The resume is your ticket to your dream company. In just a few minutes, it conveys whether you are worth inviting to an interview. Just like a brochure, it must evoke a “want to have” feeling in the reader with the right information in the shortest time.
Clarity, the perfect photo, and the right words are crucial here. Say goodbye to the idea that a resume can be created in ten minutes. It’s also not advisable to send the same resume twice. With every application, you should tailor your resume to the job ad or the desired position. It sounds like a lot of work. Yes, but the effort to create excellent resumes is immensely worthwhile. A recruiter will skim through your documents quickly. Since your resume will often be one of many, it should first act like balm to the eyes – achieve this with an appealing layout. Second, it should convey your expertise – this is achieved with the right keywords, meaning the competencies required in the job ad.
Let’s take a quick look at the basics of a resume. Title: Resume. Personal Information: Name, address, phone number, contact details such as website, email, social media (LinkedIn, Xing, about.me), and obligatory details such as date of birth, place of birth, and marital status. Next come education or work experience, depending on how long ago the education took place. The more work experience you have, the sooner you start with your professional experience, as experience counts more than education over the years. Unless you are changing careers, in which case start with education to highlight new knowledge. List everything chronologically, with the most recent education or position at the top. Then include special skills, additional qualifications, interests, publications, etc.
Fonts: Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, Verdana… (one font is sufficient; otherwise, you overwhelm the reader’s eye – use capitalization, bold, italics, etc.); Font Size: 11 to 12 pt depending on the font; Length: Two to three pages (one page for school leavers); Footer: Name, date, page number.
The Finishing Touches in a Resume
Be Different
Try to escape the alpha waves. When readers see similar resumes, their eyes get tired, leading to inattention. Stand out by doing things differently and grab more attention. For example, use an engaging cover page that piques curiosity. Place the photo on the right instead of the left. Incorporate color, preferably the company’s color to which you are applying, as it is well-associated with the reader (unless it’s a trademarked color!). Or show your affinity for the profession or company in the “Interests” section. You can also highlight words that should catch the eye.
Keywords
Update the desired skills from the job ad into your previous work experience and education. Do this for every resume! Always. Of course, only those skills that you actually possess. These are the terms being searched for, and if they’re not found, the resume goes in the trash.
Success Statement
Summarize yourself in one to two sentences. This statement should generate interest, express your entrepreneurial thinking, and encourage further reading. Like in advertising. A good ad draws us in. It determines whether we start to be interested in a product. However, it only works if the content matches the message and appears authentic and honest. Only then are we ready to test the product. The content of the resume must make your success statement credible.
Photo
A photo says more than a thousand words. Ensure that your image suits your position and that you are looking towards the text. If there is no text, such as on a cover page, you should look to the right. This direction leads to the next page, and according to psychology, it symbolizes the future. A success symbol in a brochure always points to the top right. Also, consider the size of your photo. A small photo may indicate a reserved person, while a large photo suggests a leadership role. Get started and make sure your expertise is visible!
Achievements
In the “Work Experience” section, list your tasks. These, however, have little impact on how well you did. Almost anyone with a similar profession could perform these tasks. It’s your achievements that make you unique. Therefore, list a success after the job descriptions in each of your professional positions.
“Is there a universal recipe for a resume? No. Every resume is right if it results in a person getting a job, regardless of whether it meets theoretical standards. What matters is what works!”
Next up: “Tips for a Meaningful Resume“ 🙂
