Applying for your dream job can be an exhilarating experience. You may feel as though you are finally getting one step closer to landing the position you have always wanted and you may even feel as though nothing can get in your way. This may be the case, but if your resume is not as good as it can be, then you may find yourself getting a rejection letter rather than a handshake and the job.

Incorporate Industry Buzzwords

It’s so important that you are able to incorporate buzzwords and even industry-specific words as well. You don’t want to overdo it however because this will make you look as though you are trying to compensate and that you are keyword stuffing as well. When writing down your buzzwords, try and make sure that you tailor them according to the position you are trying to apply for. For example, if you want to apply for a leadership role then you need to try to include keywords such as “motivated” “team player” “born leader” and even “confident”. This will help you to stand out and it will also show that you were made for the position.

Tailor your Resume

As mentioned above, you need to tailor your buzzwords to meet the position you are applying for. Doing that isn’t enough however because you also need to tailor your resume as well. It’s important that you detail why you are good for the role and that you also include the company name as well. When you do this, it shows that you haven’t just sent them a generic resume and it also helps you to cater it to every position that you apply for as well. Little things like this can really help you to stand out of the crowd and it also makes you memorable, which is always a good thing when you are applying for such a big role.

Modern Formatting

When designing your CV, it’s a good idea for you to use a software that is modern. There are so many different types of software out there but a lot of them are old and outdated. They use fonts that you rarely see anymore and they also don’t look professional. You need to construct something that is pleasing to the eye and you also need to make sure that you don’t settle for a format that you are just not happy with. If you need to get some ideas on how to format your CV then there are plenty of helpful resources out there.

Error-Free

A lot of people don’t realise that they have errors in their resumes. One spelling or grammar error could be more than enough to send your CV right into the “no” pile and this is the last thing that you need. It helps to ask a friend or even a family member to check over the resume for you and it also helps to get it checked by a professional where possible. There are so many online services for you to choose from and although you may have to pay for them, they are well worth it.  Remember that you only get one chance to make a good impression.

Header

Headers are a fantastic way for you to make your CV stand out. You have to make sure that your header is a statement that is hard-hitting and punchy. You also have to make sure that it defines who you are and that it also tells the company about yourself as well. You need to keep the position that you are applying for in mind when you write your header, and again, do everything you can to tailor it so that the recipient knows that you have written it just for them.

Keep It Professional

You may be tempted to include negative information about your employees, your previous role or even your boss. The main reason for this is because you feel as though it makes you look better. This is not the case at all, because defaming other people is far from professional. On top of this, it makes you look like a poor team player and this is enough to turn any potential employer off. You also need to make sure that you don’t include your hobbies or even any political information. Try and stick to your career information as much as possible. When you do this, you can easily create a clear and crisp resume that any employer would be hard-pressed to turn down.

Achievements

Including your achievements is always a good thing. There is absolutely no better way for you to demonstrate how you are going to add to a company’s bottom line or success than to show what you have achieved in the past. On top of this, a lot of companies think that previous success is an indicator of future success, so you should include as much as possible in this section. If you have studied a course, put this down as well. This is especially the case if you have been to Wilfrid Laurier. When detailing your achievements, put names and dates, as this will make them look more legitimate and they will also carry more weight. It’s also a good idea for you to put the names you have mentioned in your achievement section down in your reference section as well. Of course, if you don’t have any references but you have recently graduated then don’t be afraid to put down a teacher’s number instead.

Industry Requirements

If you know that the industry is lacking someone with the skills that you have, then try and brand yourself in a way that shows this. Emphasize those certain skills to include on your resume and also show how you could benefit the company. Employers love to see things like this and they also like to know how you are going to fit into the role as well. Little things like this can make a huge difference and it can also help you to secure your dream role.

Chronological Order

When you write your CV, make sure that you detail your achievements in chronological order. If you list your achievements over the years in alphabetical order, or in the order from biggest to smallest then this will confuse your potential employer and it will also make it much harder for them to understand what you bring to the table. If you list everything in this order then they can see how far you have come and what potential you have for the future as well, so this is well worth doing.

Length

It can be hard to know how long your resume needs to be. A good rule of thumb is to make it long enough so you have chance to tell your story, but short enough so that people can skim through it in a single sitting. The key is to make everything super readable and relevant. If you write paragraph after paragraph then this will make it much harder for your employer to digest what you are trying to say and when they have a pile of other resumes to go through, they probably won’t want to take the time over it either. This is just one example of how someone who is perfect for a position can quickly be put in the “no” pile.

Don’t Overuse Colors

Sometimes a bit of color can really help a resume to stand out and this is a great thing, but if you overdo it then you draw the attention away from your resume and this is the last thing you need.