How to Build Your Resume Before Applying to New Jobs

 Whether you need some extra income to help make ends meet or want to apply for a new job to empower yourself since your children no longer need as much care, building a great resume must be your priority if you want to win your dream job. 

But what are the important things that must be included in a resume? How do you ensure that each part of your resume will impress your prospective employer? 

This article will give you some helpful tips on how to build your resume before applying to new jobs.

Set a Clear Job Title 

Every resume should have a clear job title for the job you’re applying for, which is usually included on the resume summary. Whether it is an internship or a permanent job post, you have to exactly copy what the employer or recruitment firm used in the job ad as the job title. If you have any doubts on the scope of work required of the post you are applying to, it wouldn’t hurt asking the HR staff of the company or read the listing further, which usually include the key responsibilities of the job you’re applying to.

State a Clear Objective

A resume objective statement refers to a short paragraph usually included at the top portion of a resume. The objective statement is different from a summary statement, and is used less often because of its notable pitfalls. But, when placed at the right time and place, writing a clear objective statement is worth it.

You might have been out of work for quite some time and are now struggling to find a new job as soon as possible. Before applying to new jobs available, it is important to create a resume with clear objective. You should never rush this step because your resume objective can make or break your resume. 

Here are some tips when drafting an objective for your resume to increase likelihood of getting noticed by the recruitment specialist or the manager:

• Avoid Selfish Objectives: One of the pitfalls of resume objectives is appearing a bit selfish. It usually happens when the applicant states their own professional goals instead of what they can do for the company. Remember that companies are generally more concerned with their own interests than the applicant’s career ambition. So, your objective must reflect prioritizing the professional needs of the company before yours.
• Avoid Generic Resume Objectives: Your professional goals and intentions do not clearly explain why you are the best for the job. So, avoid generic resume objectives by stating what you can do for the company instead of what the new job can do for you.
• Set a Realistic Objective: A good example of realistic objective is ‘Looking for employment in a professional office environment to diversify my knowledge and skills during ten years as a Finance Account Manager. Being a Director of Sales, I would concentrate on enhancing the productivity and reputation of the company while improving my own.’

Use Relevant Keywords Throughout Your Resume

Easily get noticed within the first eight seconds by using relevant keywords throughout the resume. These trigger words stimulate curiosity and impress recruitment managers, making them decide to set you up for an interview or added on their shortlist. 

List Your Educational Attainment

When listing your educational background, start with your most recent college degree or current education. Make sure to name the schools you have attended and their locations as well as the graduation dates and dates attended. It’s also a good practice to show off any degree you are working on or you have earned. If your GPA is above 3.5, it is worth mentioning it under this section. 

Make Your Work Experience Stand Out

If there’s a section in your resume that should stand out, it has to be your work experience. For one thing, the main purpose of submitting a resume is to let the prospective employer that you’re fit for the job and this resume section should clearly reflect it. Besides, most employers are more interested knowing an applicant’s work history than any other information on your resume. 

The following tips can help you make your work experience section of your resume more interesting:

• When to Add Volunteer Experience: If you have at least five years of paid work experience, you can omit the job descriptions of volunteer works. Instead, you can add your volunteer gigs in your resume’s additional section. On the other hand, if you don’t have extensive work history to highlight on a resume, then you may include your volunteering in the main work experience section.
• How Much Work Experience to Add: For a senior-level candidate, the work experience should list up to 15 years of professional experience relevant to the post. If you’re a junior- to mid-level candidate, add detailed job descriptions of related positions and a short mention of other job positions you’ve had. Entry-level candidates should list and describe part-time jobs, freelance work, temporary jobs, internships, and all paid jobs on the resume. For candidates without professional work experience, it’s a good idea to include unpaid internships, volunteering, student organizations roles, and all other paid and unpaid job experience.
• How to Write Work Experience: Make your ‘EMPLOYMENT HISTORY’ stand out by making using a larger font for this section title in bold and all capital letters. If you have a lot of work experience, your work history should be placed below the resume summary. For less experienced applicants, this section is best included below the education section. 

Adding Character References

Most employers do not require character references. Unless you’re asked, do not place references on your resume when applying for a new job. If an employer is interested in your application, you’ll be asked to provide a detailed list of character references later on. Use the extra space to write a resume introduction, an additional skills section, or more accomplishments.

The only time references must be included on a resume is writing a federal resume. Government agencies require all candidates to be thoroughly vetted. So, if you are applying for a government job post, include list of reference after each job position you have held.

Conclusion 

You have learned how to create a great resume before applying for a new job. It is important to have a clear job title and objective, along with a short overview or a summary statement to make your resume more appealing. Make your resume more interesting by adding relevant keywords and making your work experience section stand out by writing relevant jobs you had to fit for the new post.