In the last three years, the job market has become more competitive, making it necessary to stay updated and attentive to emerging trends consistently.
If you are considering professional development or looking for new job opportunities, I’m here to share some actionable tips to enhance your resume and secure that coveted job offer.
But before you move on to rafting your ideal resume, make sure to take these two crucial points into account:
- Job Market Research: Stay up-to-date through news and events, and participate in relevant groups to learn about the professional requirements of experts in your field and identify whether you have the expected skills and experience.
- Understand which Soft Skills are in Demand by Companies: It is well-known that companies are seeking applicants committed to constant learning, critical and analytical thinking, flexibility, self-management, and problem-solving. Are your soft skills good enough, or do you need to work on self-improvement?
After a thorough self-assessment, you can move on to creating your resume. To make sure it stands out, I recommend going through three basic stages:
- Format;
- Technique;
- Content.
Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
FORMAT
The format encompasses the design, font, and layout, among other elements. This largely depends on your professional field and the country where you are applying.
For example, a resume for the financial area will likely have a much simpler, cleaner, and more strict structure than a resume for social media management or graphic design positions, which demand a more creative approach.
Is the format important? Yes! But it’s not the main reason why a company might reject your profile.
TECHNIQUE
The technical aspect involves the language used to craft your resume. During the CV creation process, consider your market research and tailor your CV by describing professional experiences related to the position you are interested in.
But what if, during my professional life, I have acquired experience in marketing, human resources, and finance? What will happen to my resume if I insert all this info? If you choose to add irrelevant experience to the targeted position, your CV may end up not matching the position or be considered insufficient.
If your profile is IT, you must tailor it for this specific purpose, adapting keywords and the language in order to match this area perfectly.
A recruiter or the ATS will notice you only when you adapt your CV to meet the criteria of the position you are applying to. Remember, a recruiter needs only 6 seconds to see whether your resume is a good fit or not, so make it easier for your profile to be chosen.
CONTENT
The content of your resume is what sets you apart from other candidates. It’s crucial to highlight where you’ve been and where you want to go as a professional.
How do you make your resume catchy and attractive?
This is the moment to outline your goals, achievements, numbers, the markets you’ve worked in, the types of teams you’ve led, and your responsibilities. Use specific examples, such as the type of IT development you’ve worked on, the projects you’ve undertaken, and the tech stacks you’ve used. All these factors show the scope of your capabilities.
In your professional profile, you’re essentially explaining what makes you unique in terms of your achievements and contributions and how far you’ve progressed in your roles. And, of course, use keywords relevant to your industry.
Resumes with such detailed content are more likely to attract attention and stand out during the evaluation process, whether by a recruiter or an ATS. The idea is to make choosing you as easy as possible.
Here’s a simple step-by-step template that can be adjusted based on your preferred format, technique, and dimension:
- Name
- Position
- Contact Information (email/phone/LinkedIn)
- Professional Summary (concise text, not an extensive summary)
- Language Proficiency
- Key Skills
- Professional Experience
- Position
- Company Name
- Start and End Date
- Brief Company/Project Description
- Responsibilities
- Tech Stack or Skills
- Academic Education/Courses (include institution, field of study, start and completion year)
- List of Tech Stack or Skills
Hope these tips will help you craft a perfect resume and secure your dream job. Good luck!
