Some will say that finding a job today is much more difficult, but when we consider all the facts, that’s simply not true. Of course, the competition is much more fierce, as we can do most of the things online, and fighting for that one open position of your dream job might be more challenging, but this should not be something to worry about if you have the best resume.
Now, the main thing about a resume and, at the same time, what troubles people the most is the length of it, which is why these tips should come in pretty handy.
1. Focus on essentials
The first thing to clarify here is regarding what to include in the resume. The goal here is not to go into too many details because in case you do so, it will look more like an essay than anything else. Now, this also doesn’t mean that you should just specify the most important things and mention just your position at some previous company and role. Both these ways are excellent if not finding a job is the goal, and since that’s not the case, avoid generalizing.
It basically means that all you need to do is to provide your potential future employer with essential information regarding your skills and experience. Take an insurance agent as an example, but if someone just mentions that, even though it surely means they have significant experience in dealing with clients and possess great communication skills, it doesn’t really say much about their experience and position. So, to avoid not being clear enough but also not to get carried away, mention essential information, your specific role and position, and, of course, your experience.
2. Consider the job position
Many people have doubts about whether to mention everything or focus on crucial info, and the best way to determine that is to focus on the job for which you are applying. Namely, depending on the job, the resume should be a bit more or less long.
As for the pages, well, two pages are more than enough, and only in case someone is applying for a certain academic position or a similar role, then it has to be a bit longer, as more details are needed. Overall, one thing everyone should know about the hiring process is that most employers are more interested in the latest jobs and achievements than those things one might have done ten years ago, so also make sure to focus more on the present day and previous job.
3. Bullets and numbers
Okay, some will say how this is more about the looks of the resume, and even though using bullet points and numbers will help the resume seem more appealing, there are other benefits as well. One of the things where bullet points can be a great tool is to make the resume readable, especially when there is too much specific information, as it makes it easier to digest.
As for using numbers, it’s just about providing real insight into the overall impact and your personal achievement on previous jobs. Remember, employers seek someone who will help their numbers get bigger, and by giving them real-life proof of your previous success, they will more easily understand how big of an impact your employment could have on the entire company.
So don’t be shy and use numbers and percentages instead of words, where that’s optional.
4. Avoid unnecessary and private information
It is necessary to provide the company you are applying to work for with some personal information such as name and surname, but it is always important to be cautious and never write more than necessary. Besides name and surname, it is enough to write down an email address and phone number, as it is everything one company needs to know in order to contact someone.
Sensitive information such as street and house or apartment number is better to avoid, as sometimes our resume can fall into the wrong hands and do us more harm than good. It is okay to include the state and the city if you do not consider relocating to a new home due to work and searching for an open position nearby, but it is everything that should be written.
If you are the perfect candidate, it is almost certain that company representatives will not knock on your door, and they will more likely call you or try to reach you via email.
5. Avoid describing each job you took
Although it is important and absolutely necessary to write about jobs we have done before, so the potential employer can have insight into our professional life, it is crucial to keep it short and not describe every single aspect.
As we have mentioned before, it is necessary to describe job positions and our role in the previous company, which can be done if we write down our responsibilities and achievements. Describing each position in detail makes the resume difficult to read and unnecessarily long, so it is most likely that it will not get us a new job.
Besides making it difficult to read, writing a lot can lead to accidentally stating information that can make potential employers doubt our professionalism and decide to search for the better candidate.
To summarize
Writing a resume should not be too difficult as it is about us and our professional life, but many people are not sure whether they do it right and what to do to improve it. One of the biggest concerns is whether it is too long or too short, and we hope that it is now a little clearer how to notice when it is too long and how to make it shorter but not lose a point and tell all the necessary information.
If it is still too complicated and stressful for you to write a resume, but you really need a good one because there are amazing job positions open, just visit us.resumeedge.com and get the one that will stand out from the others.
