5 Do’s and Don’ts of Crafting an Impressive Resume!

Crafting an outstanding resume is the first step towards joining the top 1% of candidates in the job market. Lucky for you, we here at HR Force understand the importance of presenting your skills and experiences in the best possible light to stand out from the crowd! Not only that, but we’ve also compiled this comprehensive guide to help you create the resume of your dreams! Before we get into the details, let’s have a look at some of the key takeaways from this article.

Key Takeaways

• Always keep your resume short, simple, professional, and tailored to the job you want.
• Ensure that you avoid clutter, distractions, unprofessional additions, and lies. All of these things can be avoided easily to give you the most impressive resume out of all the candidates!
• With this guide, you'll be well on your way to crafting a resume that stands out and effectively showcases your qualifications. 

With that out of the way, let’s get into what you’re really here for!

The Do’s of the Perfect Resume!

Your resume is your art. It’s what gets you the big bucks! So let’s get into what you can do to ensure your resume is perfect.

Tip 1: Keep it Short and Simple!

You might think that the more details you add, the better your resume will be. It’s quite the opposite actually! Employers don’t particularly like to read extensive and detailed resumes and they might discard yours if it is. Let’s get into how you can keep your resume clear and concise easily!

• Use Simple Language: Stick to clear and straightforward wording and avoid complex sentences and jargon. Trust us, it works!
• Limit to One Page: If possible, keep the length of the resume to one page. Focus on only the most relevant information. If you have lots of experience, two pages are absolutely acceptable. But the most important thing is to make sure you make every word count!
• Proofread: Before you send the resume out, don’t forget to check for errors! If you let the resume go without proofreading, the recruiter might find errors. This might sway them away from employing you as it gives a rather lazy image. So, be careful!

• Check for Spelling and Grammatical Errors: Mistakes are human, but they can also give a bad impression. So make sure to use tools like spell check, but also give it a look or two yourself!

Tip 2: Tailor to the Job!

Make sure to make it so your resume, especially your cover letter, is tailored to the job you’re applying for! This is because the potential employer is more likely to be impressed if the resume is tailored specifically to them. Let’s get into what this entails!

Potential employers want to hear about all that you’ve achieved in your work life. Highlight all of them so they know you are the perfect candidate for the job!

• Use Keywords from the Job Listing: Make sure to have a look at the job description thoroughly and use important keywords from it. This will help your resume get noticed by automated systems (ATS) and recruiters!
• Include a Skills Section: Create a separate section to highlight both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for. The most valuable things you can post on there are technical skills, languages, and certifications!
• Use Industry-Specific Terminology: Make sure to use terms that are specific to the industry you’re in. Use this to demonstrate your knowledge of the field!
• Focus on Results: Make sure to use numbers and facts to show the impact you’ve made! For example, “Increased sales by 30% in six months” is much more impressive than, “Responsible for sales”. 

Tip 3: Always Include Your Contact Info!

Your contact information is one of the most important things on your resume. Without your contact information, the recruiters and possible employers won’t be able to call you. Trust us, you definitely don’t want to miss a call telling you you’ve been hired at your dream job!

• List Your Phone Number and Professional Email Address: Place them at the top of your resume so they may be easily located!
• Add Your LinkedIn Profile: Your LinkedIn is an important link to have present on your resume, so make sure it’s updated and professional. This might give you the edge you need to impress your employers!

Tip 4: Add Your Education in Chronological Order!

Make sure to include your education as this will determine if you are qualified for certain jobs. Let potential employers know how hard you’ve worked to get here!

• List Your Highest Degree First: Don’t make your employers have to sift away through your resume to find your highest degree of education. Write your highest degree first and include relevant courses, honors, and awards!
• Mention Ongoing Education: If you’re pursuing additional certifications or degrees, make sure to include them! This will show how committed you are to professional growth!

Tip 5: Include Extracurriculars and Volunteer Work!

Volunteer work gives a massive push to your resume bringing it all the way to the top. Your employers need to know you’re not just someone who cares about money and working 9 to 5. They want to see how committed you are to helping and working with other people to do something selfless. They should know you’re a jack of many trades!

• Show Your Well-Roundedness: Volunteer work and extracurriculars can demonstrate transferable skills and your dedication to causes beyond the workplace.

Now that we’ve looked at everything that you should be doing to create the perfect resume, let’s look at what you need to avoid!

The Don’ts to Remember and Avoid!

Creating the perfect resume is a lengthy but fulfilling task. Therefore, you must ensure you avoid anything that could ruin your chances of getting the perfect job! Let’s look at what you need to keep out of the resume to make sure it successfully pushes your career forward!

Tip 1: Don’t Include Irrelevant Information!

Make sure there’s no irrelevant information that would distract recruiters or put them off of employing you. This would ruin your chances of getting the job you have your eyes on!

• Skip Personal Details: There is no need to include irrelevant information like your age, marital status, or photo (unless, of course, the job requires it).
• Avoid Listing Every Job You’ve Had: As stated earlier in this guide, do not list every job you’ve ever had. Only include the jobs that would show relevant experience! High the experiences that show you have the skills for the job you’re applying for! 

Tip 2: Don’t Use Clichés and Buzzwords!

You must remember that potential employers have had to look at countless resumes to get to yours. They’re looking for someone to impress them. And buzzwords won’t do that, unfortunately. Let’s see what you can do to make sure you avoid this mistake altogether.

• Avoid Vague Terms: Do your best to avoid phrases like ‘hard worker’ or ‘team player’. They don’t stand out and we don’t want you to fade into the crowd!
• Be Specific: Don’t be vague with your words. If you were responsible for a team, don’t say just that. Say something like, ‘Led a team of 6 to complete a major project ahead of schedule’. This will show them you’re capable of taking responsibility. 

Tip 3: Don’t Jeopardize Your Reputation!

As a skilled person, you should feel no need to lie or exaggerate your talents. In fact, lies are found out rather easily and would jeopardize your reputation and career. So, let’s see what you should do instead.

• Be Honest: As stated above, false information can be easily checked and found costing you your job. It is always better to be truthful and genuine. They don’t say, ‘Honesty is the best policy’ for nothing!
• Stick to the Facts: Present your experience and skills truthfully! If you haven’t done something, don’t claim you have.

Tip 4: Don’t Neglect the Design!

If your resume has a busy design, too many colors or fonts, it’ll be unreadable and potential employers will most likely overlook it. But, don’t worry! We’ve got your back! Here’s what you can do to keep the design simple and readable.

• Don’t Overcrowd the Page: Make sure to leave enough white space to make it readable. As stated above, a cluttered resume is hard to read. Don’t make that mistake!
• Avoid too Many Colors or Fonts: Make it a habit to stick to one or two fonts and a simple color scheme. Simplicity is best! Black text on a white background is usually the best option!

Tip 5: Don’t Overlook Gaps in Employment!

Gaps in resumes can be there for many reasons. It’s completely okay to have them. But overlooking them might not be in your best interest.

• Explain Gaps: If there are significant gaps in your employment history, make sure to explain them in your cover letter or interview. Without an explanation, they may seem odd. And we absolutely don’t want you to lose a shot at your dream job!

And there we have all the don’ts! Avoiding these and following the do’s will allow you to make the perfect resume. Your dream jobs are right there, in the palm of your hand! All you need to do is create an impressive resume with our help and go for it! Good luck!