In an ever-increasingly digital world, times and styles are changing, and your resume needs to keep up with these changes to help you stand out to recruiters. Gone are the days when a resume used to be an annoying scroll of all the jobs you held. Modernizing your resume is most important to enable you to get your foot into the door when it comes to winning that coveted job. Following these tips could help your resume shine.
Use relevant templates to stand out
Many resume providers now offer premade resume templates that are industry-specific. These templates offer you an idea of what your resume should finally look like. Many models are available for free online while some are provided with a fee. Industry-specific templates offer the benefit of allowing you to showcase aspects of your skills that would appeal to recruiters and make you a more desirable applicant. They also allow you to feature industry-relevant design features.
Try text blocks and text breaks to make your resume appealing to the recruiter.
While reading multiple lines of text can get monotonous and tiresome, text breaks help reduce this stress. An excellent way to ensure that your resume looks balanced is to use a suitable template. Pick a design that allows you to put your information into columns that are easy on the eyes.
Maximize your use of keywords
In today’s digital age, to save valuable time, most of the pre-screening of applicants is computerized and is conducted robotically. Many of these pre-screening processes are programmed to look for certain role-specific and SEO optimized words and jargon. Keeping in mind that companies often have different titles for the same job, optimize the use of these keywords in your resume to emphasize your skills.
Keep it clean and concise
While the use of fonts and colors can showcase your creative side, it is advisable to use just one or two fonts to maintain a professional look. Certain parts of your resume can be highlighted by using all caps or italics and titles can be made more prominent by the use of a different color. Keep in mind that too many colors and fonts may make your resume an eyesore and less attractive.
References on request
Though employers will require a reference who can vouch for your character and verify the information you have provided, most require these references only after the interview process is completed. Save space on your resume for your relevant work experience and leave the recommendations out. Keep print outs of your references ready in case they are requested during the interview.
Include links to your social media
Nowadays, most employers look into social media to learn more about the candidate before an interview. Adding social media or networking links to your resume shows the recruiter that you have nothing to hide, and it lets them see what you look like before they meet you.
Use QR codes or networking sites like LinkedIn to provide more in-depth information on your work history that may not be available on your resume.
These visual and organizational changes, along with all your valuable, relevant work experience, will surely give you an edge when it comes to applying for a job.
