Creating a resume so incredible that the hiring manager offers you a job right there on the spot… is tricky. You’re marketing yourself on a piece of paper someone will glance at, and sometimes, you have to market yourself to a computer before human eyes ever see it. Resumes are constantly being updated; they truly are never complete. Every job application requires a custom resume. You wouldn’t send a resume with all of your PR experience for a Social Media Internship. There would be different keywords needed for each.
I’ve done so much research on this over the past six months as I’ve worked to get my dream internship. I thought I would share what I’ve learned with all of you in hopes that you might get one interview close to landing THE job.
Hopefully, with these six tips, you will be one step closer to understanding how to do this whole resume thing.
1. KEYWORDS – My biggest tip is pay attention to key words on your job description. Print out a copy of your resume… and then print out a copy of the job description. Highlight the keywords in the job description and then your resume to see how many words matches up. Your resume may go through an ATS (applicant tracking system). This is a computer program that tracks how many key words you have. If you don’t have enough, your application goes in the trash. I know - It’s harsh, but big companies like Disney use it because they can’t go through 50,000 applications.
2. CLASSIC LOOK – Most resumes should be the classic black and white. It looks official and standard. It’s great, but if the position you are applying for is a creative position (graphic design, for example), then you can use a more creative resume to showcase your skills. Add color. Add some shapes! Go crazy… but not too crazy. Stick to your brand, and make sure it is professional looking. Canva.com is an INCREDIBLE resource to get inspiration from (or to fill out a template).
3. DON’T REPEAT – Your resume will look solid and detailed if you don’t have the same action verb at the beginning of each bullet point. I know it doesn’t always happen, but it’s a great goal. Use a thesaurus or google ‘good action verbs for resumes’. Your school’s career center will also have some excellent resources to help you to spice up the wording in your resume.
4. NUMBERS – Numbers stick out so much against the mundane-ness of alphabetical letters, but more importantly they SHOW the results of your action. In the business world, results are everything. Always include numbers.
5. USE ALL THE WORDS - The less white space, the better. I know that some resume templates are cute and simplistic but try to fill your resume with as many words as you can. Show off the work you have done; you deserve it.
6. CANVA – As I mentioned before, there is a website that I have discovered recently called Canva.com. This incredible resource helps with a multitude of design options. If your creative juices aren’t flowing and you need to create a stylish resume, check out Canva. They have free (and purchasable) templates for resumes, logos, menus, posters, flyers, business cards, YouTube thumbnails, and so much more. It will even help you create your brand.
Taken from the PRSSA Website.
Written by: Macie Delnay