What Makes a Good Resume
A resume is something everyone needs, and yet so many of us struggle with making one (and keeping it current). Having a great resume will help you stand out from the crowd, get you past the initial screening process, and show employers why they should interview you. These tips will help break it down, so you can create the perfect resume possible for your career goals. Once you follow these simple steps, sending your resume to an employment agency like Atlas Staffing is a great way to get in front of hiring managers.
Let’s Get Started
Several factors go into an effective resume that will catch the attention of hiring professionals. The trick is presenting your information in a way that is both complete and concise.
A good first step is to think of the major sections of your resume. You need:
- Your contact information
- A professional summary
- A list of skills
- A summary of your education
- A history of your employment and volunteer work
Before you start writing, however, take some time to research the types of jobs you want. Look at job listings for these positions, even if they are not in your location. This will give you a feel for what people are looking for. Here are some links to Atlas Staffing’s opportunities in the Yakima, Spokane, and Boise areas, which will give you the information you need to get started.
By reading listings for jobs in your field, you can get tuned into the language they use. Pay attention to what they prioritize and find ways to highlight their skill and role descriptions in your resume.
Next, type it all out. Just getting it down in a document will help you plan how to structure your resume to be the most relevant for what an employer will want to know about you.
You also need to make it easy for people to find information in your resume. Make the layout simple without wild fonts or too much text. After you write out all your information, prune it down to the essentials without unnecessary words. Make sure your resume has some white space so headings and lists are easy to find when scanning.
Keep It Brief
It’s tempting to flood your resume with everything you can think of to impress the person reviewing it. However, it’s important to know that cluttered resumes are less likely to get read. Prioritize what you want to include in your resume. If it gets too cluttered, cut the less important information.
Ideally your resume will be about one page long. Plan your resume so you include the most relevant information an employer will want to see first, followed by information that will help support an employer’s decision to interview you. Once you’ve written your resume proofread it. Then proofread it again. Ask a friend or family member, or even one of the recruiters at Atlas Staffing, to proofread it. Even the most perfect resume can get pushed aside if an employer sees multiple mistakes.
The perfect resume communicates your experience, your interest, and what you can contribute to your next role clearly and concisely.
Need more help? Contact us today to get started on your path to a great new job.
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