Resume Writing Skills for Entry Level Candidates
As a current student, recent graduate, or entry-level job candidate entering the job market for the first time, you’re also probably preparing to write your first professional resume. As he sits at his desk with a seemingly empty document staring at him, I bet he’s thinking the same thing millions of entry-level job seekers have thought at some point. “Where do I start and what do I do first?”
The first thing you need to understand as a new job seeker is that your resume is a representation of you. If you want to be considered as a professional candidate for a job, then your resume needs to be presented, structured, and submitted in a professional manner. First impressions are very important in a world where a hiring manager can often receive more than 500 to 1,000 applications for a graduate position. If your resume doesn’t stand out right away, it will be removed.
What should I include in my professional resume?
The key to writing an expert, attention-grabbing resume is to focus on targeting your application to the job you’re applying for. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position, then you need to present as much information to the reader that will make them the best possible candidate for the teaching position. This information should be highlighted on your CV and supported with quantitative evidence (where possible).
The best way to stand out from the competition is to highlight your accomplishments rather than just listing your general job duties and responsibilities. This is a great way to stand out from the crowd and give the reader all the great value-added skills you have to offer. For example, if you participated in extracurricular activities at school or college, don’t just mention these activities, but highlight how you were able to add value.
I recently sat down with a marketing grad who was working on campus organizing, coordinating, and hosting college events. On his original resume, he had five bullet points explaining what he did in his role (core roles). There was nothing wrong with what he had written, however, his resume would never stand out against all the other marketing grads he was competing with. To update the resume and turn his original resume into a marketing document, we turned the duties and responsibilities into accomplishment statements. Instead of saying “I developed the newsletter,” which says nothing to the reader, we turn this statement into an achievement statement with quantifiable evidence. “I developed the campus-wide newsletter, which led to an increase in subscription from 1,000 to 5,000 people in a period of 6 months.”
Go to the job you are applying for
The “one size fits all” strategy doesn’t work for a professional resume and it’s unrealistic to think you can submit the same document for every job you apply for. Your resume should be tailored to the specific job and answer the questions that the position identifies. Don’t waste the reader’s time by including information that is not relevant or required in your resume. It will only reduce the professionalism of your resume. Instead of including a section on your hobbies and interests (which is outdated and not needed these days), include a “Key Competencies and Skills” section to further highlight to the reader all the great skills you have to offer.
Final thought…
Remember that the more value-added information you can provide, the better your new resume will be.