How To Write A Fire Resume That Will Get You Hired Fast
No matter how impressive your previous work experience may be, if your resume doesn’t sell you to an employer, you won’t get the job. And it isn’t just your knowledge and skills that need to be highlighted in a resume; any side projects or other activities that can show off your skills also need to be included. Read on to find out how to write a killer resume.
In today’s competitive job market, there are many people competing for each position, and your resume needs to stand out from the crowd in order to be seen by recruiters and hiring managers.
If you send in the same old standard resume that everyone else has sent in, you can rest assured that your resume will end up in the trash pile without even being looked at, which will ultimately mean that you won’t get any job interviews or calls back from potential employers.
Also, no matter how impressive your previous work experience may be, if your resume doesn’t sell you to an employer, you won’t get the job. And it isn’t just your knowledge and skills that need to be highlighted in a resume; any side projects or other activities that can show off your skills also need to be included.
Fret not. By following these simple steps on how to write a fire resume, you can ensure that you are well on your way to landing the job of your dreams.
The Basic Parts Of A Resume
A professional resume is one of the most essential tools in your job search arsenal. It is your first impression on potential employers, and it should be created with care. And nowadays, it is more important than ever to have a resume that stands out from the crowd and gets you noticed.
I. Introduction
So, how do you write a resume that will get you hired fast? Write a good introduction. Good introductions are ones that are concise but at the same time cover all the pertinent points.
The reader should know what they can expect when they read through your entire resume, even if they only read the intro sentence.
Some points to mention include the qualifications for which you’re applying, what position(s) you’re applying for, experience (especially skills), education, and any professional associations or licenses. And make sure it’s formatted correctly; bullets and/or headings work best!
2. Bio
Whether you’re fresh out of college or already have years of experience under your belt, writing a great resume is essential to landing the job you want. And part of your resume is your bio.
So, what should it say? A bio shouldn’t be too long–unless you have an extensive background that warrants it–but can be as short as one sentence. The goal is to give potential employers an idea of who you are and why they should hire you for their company.
Start with your name and then write about your skills, qualifications, and experiences in relation to the position being applied for. Be sure to include any projects or programs that may highlight how good of a fit you are with the company’s mission statement. What can set some resumes apart from others is if they include any achievements related to community service and extracurricular activities; these are usually listed under Interests.
3. Skills/Achievements
When writing your skills or achievements in a resume, be sure to highlight what you did that went above and beyond expectations. Provide context for your accomplishments. Offer proof of your skills or achievements and use industry-specific jargon when relevant. Keep it brief, sweet, and direct to the point.
In addition, it helps to know how to manage your experience in order to demonstrate how you would fit into the position being offered. Demonstrating all relevant experience is key in obtaining an interview and getting a job offer; therefore, applicants should mention all work experience on their resumes.
For instance, one applicant might mention work experience such as secretary at ABC company from 2010 to 2013, while another might use this format: Secretary at ABC Company (2010 – 2013). The first example offers no explanation of time spent at the company, while the second explains that she was there for three years–information employers are likely interested in knowing.
4. Career History
How do you write a resume that will instantly impress potential employers? Highlight your career history. If you’ve had any long-term positions or internships, be sure to include them in this area. What’s more, make sure all dates are correct and list only relevant jobs and education on this page.
If you don’t have much experience or are fresh out of school with no work experience at all, don’t panic! Simply list your education information as well as any clubs or activities in which you were involved during high school and college (remember: even if it doesn’t seem related at first glance).
For those with more than ten years worth of work experience who want to highlight their skills in particular areas, consider adding separate sections under Professional Experience for each major area.
5. Awards & Recognition
Whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, your resume is one of the most important tools you have when it comes to landing a job. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for writing a resume, there are certain elements that should always be included. One is the Awards & Recognition section.
When it comes to including awards and recognition on your resume, list them near the top of your qualifications summary. There are two ways to present these types of accomplishments: either as specific achievements or by using phrases like awarded for X with an explanation following.
For example, awarded $X00 annually for best use of social media OR awarded annually for best use of social media. For both formats, include a bulleted list at the end.
6. Key Works & Summary
Lastly, if you want your resume to really stand out, highlight your awards and recognition prominently. Here’s how: Include an Awards & Recognition Section.
In this area, list any academic degrees or professional credentials (certifications, licenses), honors or scholarships that you have received. You may also include any other achievements such as an award for customer service excellence or the local Outstanding Citizen award.
Then, in each individual item listed in this area, mention what organization awarded you the accolade, what it was for (e.g., your outstanding achievement), and when you received it. To emphasize its importance to employers, put these items in boldface type.
For example:
- Outstanding Achievement Award from City Council—2008
- Citizenship Award from Mayor Dan Brown—2010
Secrets To Writing A Killer Resume
Even the best job candidates can fail to impress recruiters if they’re applying for jobs with bad resumes. Whether you’ve just graduated from college or are looking to make a career change, there are tips you can consider to ensure that your resume will get attention and land you an interview. Here are some secrets to writing a killer resume that you won’t want to miss!
Secret #1: List Your Responsibilities
When listing your responsibilities on your resume, start with your current or most recent position and work backwards. For each position, include a bullet point list of your key responsibilities. Try to use action words to describe what you did in each role. Be as specific as possible, and include any relevant quantifiable information.
For example, if you were the Senior Vice President of Marketing at ABC Company, your responsibilities might look like this:
- Led marketing strategy and execution for various product lines, including national campaigns, ad campaigns, digital content creation, and social media management.
- Led all efforts related to brand awareness via trade shows and advertising events such as consumer goods conventions and car shows.
Secret #2: Tailor The Format To Each Job Application
You wouldn’t wear the same outfit to a job interview as you would to a pool party. So, why would you send in the same resume for every job application? Just like you tailor your clothing to each occasion, you should tailor your resume to each job.
To ensure you write a killer resume that will get you the job you want, do this:
- Read the job description carefully and include keywords specific to the position in your resume.
- Be careful not to sound redundant by repeating skills or qualifications listed on the company’s website or other documents. For example, if you’re applying for an internship with an accounting firm and they mention being proficient with Microsoft Excel, it’s not necessary to mention this again on your resume. The employer already knows this is part of what they need, so don’t be redundant.
Secret #3: Use A Professional Resume Builder
There’s no shame in using a professional resume builder to help you create the perfect resume. In fact, using one can help you save time and ensure that your resume is error-free.
Online resume builders also walk you through the best formatting for all types of resumes (chronological, functional, combination). The best part? These tools are completely free!
Don’t let the word professional scare you – they’re designed with simplicity in mind.
Secret #4: Update Regularly
If you want your resume to killer, there is one thing you need to do: update your resume regularly.
At least once a year, take some time to sit down and reflect on your accomplishments and update your resume accordingly. This will ensure that your resume is always up-to-date and reflects your best self.
Secret #5: Keep It Short, Sweet, And Simple
When it comes to writing your professional resume, less is more. Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people, so they don’t want to have to wade through pages and pages of text. Stick to the essentials, such as your name, contact details, education and work experience. And keep the rest short and concise.
If you really need to include additional information, do so in an appendix at the end of your resume or in a cover letter. Remember that if you aren’t confident enough about your accomplishments or qualifications to mention them on your resume, then you probably should not be applying for that position anyway!
Secret #6: Use Power Words
If you want your resume to really stand out, start by using powerful words that pack a punch. How do you know what words are power words?
Compelling, engaging, interesting, and perfect for are all power words that will grab the attention of potential employers and make them want to read more about you. Some power verbs for resumes include articulate, communicate, lead, supervise, and facilitate. Here is also a list of power adjectives for resumes: articulate, creative, decisive, diligent.
Secret #7: Proofread!
Proofreading is essential when crafting your resume. To help you proofread your resume and ensure it’s error-free, do this:
- Read your resume aloud – Reading the document out loud can make awkward sentences more natural sounding. Hearing the sentences spoken will help to identify any spelling or grammar errors that may have been missed while reading silently.
- Run spell check – Spell check will often catch some of the most common mistakes on a document, but it won’t catch everything. Make sure you review for mistakes after running spell check!
- Have someone else read over your resume – If possible, ask someone else (who doesn’t know what’s on the resume) to read over it for you. They may notice things that you didn’t see when reviewing the document yourself because they’re looking at it with fresh eyes!
- Check your formatting – Formatting is an important part of creating a visually appealing resume. Make sure spacing between paragraphs is consistent, and all margins are set correctly. You should also be sure to leave one-inch margins around the entire document.
- Give yourself time before submitting – It can be easy to submit your resume before giving them a final review, but doing so could lead to costly mistakes like typos in email addresses or phone numbers, missing social media profiles, etc. Giving yourself time before submitting means that you’ll have time to go back through and address these potential problems if needed.
In Summary
Your professional resume is one of the most important tools you have and need when searching for a new job. It is your first impression and can make or break your chances of landing an interview.
A good resume not only needs to showcase what skills you possess but also where these skills come into play and how they align with company goals. Take advantage of this opportunity to tell potential employers who you are and why they should hire you!
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