It can be difficult to get your resume noticed, especially with the implementation of applicant tracking systems (ATS) and other technologies designed to sort through applications according to an algorithm.
Luckily, there’s still a way to get your resume in the right hands without it looking like everyone else’s. Read on from CareerOneStop to learn how to create a resume that sets it apart from the rest.
Applicant Tracking Systems
Before we get started, let’s talk about ATS. In recent years, many companies have used ATS software to review job applications and initially sort those to either send on to human resources for review or to reject. As applications come in, the ATS scores each one and puts it in rank order based on how well it meets the employer’s list of criteria.
But unlike a human reader, the software is likely to reject resumes because:
Qualified candidates fail to use employer’s chosen words.The system doesn’t recognize your resume’s formatting.Candidates lack the preferred experience, but may have qualifications that could make up for what’s missing.
To successfully get through ATS scanning, you’ll want to make sure your resume uses techniques to combat these issues by:
Analyzing the job post and using their exact wording to describe your work experience.Sending your resume as a document, pdf or whatever preferred method the employer states. Do not scan resumes and send them as an image.Prioritizing formatting details. Use basic fonts, avoid italics and underlines, take out extra spaces and special characters and keep your wording in the 1” margins.Using a chronological work history style resume—the most recognizable to ATS.
Identify Your Transferrable Skills
An important part of what makes you valuable to an employer is your skill set. Transferable skills are used in many different careers and help make you an attractive job candidate. But identifying skills—especially the transferable ones—can be difficult. You’ll want to think about your strengths, the broader umbrellas that they fall into and then include them on the “skills” section of your resume.
For example, if you excel in writing and public speaking, these would fall under the transferable skill of “communication.” If you’re good at problem-solving, analysis and planning, these would fall under “critical thinking.” Being a great communicator and critical thinker are tremendous attributes that are desired across all positions, companies and job industries.
If you’re unsure how your qualities would be characterized as a transferrable skill, you can utilize skill assessment tools—like the one offered on the CareerOneStop website—to help you.
Highlight Your Accomplishments
The first thing an employer wants to learn from a resume is “how can this person help my organization?” You can help the employer find an answer by including your accomplishments. Think about what you did in past jobs. What problems did you solve? What solutions did you come up with? What benefits did this have for the business, customers or employees?
Once you’ve identified these accomplishments, use them to describe the work you contributed during that previous position. For example, if you helped your former company organize their digital filing system, you could say, “Led an initiative to more efficiently streamline and reorganize the company’s digital archives to better serve our clientele.”
Check Your Grammar
As simple as this sounds, something as minor as a typo or poor formatting could keep your resume from being considered. Before you take the final step in the application process, go through your resume and make sure it’s free of spelling and grammatical errors. You may want to consider reading your resume out loud or having it peer reviewed by a trusted individual to make sure it reads professionally.
Some common mistakes to look out for include:
Proper capitalization.The use of common phrases that may be acceptable in conversation, but not in written pieces. Examples of these include “gonna” instead of “going to” and “wanna” instead of “want to.”Checking to make sure the proper form of “there/their/they’re,” “effect/affect” and other commonly misused terms are correct.Not using spellcheck—remember this is one of the easiest ways to avoid spelling errors!
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