6 Best Tips For Writing an Effective Resume 

One thing that determines whether or not you make it past the application stage is your resume. A poorly written resume can eliminate you from consideration for a position and you might never know that was what disqualified you. 

Recruiters and hiring managers have attested to the fact that poorly written resumes don’t do well, and there is an increasing number of them.

Here are some tips to help you write an effective resume. 

1. Format and organize your resume properly

Your resume must be captivating at first glance because a glance through might be all you get. Recruiters generally glance through your resume in 25 seconds and decide whether or not to toss it aside. 

A poorly formatted resume is difficult to read and will be a turn-off. Your resume should not exceed 2 pages as bulky resumes also rate poorly. 

To keep it interesting, apply different type-facing such as bold and italics to draw the reader’s attention to important areas. Also use wide margins, clear headings, and logical format all through your resume. Use bullets for achievements and accomplishments. 

2. Use ‘Career Summary’ instead of ‘Career Objectives’

Career objectives are nearly identical and don’t tell anything worth considering. Rather than stating the kind of job you are looking for and how you love a challenge, use a career summary to give a brief insight into who you are and what you do. 

Your career summary should make a good impression on your recruiter so you must spend time developing a summary that instantly catches attention. 

Ensure you accurately paint yourself as an asset and a solution to their problems. 

3. Identify your accomplishment

Don’t simply put out your past job descriptions; spell out your accomplishments on that job. 

Your recruiter wants to see how you have solved a problem, introduced a novel idea that was successful, and handled a difficult situation at your company. If you say you are a problem solver, you must identify ways you have solved problems in prior situations. 

To get it right, start with one or two top job descriptions and then list your accomplishments for these jobs.

Dwell on what you did, not what your job was.

Question the importance and benefit of each point you are writing.

4. Quantify, don’t Qualify

The most common mistake resume writers make is focusing on adjectives and industrial terminologies without saying anything specific.

When listing your accomplishments quantity is what you need to focus on and not a generalization. 

Quantify your achievements based on percentages, amount, levels, number of employees, and whatever quantifier that can best pass the message across. 

Paint a comprehensive picture by highlighting specific achievements.

When quantifying your achievements, take note of the dangers you averted or the problems you solved. Mention what could have happened if you hadn’t made that accomplishment.

5. Tailor your resume to reflect the industry

While some industries are open to creativity that gives you the freedom to design your resume however you want, most industries have a standard as to how they want a resume to look like. 

You must take note of the industry you are applying to and tailor your resume to fit into. 

If you are not privy to a particular format, be conservative with your style and texts. 

Ensure your resume is free of typographical and grammatical errors.

List your accomplishments in clean typing and make a good impression.

6. Engage professional services

Get a professional writer who is knowledgeable in resume writing and has a good language command to proofread your resume, make adjustments and corrections. 

A resume editing service will help to tailor your experiences and accomplishments to fit into the job requirements. 

Your resume editor should also make your resume into something that speaks personality, coherence, and style, yet formal.