“Because you do not have the skills we were looking for, we regret to inform you that you did not fulfill our job position.”
Your heart sinks after reading this message because you were certain that your job experience and personality perfectly matched the job description. You think to yourself, what could have possibly gone wrong? Well, there is some good news: there is a way to ensure that at least your resume was stellar. If you correctly follow these 7 steps that outline how to make the optimal resume, I can assure you that your resume will not disappoint.
When we’re done, you will have underscored your talents in the most flattering way possible.
Ready? Let’s begin.
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Write down exactly what qualities you believe the employer is looking for. Then, make an outline in which your leadership and work experiences align with these qualities. Outlining with a goal in mind, discourages you from mentioning irrelevant experiences and encourages you to write a clear and focused resume.
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Format your resume. Keep in mind that resumes are typically looked at for 15-20 seconds by the employer. Thus, formatting your resume in an organized and aesthetically pleasing way is incredibly important. Consider using bold, all caps, italics, and/or bullet points to break up sections of resume; however, don’t let these aesthetics overwhelm the paper. Remember, the key is to be consistent and concise in your format and style.
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Now it’s time to write you resume. Every resume includes your education, leadership activities, work experience, and skills. All of these items should be in reverse chronological order and from most important to least important. The amount of space you take up for an item signifies its importance.
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Once your done, Spell Check.
Let me say that again.
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SPELL CHECK. This seemingly minute detail step is truly so important that I need to state it twice. Would you like to take the chance you didn’t land the job merely because you misspelled a word? I didn’t think so. Not only do grammatical errors look unprofessional, but they also highlight to the employer that you are neither meticulous nor detail oriented.
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Next, have someone you trust check over your resume. Perhaps this is someone who has a similar job as the one you are applying for. Better yet, click here to book an appointment and get your resume looked over by someone from the Villanova Career Center.
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Last but certainly not least, print out two copies of your resume. This way, you never have to ask the interviewer to see your resume when he asks you questions about it.
Now, you should be ready to hand in your resume with confidence. Following these steps correctly means that you presented yourself in such a manner that the employer eagerly wants to interview you.
Think I am missing a step? Did you find this post effective? Let me know all your thoughts by responding in the comments section below.
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