3 Things All Kick-Butt Resumes Have in Common
Resume writing is a necessary evil. No one really loves to write or update their resume (not even me), but it is one of those required things we must do as adults to land a job, earn a promotion, or take the next step professionally. So there are some core and basic things you must do when writing your resume and I’ve written about that already – but what makes a great resume stand out (in a positive way) from just an okay one?
Since you need a stand-out resume to get that outstanding job, consider whether your resume contains the following three characteristics that you need to separate yourself from all the other candidates:
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It is visually appealing
This can mean different things in different industries. If you are a graphic designer, then your resume should be a fun expression of your creativity. If you are an administrative worker, then it means leaving enough white space to not exhaust the reader’s eyes and keep it clean, concise, and easily to skim.
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It is not confusing to the reader
If you are a Manager, who is applying for a management position, your resume should scream “Manager Here!” and not make the reader dig for what exactly you did at your last position – make sure your resume is clear and to the point and properly showcases your roles and responsibilities.
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It doesn’t distract with clever buzzwords
Yes, it’s still a good practice to start your bulleted job duties/responsibilities with action words, but some words are becoming less influential as they are overused with time. For example: “Team Player” and “Excellent Communication Skills” and “Detail Oriented” top my list. If in fact you are truly all of those things, then your work accomplishments and the examples you can share will attest to that. Check out what LinkedIn says are the 10 Most Overused Words on Resumes. Similarly, CareerBuilder’s Jennifer Sullivan Grasz warns that using popular buzzwords can make resumes get lost and sound too similar to everyone else’s. “Instead of saying you’re results-driven, talk about the actual results,” she said.
So while resumes are still essential in your professional journey, you can (and should) work towards polishing your resume with proven best-practices and steer clear of the things that will make your resume stand out in a negative way. What are some things that you hate to see on a resume?
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