8 Essential Tips for Writing Your Resume

8 Essential Tips for Writing Your Resume8 Essential Tips for Writing Your ResumeSell your hard skills effectively with these resume writing tips.How much time does a recruiter spend reviewing a potential hire? 60 seconds? 30 seconds? 10 seconds?Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of job seekers are granted even less. On average, employers only spend about six seconds reviewing a resume before making the initial decision on a candidate. So whats the key to securing an interview? Having a well-written, compelling resume.Need help getting started? Here are eight tips for writing your ideal resume.1. Start your resume with a branding statement.Ratzu sich than beginning with a traditional objective statement, consider using a branding statement to make your resume stand out. Whats the difference? An objective statement only allows the job seeker to describe his or her talents in relation to a particular position. A branding statement, on the other hand, doesnt focus on a particular p osition or industry. Instead, it allows the job seeker to sum up his/her talents and translatable skills in one definitive sentence.Heres an example of an objective statement Talented social media marketing professional seeks position as an associate at a small to medium size clothing retailer.Now here is a branding statement for the saatkorn job seeker Fashion savvy social marketing wiz with experience running successful marketing campaigns incorporating Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.Cleary one is mora descriptive than the other, but what does this mean to potential employers? In the past, human resources personnel posted jobs with the sole intent of filling a single position. While this is still frequently the goal today, more and more companies are seeking out talent and will create a place for well-qualified individuals within their organizations if the candidate is a good fit. Start your resume with a branding statement to show how you could be a valuable asset to yo ur target companies.2. Use key words that match the job descriptionMost job search websites allow their users to search for positions by keywords. They also offer the same feature to employers looking to hire new talent. If you find that searching certain keywords return results that interest you, incorporate those keywords into your resume. This will catch the eyes of recruiters. It wont guarantee that you will be asked to come in for an interview, but it will probably put your resume at the top of their list.This isnt the only reason you should be using keywords, however. Many companies today use preliminary software that targets specific words and phrases in order to determine which resumes should be flagged for further review. If you strategically place keywords in your resume, theres a better chance it will be forwarded on to a breathing HR professional.3. Customize your resume for the potential positionTheres no rule that you must submit the same resume to every potential empl oyer. In fact, you shouldnt.Many people want to know how to create their perfect resume, but the truth is, it doesnt exist. Each potential employer has different priorities, and there is nothing wrong in tailoring a resume to suit their individual needs. Take the extra time to highlight education, job, and volunteer experiences that match what each specific employer is looking for.4. Be conservative when it comes to format and styleDont be tempted by creative fonts and formatting its distracting and unprofessional. Instead, choose a classic font such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Verdana. Also, avoid using excessive amounts of bold, italics, and other features. This can confuse resume scanning software. If you do decide to use bold or italics in titles and headings, it must be used consistently.5. Prioritize your resumeHeres the truth the majority of recruiters only scan about the first half of the first page of your resume. This means that you only have roughly four inches or so of text to make a lasting impression. You must put the experiences and skills that you want potential employers to see it in that space. If you fail to catch their attention, they will move on to the next resume.6. Dont over shareToo many job seekers make the mistake of including too much information in the job history section of their resume. For example, if you have 20 years of experience working for multiple companies, performing the same duties and functions, there is no reason to include excessive details about each role. Instead, include the most recent position, and make reference to your years of experience in your particular industry. You can fill in the blanks during the interview.7. Follow the employers instructions when submitting your resumeTheres nothing that will get a resume sent to the recycling bin faster than failing to follow basic submission instructions. Common directives might include submitting the resume as a specific file type, using a specific forma t when titling the file, including specific information in the subject line of the email, using a specific font type and size, and/or submitting the resume through the company website instead of email. Sometimes, these instructions are given because the employer has special software requirements. However, in other cases, it is used as a way to test the job seekers ability to follow instructions.8. Be honestWhile it is okay to emphasize certain things about your work history and minimize others, it is never okay to be dishonest. Employers will check your claims. When they do, make sure there arent any unpleasant surprises.