Modesty is often considered a virtue, but it doesn’t always serve you well when you are looking to land a new job. Selling yourself short on your resume can cause you to miss out on opportunities, including an amazing new position.
At its core, a resume is a marketing document, so you need to treat it as such. By using it to sell your experience, skills, and achievements, you increase your odds of standing out in the eyes of the hiring manager, making it more likely that you will be called in for an interview.
If you don’t know if your resume is going you justice, here’s what you need to consider.
Is Your Resume an Attention-Grabber?
Researchers have long said that a hiring manager only reviews a resume for a few seconds initially. This means you just have a couple of moments to grab their attention. Otherwise, they are going to move on to the next candidate.
Ideally, your resume needs to be filled with short statements that pack a punch. Strive to highlight your accomplishments and relevant skills, showcasing exactly why you are right for that particular role.
Are You Overly Modest?
Your resume is an opportunity to politely brag about what you bring to the table. Often, job seekers fear that, if they are too assertive, the hiring manager may assume they are arrogant.
While this can certainly happen if you are overly aggressive, there are ways you can brag that comes off as confident, not arrogant. For example, embracing active instead of passive voice when you discuss your accomplishments is a great way to start. It makes your resume engaging and highlights your trust in your abilities without arrogance.
Using strong action words – like “achieved,” “identified,” “generated,” “solved,” and “upgraded” – also helps your resume pack a punch without going too far.
Did You Include Numbers?
Quantifying your accomplishments is always the best approach. Not only do numbers visually stand out, drawing the hiring manager’s attention, but they also provide valuable context about your achievement.
For example, “Increased sales” is not nearly as impactful as “Increased sales by 20 percent.” Dollar amounts are similarly powerful, so add them whenever appropriate.
Can You Back It Up?
You can’t just tell the hiring manager you are great; you have to prove it. On your resume, make sure to include clear examples that highlight your achievements. Let them know about the situation, the tasks you needed to perform, the challenges you encountered, how you reached success, and the results of your work. Also, discuss any of the relevant skills involved in achieving the resolution, especially if they align with your target role.
By following the tips above, you can ensure your resume is doing you justice. If you would like to learn more about running an effective job search and finding open jobs in Michigan and Ohio, the team at The Advance Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our staff members today and see how our resume writing expertise can benefit you.
