Any open job receives an average of 120 applications, and only 20 percent of them get offered an interview. In this highly-competitive job market, you need a stellar resume to really stand out.
Chances are, you already have a resume. But is it the best it can be? If you are having a hard time landing an interview, it could be a sign your resume needs a little help. Follow these tips to make small improvements to your resume that can have a big impact.
- Delete Your Object Statement
A traditional objective statement on a resume tells a potential employer about what you are looking for in an employer. The truth is, companies don’t care as much about what you want out of a job as much as they care about what you can do for them. Delete your object statement and replace it with a Professional Summary that gives a brief overview of your abilities and accomplishments.
- Use Key Words
Employers are increasingly using electronic applicant tracking systems to manage their hiring. These applications feature a keyword search tool that will comb through applicant resumes to identify specific keywords related to the position. If you don’t use the right keywords, your resume will get lost in the shuffle. Make sure to include relevant keywords in your resume. To determine what keywords you should use, review the job posting and look for keywords you can incorporate in your resume.
- Use Active Voice
Active voice means the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed by the verb. Sentences using active voice are less wordy, clearer, and more direct. You want your resume to be as concise as possible, so always use active voice, as opposed to passive voice, when writing your resume or cover letter.
Example:
Active Voice – The boy ate the apple.
Passive Voice – The apple was eaten by the boy.
- Remove Unneeded Info
To help keep your resume clear and concise, go through and remove all unneeded information. Delete any unnecessary dates, filler sentences and gratuitous design elements. You can also lose the line “References upon request.” If a potential employer needs references, they will ask you for them.
Are you looking for new career opportunities?
You can try to find a job on your own, but did you know that 80 percent of jobs are never publicly advertised? When organizations choose to partner with a recruiting firm, the position is filled exclusively by the recruiter and is never posted elsewhere. If you are not working with a recruiting firm like Morgan Hunter, you could be missing out on multiple career opportunities. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your job search.