An employer or recruitment consultant only spends six seconds skim reading your resume. So put these strategies into action and you’ll improve your chances of being called for an interview.
1. Include white space
Make sure your resume is clean and visually appealing to make a positive first impression. Blocks of text crammed into one page are difficult to read and an employer won’t want to read it. Your resume is your marketing document and you want to stand out for the right reasons.
2. Email
Create a professional email address with Gmail e.g. anne.smith@gmail.com. Recruiters dislike unprofessional email addresses because it shows a lack of attention to detail. You’re sending a business document so you need a professional email address.
And don’t use your company email. It’s a major turn off for employers and recruiters because they’re concerned you might be job hunting when working for them.
3. Voicemail
Make sure your voicemail is professional and positive. Ask the caller to leave their name, number and a short message, and say you’ll call back as soon as you can.
4. Social media
Check your social media accounts. This is critical. Either lock your privacy settings or delete inappropriate posts and photos. Employers and recruiters do check your social media. If they don’t like your posts and photos, you won’t be called for an interview.
5. Employment
Start with your most recent role first and work backwards. List only 5-8 points for each role. Try to keep them short and to the point.
Keep only 10-15 years of relevant experience for the job you’re applying for. You could also add a heading titled ‘Previous Employment’ where you can list the job, company and dates you worked.
6. References
Always contact your references before you’re applying for a new job, and ask for confirmation they’re still happy to be contacted by potential employers.
Besides being courteous, this prepares your referee for the call.
Ensure your LinkedIn references and recommendations are current and relevant to the role.
7. Double check your information
Is your phone number correct? If it isn’t, that’s a missed opportunity. Are the dates correct or is there a typo? It’s so important to make sure everything is correct before you apply for a job. And ensure your contact number is easy to read with spaces between the numbers e.g. 0400 000 00 or 03 0000 0000.
BONUS TIP
Ensure your LinkedIn profile has the same information as your resume.