Competition is the one thing that never runs out in the job market. Applicants need to compete with each other to get the job they want. All candidates have to do this regardless of the position they are seeking, whether they are fresh graduates or experienced candidates.
If you are currently looking for a job, standing out from the competition should be your priority. Since the resume is the first thing that HR and recruitment professionals look at when screening applicants, having one that stands out and grabs their attention will give you the edge you need.
It will also open that highly-sought window of opportunity that will enable you to proceed to the next steps of the recruitment process.
A Resume That Stands Out
Creating an eye-catching resume with substance is not the easiest thing to do. It should come in a readable format and have impressive content that wows the readers.
Because of this, you need to work on your content writing skills.
Your resume’s content plays a crucial role in making or breaking your job-seeking efforts. As such, it will be worthwhile polishing your writing skills on your own or by hiring an expert copywriter to give you lessons so that you can create a CV that stands out.
When you have the right content creation skills, you can:
- Give your resume a more personal touch
HR employees and recruiters receive hundreds of resumes every week. Many companies get this type of document even if they are not looking for new workers. Because of this, it is highly likely that they have seen and read nearly all kinds of formats and content.
Having a resume that goes beyond the ordinary will ensure it will get noticed immediately. It will acquire the attention it deserves and prevents it from ending up in the pooling file.
When you work on your content creation skills, you will also brush up on your researching abilities, attention to detail, and comprehension. Because of this, you will learn how to understand the job description and your qualifications better.
When you have a good understanding of the two, you can create a resume that ensures your background matches the job requirements. As a result, you will have a document customized to the position.
With a personalized content and the right format, you will give your CV the push it needs to be noticed and read by the appropriate staff.
- Present impressive and honest content
Seasoned content creators have a way of spinning words and sentences that make anything they write attention-grabbing, fascinating, and readable. Use this to your advantage to increase your chances of moving to the next recruitment stage.
Start by dissecting your current resume and background to find details that you can highlight. Use the information you get to create an achievement and outcome-based document that will demonstrate your future value to a company. This is a type of CV that many recruitment professionals prefer and put stock in.
Additionally, if you think most of your qualifications are unimpressive, you can use your writing skills to add a unique spin to them and find a way to get them to fit the job description to help your resume get noticed.
- Provide explanations for transitions
Frequently changing jobs, leaving work for a year or so to travel, and switching from one field to another can sometimes put you in a bad light. Some recruitment professionals may perceive you as a person who job-hops and has no clear career goals.
Hiding these facts won’t help you one bit. However, if you have the right writing skills, you can reduce the negative effects of these job history issues.
Providing the best explanations for your employment history and effectively positioning yourself for the job you are seeking are techniques that can help downplay these gaps and issues.
Additionally, you will have to come up with a truthful and compelling story regarding the situation or reasons behind the gaps or changes in your work history. You have to do this in a way that anyone reading your resume won’t immediately doubt your competence and dedication.
- Make it complete and concise
Many people find it hard to take an objective look at their education, qualifications, and work background. Because of this, they will have difficulties knowing which details to include, leave out, or highlight. As a result, they will have resumes that run several pages long.
If you have a resume that is five pages long or more, use your content creation expertise to shorten it to two or three.
You have to learn how to use your critical thinking skills to choose only the most crucial and appropriate details to include in your resume. These qualifications, skills, and employment details should be the ones that will impress upon recruitment professionals that you are the ideal fit for the position.
Making your resume concise yet comprehensive may be one of the toughest things you have to do. You will have to spend a lot of time re-thinking and rewriting this document.
However, your efforts will be rewarded if you end up having a two- or three-page CV since this will ensure it recruitment professionals will read it.
- Create a professional and polished resume
Aside from having engaging and impressive content, you need it to be error-free.
Any document that is full of grammatical errors and typos is destined to receive only a glance and filed away where it will never be found again. If you want your resume to pass the first screening stage successfully, it needs to be as perfect as possible.
Whatever position and level you are applying for, make sure it is polished and has an impressive professional appearance. Having keen attention to detail, which is a content creation skill, will enable you to submit a document that will get noticed for the right reasons.
A polished, error-free resume will help you make a good impression as well. Additionally, it won’t leave any doubt on the reader that you are unprofessional since you are lazy to recheck and edit the document before submitting it.
With a well-written, personalized, and error-free resume, you can reduce your doubts about this document jeopardizing your chances of getting the job you want. You won’t have to resort to trying inefficient job seeking techniques, as well, which can prevent you from taking your career to another level.
As such, work on your content creation skills as you look for your dream job.
AUTHOR BIO:
Hisham Wyne is an award-winning copywriter, brand consultant and content creator based in Dubai. He has over a decade’s experience in helping brands get their messages right. From crisp web copy and zippy brochures to in-depth company profiles and analytical annual reports, Hisham makes words work for you – so you can sell better, gain visibility, and give your brand a unique voice.
During his time in the Middle East, Hisham has collaborated extensively with blue-chip companies including Twitter, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Harley-Davidson and Aston Martin, and helped government concerns such as the Dubai Internet City, in5 and the Dubai Design District.
