When applying for a job, your résumé becomes your first spokesperson and must capture a recruiter’s attention within six seconds. It is not impossible to do, but it is not something that it is easily done either. As a job seeker in today’s business environment, you have to create and submit an excellent résumé that gives a comprehensive view of your career history in a brief and easy-to-comprehend way.
The purpose of a résumé is for you to secure an interview, thus you have to ensure that there are no spelling errors and skills or job titles that are not related to the job posting. Moreover, your résumé should never be generic, to avoid it being sent to the “circular file” immediately.
A résumé must be immaculately written, proofread and spell-checked. If you are applying as a translator or interpreter, which are jobs for language professionals, you have to show that you have great command of the written word.
As a modern job seeker, you need to understand the modern way of presenting yourself through your résumé that’s tailored to the company and the job you wish to gain. This means there are some items that should be in it in the same manner that there are things you do not have to include. What you have learned, contributed and earned are the most important things employers want to see in a résumé, according to the founder of Résumé Writers’ Ink and executive career coach Tina Nicolai.
What to include in your résumé
When writing a résumé, you do not have to include every detail of your career history, but only those that matter to the company and the job, and the things that must be there are the following:
- Cover letter. This is essential because this is the best piece of written work to introduce yourself, state your career goals and show that you’re the best person for the available position. This is a compelling sales tool to ensure that your résumé is read, thus writing the cover letter involves careful thought.
- Contact information. This is basic information that should be seen at first glance, not at the bottom of the page. Your name, phone number, email and if you have a LinkedIn profile, its URL, should be at the top of the page. It is better to use just one email address and one phone number (the one you regularly use) to avoid confusion. Your home address need not be included.
- Phrases and keywords used in the job posting. Do not make it too obvious but including them is very useful, particularly if a résumé-scanning system is used by the employer. If you are applying as a medical interpreter, for example, and the job posting requires interpreting standards and protocols, clearly state if you are an IMIA, NCIHC or CHIA member and the pertinent workshops you have attended.
- Achievements and accomplishments. Include those that matter to the company. Mention relevant information, such as what you have contributed to the growth of the company, your team and department. This will allow the employer to see if your strengths line up with the responsibilities and needs they require for the job.
- Career history. Make sure that the work experiences you include are relevant to the position you are applying for. However, you have to ensure that it is interesting.
- These are every essential today and are a great way to support the achievements that you have listed. Any job position has some form of results measurement. Show your prospective employers the relevant metrics so they could ascertain if you have what it takes to grow a business, manage clients or lead a team. Show them how you have solved problems, how you have increased sales, etc. Avoid phrases like “responsibilities included…” or “duties included…” as well as buzzwords such as “people pleaser,” “synergy,” “go-getter” or “think outside the box.”
- Pertinent URLs. These are important but dependent on the position or field you are interested in securing. If you are a photographer, graphic or web designer, artist or writer, it is useful to add the links to your previous work.
As a job-seeker, you must understand that applying for a job and getting hired today is more competitive than ever. Today, you have to submit a résumé that looks very polished and relevant – like a recruiter had already thoroughly screened it. Remember that recruiters and HR personnel receive thousands of job applications and they do not have time (or the resources) to do lengthy screening processes by phone just to get specific and relevant information. Save the rest for the interview.
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