Top 5 Things to Check Before You Send Your Resume Out

Resume Writing Tips to Make Yourself the Standout Candidate

A resume is the first impression that a company will get of you. It’s what the recruiter sees before they talk to you. It’s a document that summarizes your work experience and education, and it’s also your ticket to getting an interview.

But a poor resume will get you sorted into the slush pile. Remarkably quickly, too. Research has found that your resume has less than 10 seconds to make an impression on a hiring manager.

These resume tips in five steps will help make sure your resume makes a positive impression and wins you an interview.

Step #1: Have You Tailored Your Resume to the Role?

Tailoring your resume to the job you are applying for is crucial. It shows that you have done your research and that you are interested in the position. This means highlighting skills and experience that align with what the company is looking for, as well as including a personal statement that aligns with their vision and values.

Step #2: Is Your Resume Focused?

There are many details to take into account when writing a resume. It’s about emphasizing skills (including your soft skills), experience, duties and responsibilities, and career goals. It must also be clear and concise.

How do you manage this? Simply by focusing on the job you want, and ensuring that all details on your resume relate to this, and not to some unrelated experience you had in a job years ago.

Step #3: Are You Using the Hiring Company’s Language?

You should ensure that you match your resume to the job ad, by picking out important words in the job ad and using them as keywords in your resume. This makes it easier for the hiring manager to scan and see the match. This language matching also helps you to compose your resume to focus on the role. For example, if the job ad requires account management skills, use this term and not ‘account development’.

Step #4: Does Your Resume Match Your LinkedIn Profile?

70% of recruiters search for talent on LinkedIn, and hiring managers are equally likely to look you up on LinkedIn after they have reviewed your resume, or pre/post interview.

Don’t make the mistake of not updating your LinkedIn profile to match your resume. Differences can be embarrassing, may make the hiring manager think twice, or even rule you out.

As we say in our article ‘Your Creative Job for Today: Ensure Your LinkedIn Profile Matches Your Resume’:

“Big picture? If your LinkedIn profile doesn’t match your resume, you could be missing a stream of attractive and lucrative job opportunities. Or, you’ll leave a recruiter scratching their head, wondering which is the real you – the persona on paper or online?”

Step #5: Have You Checked Your Resume for Spelling Errors, Typos, and Grammar?

Yes, you should always check for spelling errors and typos in your resume. Imagine how frustrating it would be if you had to read a resume that was riddled with mistakes.

The best way to ensure your resume is error free is:

  • First, use a spellchecker.
  • Then, have your computer read it to you.
  • Next, print it out and read it aloud.
  • Finally, read it sentence by sentence from the end to the beginning.
  • Throughout, make the changes needed to ensure your resume is error free.

Conclusion: Is Your Resume Recruiter Ready?

It may have been a while since you last wrote your resume. You don’t need to do it until you want a new job, right?

The trouble with this strategy is that when that job you really want comes along, you’re not resume ready. You see, a resume isn’t a static document. It evolves with your experience, and the best are composed for the specific job for which you are applying.

If you get into the habit of updating your resume and your LinkedIn profile once a month, the process becomes much easier ─ and you’ll always be ready to get your application in fast.

If you are considering a career move in the creative industry, submit your resume to TECHEAD today. We’ll help to ensure it makes you the standout candidate, not the stand-down candidate.

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