A job search itself is already a challenging task, but it is even more from where it starts. To begin with job hunting, job seekers must go through an essential process that can be really daunting and time-consuming, called resume writing.
In order to be successful with writing a good resume, you have to learn about the facts about resumes and what can catch the attention of the recruiters or the hiring managers in the span of 5 to 7 seconds. More than knowing what skills to include, job seekers must also know that they should have some knowledge about the employer and the company they are applying to.
Facts About Resumes
As a job seeker, you must understand that employers receive more than 200 applications for every job posting. Because of this, competition becomes really stiff and couples it more with other factors such as the job profile and the kind of company you are applying for. Since competition can be very tough, your resume needs to be able to create an impression to the employer, and the design must also stand out.
Recruiters only give an average time of around 5 to 7 seconds on glancing at one resume, which means that you need to succeed in making that first impression within that very short time frame. If you fail to do that, then you automatically lose your opportunity to get the job or just get noticed. To have successful resume writing, you need to be able to select the right template, meaning one that is catchy, professional-looking, and concise.
The majority of recruiters use resume scanners or AI software to help them in sorting out the resumes. These tools can make a big difference in getting selected or ditched, so if you want to get chosen, you have to learn how to highlight the qualities and skills you possess that make you qualified for the job posted. And to achieve this, you should know how to use the right keywords. It is also important to note that sending your resume in a Word document format is much preferred over a PDF.
A job candidate should also know that using an unprofessional email ID is a big taboo among employers. If they see an unprofessional email ID that either sounds silly, childish, offensive, rude, etc., they may think that you are not ready for that certain job position. To avoid this, simply use an email ID that sounds professional such as the one containing your firstname.surname@domain.com.
When sending your resume, employers do not want to see your photograph, so just don’t. After all, it will not increase or decrease your chance of getting hired, but instead might even form a personal bias against you. Some other tips would be to make sure that you are only writing facts about yourself as well as your skills because recruiters do check and verify the information that you write on your resume. They do this by either hiring a private agency or by checking on Google.
Also, ensure that your social media accounts or anything you posted online is clean and does not contain anything indecent or foolish. If you have a LinkedIn account, be sure that you include the latest so that the employer will be able to check the right candidate.
If you still do not get a call back after learning and following these resume facts, there may be numerous reasons why. It could be that the resume that you have written is not strong enough or catchy enough for the recruiter, or the job position is simply not relevant to your skills.
What to Include in Your Resume Writing
Applicants must know at least some of the essential tips when writing a resume to get the attention of the recruiters in a good way. The first is by using a professional sounding email address because this can easily turn off an employer. In fact, about 76 of resumes with unprofessional email addresses do not even get to the interview stage and therefore become even farther from hiring.
Candidates should be aware that companies assess the essential categories of the resume right away, including education, GPA, job experience, cover letter, cultural fit, and the like. Customizing your resume to the job post could get you a better chance of getting noticed. If you personally address the application to the recruitment manager, include links to your website, blogs, or portfolio.
Do not use general resumes and if you include your GPA, make sure that it is only 3.5 or above. If you wish to at least land on an interview or get noticed by companies, use keywords relevant to the job you are eyeing.
Among the resume facts that you should know about is that there are categories that you should also pay careful attention to, like the area where you write your soft skills set. This part should significantly highlight your critical skills as managers consider them very important in their hiring process.
Candidates should be able to keep their resumes interesting enough to maintain the average attention that employers allot for each resume which is a maximum of 6 seconds. Also, part of the resume facts is that you should be aware of what recruiters tend to reject. This includes matters like not writing the hiring recruiter’s name, not writing a thank you, not following an interview, not submitting a cover letter, not following up with employers following an interview, and not making a resume that is more customized for the job.
Numerous companies use an Applicant Tracking System to sort resumes. If you can research how this works, you can optimize your resume and get the employers to notice yours and at least get some job interviews. This way, you are getting a foot in the door.
Making an Effective Job Search
Social media has a big role in terms of employment in this day and age because potential employees usually search jobs on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. And because these social media sites are now avenues for job search, job applicants must also keep their online presence clean and decent as recruiters usually check a candidate’s profile online.
You can maximize your time in your job hunting by doing toggle navigation and by constantly checking the most recent posts to see what jobs are available in the market. Job candidates should also read articles on resume facts so they could learn about what kind of resumes would look interesting for the recruiters.
A potential employee must know that among the most important components of resume writing is having one that looks professional and something that would stand out in the midst of the countless resumes that are submitted to companies.
If the applicants become successful in resume writing, they could expect to receive contact from recruiters and land on interviews. Although the average time spent for a job interview is around 40 minutes, most employers figure out in the first 90 seconds whether they would hire you or not. So make sure that yours counts.
Job hunting is not only about creating an effective resume or searching for jobs, but it is also about knowing the entire employment process, which includes what to do during a job interview. Potential employees should be professional at all times in an interview which means that you cannot be too trendy, you must have a proper posture, and you should know how to do a proper handshake.
Be confident and smile. Research about the company, learn some facts about them and know their clients. Check some articles that may be related to them as well. Having some extra knowledge could certainly give you an edge. Try to avoid just being average.
Successful Job Search
To have a good start in your search, writing an effective resume is one of the top very important things you have to remember. Know that competition can be stiff but try to see it as something to push you harder to constantly improve your profile and employment credentials.
Your resume should be regularly updated with each application and customized for the jobs you are applying for. Know that it is not really about the things that you have done in terms of job experience but instead how it relates to the position you are aiming for.
Learn about the keywords that you should use both for the hard skills and the soft skills by reading the job post and using it as a guide. Keep your resume concise and if possible, make it just one page that is easy to read with all the important parts such as skills, experience, and education.
Beginning with a short statement may help so that employers may learn more about you personally. This way, they can check if you are a match to the culture of their company. Lastly, know more about the company and your employers too by researching some relevant information on them.