are the font size (Arial, Times New Roman, and Calibri are the best), word spacing, and more.
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About the Author:
Jane Travis, HR specialist and blogger
“A talented blogger with 6+ years of experience in job hunting and retention. As an HR manager, she used to offer new effective approaches to testing candidates. She is ready to share tips that helped her personally at different career stages.”
