The hiring process is not only changing but also getting a bit more complex. Now you need a stellar resume to beat the competition.
It is very much possible that you are applying for a number of jobs but not getting any response. It is because more people are applying for fewer jobs, and companies are screening candidates on a much stricter criterion.
These days, most resumes are not reaching the desk of hiring managers because more and more companies are using software to screen for the right candidate. Let’s dive into the details of what you can do to increase your chances of getting hired.
Stellar Resume: Right Formatting is Crucial
Writing your resume in the right format is the single most important factor that can make or break your hiring journey before it even starts. It can get you hired easily or can completely exclude you from the hiring process. This is why we have taken up this point at the top of this list.
Different regions and countries have different resume formats. For instance, the popular Europass resume format in Europe cannot work in North America. Therefore, before preparing your resume, first look at which format you have to follow.
After selecting the preferred format in your country, start thinking about what you will write in each section. More or less, there are common things in every resume, such as your professional experience, your personal details, details of your education credentials, etc. However, it is necessary to follow these details in the right order, and this is formatting in simple terms.
Stellar Resume: Knowing What ATS Is
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is software that companies use for the hiring process. Knowing this software is crucial because if you do not know how it works, your resume will never reach the desk of the hiring manager.
Basically, companies use this software to make the hiring process easy for them. This software scans all the resumes, looks for keywords in them, checks the experience and qualifications of the candidates, and then grades the resumes at the end.
So, prepare your resume with the right keywords and clearly mention your work experience to rank higher than others in the ATS. It is also important because about 90% of companies are now using ATS software. Remember, if you fail to meet the general criterion of ATS, your resume will not cross a certain point.
This also means that a candidate should be more careful now in sending what is required. If the company asks you to send the resume in Word, PDF, or anything specific, then be very specific. Do not add infographics or anything fancy because it can hurt you badly.
Knowing What to Mention and What to Ignore
To make a stellar resume, you need to be specific in your words. In most cases, the length of your resume should be either one page or two pages. But some people also go for three pages when they have important experience to mention.
Research shows that an ideal resume should be between 450 to 600 words. According to a survey done by Novoresume, 60.6% of job seekers had a one-page resume, 29.7% had a two-page resume, while only 10% had a three-page resume.
These days it is necessary to include your LinkedIn profile in your resume. So you can have a single-page resume, and the details can be mentioned in the LinkedIn profile because there you can have much more space.
The reason why people are preferring a single-page resume is because employers are increasingly saving time in the recruiting process, and they really love short and crisp resumes.
Resume Adjustment When You Look for a Career Change
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of people who want to change is increasing fast. In the post-pandemic years, about half of the workers are open to career change in North America.
If you are someone who is looking to change a career, it is important to make changes according to your new career. Different jobs require you to make some changes in the resume and strategy.
One of the strategies is to take more certificates and licenses. If you are not currently on the job, then you can take out more time for this task. This also gives employers a message that you prepared yourself better while you were not on the job.
If you are already on the job, then you can check out how LinkedIn certificates can help you. These certificates underline how serious you are as a candidate. You can also make your mind up about your newly chosen field. You can decide better whether you want to take further certifications, diplomas, or degrees in the new field.
Why and How to Mention Computer Skills?
There are so many computer skills that employers look for. For instance, there are some hardware and some software skills that definitely impress the employers.
One needs to evaluate which kind of computer skills you have and how you can mention them. It is also critical that a candidate mention the level of the computer skills clearly.
For example, if you want to mention your Microsoft Word and Excel skills, mention how much you know and how you used this software in your previous jobs.
In the case of Excel, you can mention that you used Excel pivot tables for annual policy documents, and due to those categorisation steps, your company improved its performance.
Conclusion
A stellar resume can increase your chances of hiring many times. It is not that your skills do not matter, but how you present them is also equally important.
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