6 Tips for Building a Winning Resume

There are a lot of jobs out there, and there are a lot more people applying for them. Anyone on the hunt for a new career has come to understand that even the smallest factors can give you the edge over other applicants. Yet there are still aspects of the process that many job-seekers tend to neglect, and one of more apparent examples of this being the resume. Look, we know you’re great, and you know it as well, but how exactly do you prove this to your future employer with just a simple resume? Follow our six simple tips, and you’ll have refined your resume into something truly spectacular in no time!

Don’t underestimate the importance of your resume’s layout!

There are a lot of jobs out there, and there are a lot more people applying for them. Anyone on the hunt for a new career has come to understand that even the smallest factors can give you the edge over other applicants. Yet there are still aspects of the process that many job-seekers tend to neglect, and one of more apparent examples of this being the resume. Look, we know you’re great, and you know it as well, but how exactly do you prove this to your future employer with just a simple resume? Follow our six simple tips, and you’ll have refined your resume into something truly spectacular in no time!

Use your resume as outlet to express your personality.

Whether a recruiter is opening up your resume for the first, or fiftieth time, it is crucial to have all of your information laid out in a clean, orderly fashion, to ensure an ease of understanding. Start it off by including your name and contact information easily accessible, at the top of your resume. From this point, consider including a skill (such as a second or third language) or a certification that is extremely relevant to the position you’re applying for, right at the top of your resume as well! This ensures that later on, when narrowing down the pool of applicants, your best skills are easily spotted. Finally, avoid cluttering your resume with irrelevant information. Not only does this prove that you understand the scope of job you’re applying for, but that you also value the time of the reader.

Only include the most relevant work information.

When developing your resume, carefully read through the job posting in order to target what exactly the employer is searching for. Doing so allows you to better tailor your resume to reflect these requirements, and cut back on less pertinent information. This process is no doubt time consuming, but preparing two well thought-out resumes that help you score the job, is a lot easier than firing off twenty of the same and getting no response. Even if you’re lacking in relevant work experience, consider highlighting skills that will transfer over to the new position. Doing so demonstrates an understanding of the role you are interested in taking on. Lastly, depending on what you’re applying for, including skills that nearly everybody has, such as proficiency in Microsoft Word, might unfortunately result in you appearing more out-of-touch.

Review and revise!

You’ve poured your heart and soul into this resume, and now you’re done! Well, maybe not quite yet. Once you have finished up writing and formatting your resume, take a quick break, and then re-read through it, noting any sections that can be better phrased or condensed. Afterwards, consider sending your resume over to a trustworthy friend, for a fresh pair of eyes to spot any inconsistencies in your writing.

When applying online, save your resume as a PDF.

After spending countless hours formatting, don’t let your hard work go to waste because an employer might not have the same font installed as you. Exporting as a PDF ensures that everything stays in place, exactly as you intended it. Then, before you hit submit, make sure to title your resume file appropriately, as Firstname_Lastname_Resume.pdf looks a whole lot more professional to employers, compared to resume_final_v12.pdf.

Stay positive!

We’ve saved the most difficult tip for last, and we understand that this might be the hardest point to follow, especially if you’ve been on the job hunt for a while. Our advice is to do your best to avoid dwelling on negative thoughts, and instead consider occupying some of your spare time with volunteer work or personal projects, to further strengthen your portfolio. In the meantime, try to develop a routine during your job search, that keeps you physically active, and engaged as part of a larger community.

Finally, be sure to check job postings regularly! CreativeCareers is updated frequently with new listings, so be sure to check back on a daily basis.