Resumes that get you hired won’t turn off employers.
Even when you hire the best executive writing service to write your resume and cover letter, many hiring agents will only take a second to skim them. It’s important to grab their attention so your resume doesn’t end up filed away with all the rest. What are they looking for? What makes them read on or lay a resume aside? Is it possible to write resumes that get you hired?
There are several things potential employers may find off putting. Here are a few things to avoid so your executive resume bio gets read and considered.
Over Used Phrases – One of the biggest red flags for an employer is seeing the same phrases or descriptions over and over again. There are some claims virtually any person can make about themselves and their skills. Avoid over used terms like “self-starter,” creative” or “problem solver.” Rather than using cliché phrases, describe your experiences and share your accomplishments.
Grammatical Mistakes – Resumes that get you hiredwill be free from grammatical and spelling errors. Today almost everyone uses a word processor that contains a spell checker. There’s no excuse for these kinds of mistakes. Have someone else look over your resume or look for the best executive writing service to help with the writing so you can avoid these costly mistakes. If your resume is riddled with grammatical or spelling errors, you are telling the hiring agent you do not care about your work either.
Poorly Written Content – Even though you may not need to have strong writing skills for the job you want, it’s important to have well written content in your cover letter and resume. Your writing skills may not be necessary for your position, but it will demonstrate you can communicate effectively. It can also speak of your level of professionalism and education and show how much you care. Take time to write your cover letter and executive resume bio in an educated and professional manner.
Not Demonstrating Professionalism – Make sure to keep your resume on a professional level. If the hiring agent is reading information about your private life, such as a spouse or how many kids you have, they are likely to ignore your resume or application altogether. Limit your information to areas related to your qualifications and skills.
Huge Gaps of Time Between Jobs – Fill in open areas of unemployment with explanations. A potential employer who sees a huge gap in your employment history will likely have lots of questions. They may think you are hiding something, such as a position you left without notice or one from which you were fired. They might think you left the hole deliberately and will wonder just what you are hiding.
If you want to write resumes that get you hired,avoid these practices. Keep it professional, error free and focused on what you have to offer the company. You want them to see why you are the best person for the position. Don’t give them a reason to ignore your resume.
You’ve probably heard that statistically, employers spend an average of eight seconds scanning a resume. Obviously, that’s not a lot of time to make a lasting impression. If your resume is cluttered, unorganized and the text and font are clunky, it just might get passed over. Here are some tips for writing an effective resume that will ensure your resume gets the attention it needs.
Clear Sections
Your resume should have clearly demarcated sections. Top rated resume writing services might suggest using italics or a bold fold to differentiate between those sections, such as Education and Work Experience. There should be a break in the reader’s mind between different types of information.
Alignment
Align your text to the left. Since the eye naturally returns to the left, this is the most natural and readable format. However, align dates and locations to the right, which helps to separate that information and makes it easy to scan. Speaking of formatting, keep it consistent. Don’t start using “creative” formatting techniques in order to squeeze everything into one page. It’s more important your resume be clean and readable than be limited to one page.
Use Numbers and Symbols
Whenever possible, use numbers and symbols instead of text. They will grab the eye and be easy for the employer to quickly refer back to. Keep bold text and all caps to a minimum. You want to use these sparingly in order to truly highlight important information.
Fonts
Choose one, or two at the most, and make them clean and simple. Keep in mind your resume will likely be going through an applicant tracking system, which will not pick up special fonts or graphics. So not only are these cluttered and hard on the eyes, but it might prevent your resume from getting into anyone’s hands to read. Top rated resume writing services suggest sticking with plain, classic fonts.
Bullets
Do use bullets. It breaks complex pieces of information into readable chunks and makes it simple to reference back to these points. It also draws attention to your accomplishments, information you really want to highlight.
Use White Space
Using plenty of white space is much easier on the eyes than large, dense chunks of text. It creates a clean, well-designed look that’s appealing to the reader.
Writing a clear, effective resume can be a daunting task. If you want to be sure you get the attention of your desired employer, you might consider using a professional resume writing service. Allowing an expert to help you craft a successful resume will dramatically increase your chances of landing your dream job.
Traditional thinking holds your resume should be no longer than one page, but have times changed? An executive resume service will typically urge you to keep it to no more than two pages. However, some will say three pages is appropriate in certain instances. The bottom line is there are exceptions to every rule, and although your resume should be well edited, the focus should be on content, not length.
Applicant Tracking Systems
One important factor to consider is the use of Applicant Tracking Systems to vet candidates. This system allows employers to read and scan resumes by search terms. The difference between a live person reading your resume and the Applicant Tracking System analyzing it is a human typically looks for accomplishments, while the tracking systems search for keywords. So what does this mean for you the applicant? Since it is a bit tricky to try to please the Applicant Tracking Systems, as well as the employer, the best approach is to focus on quality content.
Applying to a Specialized Field
Let’s say you are in a specialized field, such as medical or legal. You should consider using a professional curriculum vitae writer. They are pros at including all the details your field needs to cover, yet staying concise. They will work with you to highlight not just your education and past jobs, but achievements such as research and teaching experience, publications and grants and fellowships. They are experts at taking an overwhelming task and making it simple and effective.
Shifting Careers
Another instance in which a two or three page resume would be appropriate is if you are changing careers altogether. The applicant will have to cover their qualifications and skills that would pertain to both their current job and the one they hope to transition to. In this case, it’s absolutely fine to have a length of two to three pages. Again, the focus here is on quality and pertinent content, instead of length.
Trimming the Fat
If you find you still would like to trim off a little more length, consider digging into your oldest employment information. If you have to cut something, this is most likely the least relevant and important to employers. Some things to avoid: shrinking your font to a size too small to read easily, using a photo and not checking for typos. These may seem obvious, but it can be easy to forget the basics when you’re in the throes of writing.
Writing resumes and cover letters is a daunting undertaking. An executive resume service can be an invaluable resource in creating your best resume. Take some of the stress off of yourself and let a professional help you get that call back.
Resumes and cover letters should be targeted to the job.
For many people, executive resumes are the most difficult to master, which is why many executives looking for new jobs seek professional resume writing services. So what does it take to craft winning executive resumes that gets you hired? Targeting is the master key.
What Is Targeting?
Targeting means catering your job hunting efforts to a specific role in the industry you hope to work for so you know exactly how to market yourself to potential employers. To do this, it is a good idea to research the field you’re trying to break into. This will tell you what is expected of you and can give you a sense of how to reformat your search efforts.
How Should I Research?
The first and best thing to do would be to look up information about the job positions you’re interested in. Get to know the skills required for this position across various types of companies because differently sized companies tend to want different skills for the same positions. You’ll want to craft a resume that works for both ends of the spectrum, from small businesses to massive corporations.
How Do I Tailor My Resume to Specific Companies?
Start with the researching process and get to know everything there is to know about the position you want. Then you can proceed with getting to the heart of what your ideal position entails. Write out everything about how the position works and use that as a framework for your resume. Depending on the type of companies you’re aiming to send applications to, you may want to craft two resumes that suit their individual needs. You can write several versions of a resume just by keeping them concise and tailored to the needs of the specific position you want.
There are a number of important things to consider while trying to write your resume, including:
The regional scope of the company (for example, whether they are international or local)
The title(s) of the position(s) you want
How much interaction you’ll have with other employees in the company
The title(s) of your superior(s)
The goals of the position relative to the company
How large the company is
The variety of job duties you’ll have in this position
What the work environment is like at the company
Any specific industries you would most prefer to work in
Writing specific and goal-oriented resumes and cover letters becomes much easier when you know your focus. All it takes is a little research regarding what you want and some critical thought to narrow your goals down to the basics. The next step is taking what you’ve learned and applying it to your resume. By using these tools, you should be well on your way to crafting resumes that get you hired. However, if you need a little extra help, don’t hesitate to enlist the assistance of a professional resume writing service.
Think the Traditional Resume Is Dead? Think Again!
Writing a professional resume still requires a traditional format.
Technology is an essential tool in today’s job-seeking climate. Online profiles are valuable, but they serve to complement, not replace, the traditional resume. Writing a professional resume as a part of your career advancement efforts isn’t a mere formality; it is a vital communication tool that can offer potential employers a reason to find out more about you. A well-written resume is a tangible, concrete representation of your professional abilities and accomplishments.
Well Written Is Key
Many people dread the process of writing a professional resume. Perhaps that’s why so many headlines herald the end of this formal document. The fact is, however, the resume isn’t going to disappear from the professional world any time soon. It is too valuable of an aid for the discerning employer seeking true professionals. Designed to present information in a concise, easy-to-evaluate manner, the resume is an excellent tool for making the short list of potentials to consider for hire.
It does take time and skill to craft a resume. A poorly written resume can hurt your chances of making that short list for hire, especially when it comes to the more prestigious, responsible positions. Today’s employment market is highly competitive. Professional resume writing services can offer you an edge, helping to make sure your resume is clean, concise and attention-grabbing.
Successful Resume Characteristics
Using a top resume writing service can ensure your resume features characteristics important to success in today’s employment-seeking climate. Branding yourself is important. It is that branding online profiles are meant to enhance. Another important characteristic of today’s professional resume is the use of industry-related keywords. Applicant tracking systems and software are often among the first stages of sorting through electronically submitted resumes. Resumes without proper keyword concentration are often bypassed because they don’t reflect qualities specific to the industry or position. Professional resume writing services offer a fast, efficient means of making sure your resume specifically targets the position you’re seeking with your core skills and documented successes. Presentation and attention to detail count for a a lot in a resume. A top resume writing service isn’t going to allow spelling, grammar, format or style mistakes to slip by. Your resume will feature the tightly focused, action verb oriented, concise writing style characteristics of successful resumes.
Traditional Formalities Still Apply
A well-written, formal resume demonstrates valuable personal qualities as well as professional ones. It represents a person who isn’t going to be casual about their career, a person serious about their job. Writing a professional resume demonstrates a commitment to doing things in a professional, efficient manner. Although many business formalities have fallen to the wayside in the tech-savvy climate of today’s business world, the traditional formal resume is still a valuable tool for both the job-seeker and the employer looking to hire the best.
Avoid these mistakes on resumes that get you hired.
When writing resumes that get you hired, it’s evident you need to make sure yours stands out from the hundreds or thousands of others a company receives. Unfortunately, many people think this means they can break all the rules. Professional executive resume writers will tell you otherwise. This is why it’s often best to work with professional resume writing services to ensure you stand out while following the rules.
1. References Available Upon Request
When you’re applying for a job, it’s an unspoken understanding you will provide references upon the request of the interviewing company. There’s no need to write this statement on your resume. In fact, it simply takes up critical space you could use to highlight your skills and lets the hiring manager know you don’t understand the rules.
2. Including Non-Related Personal Interests
Many hiring managers ask about personal interests to get a feel for your personality and how you will fit into the company culture. It is also designed to show off your skills. Professional resume writing services recommend listing only personal interest that align with a job-specific skill, giving the recruiter a clearer picture of what you can offer.
3. Listing Duties, Not Achievements
One common factor in resumes that get you hired is the listing of achievements gained at past employment opportunities. What you did at your past jobs may play a role in whether you are qualified for a new position, but employers want to see where you have gone above and beyond. Listing all of your achievements will show them you are a valued employee and can be an asset to their team.
4. Dressing Up the Layout
In order to stand out, many people attempt to get creative with their resume and cause more problems as a result. Some people use a variety of fonts, as well as even different colors to offset information they want to highlight. In most cases, this is a serious mistake that will get your resume thrown away, rather than read.
5. Using Chronological Order
It may seem ideal to start with your most current job first, but this isn’t often the best way to approach your executive resume. When you’re applying for a high-level job, it’s more important to highlight the most relevant skills first. This will place focus on why you are the perfect candidate for this job over the other resumes that may be in the pile.
Because there are so many mistakes that can be made, it’s often important to work with professional executive resume writers to ensure your resume is ready to go. Resumes that get you hired stand out from the crowd without breaking the conventional resume rules. If you don’t have a firm understanding of those rules, you could delay your ability to get the job you want.
The best executive resume format can help you reach recruiters.
Imagine the excitement you feel when you’re contacted by a recruiter for the job of your dreams. If you want to increase the number of contacts you make, it’s important to use the best executive resume format, as well as an effective cover letter for your resume. Thinking like your recruiter will ensure you understand what they’re looking for and increase the chances they will contact you over the other candidates.
Good Searches Are Essential
When you post your executive resume bio, you need to make sure it is fully searchable to increase the chances recruiters will find you. In general, blogs can be difficult to search. However, social media sites, such as LinkedIn, are highly searchable. Always fill out your profile as much as possible to ensure your profile will hit more frequently.
Be Careful of Your Friends
You may think who you’re friends with doesn’t matter, but in the recruiting world, it really does. What your friends say and do on your social media profiles can have a dramatic impact on how recruiters and prospective employers see you. While you don’t have to cut out all of your friends, make sure photos are properly filtered and prevent your friends from posting information about you to your profile. All it takes is one bad post and it can ruin your entire reputation among recruiters and businesses alike.
Be a Thought Leader
Businesses want employees who are able to think for themselves and will be positive contributors to the workplace. For this reason, it can be invaluable to write articles for your industry, even if you submit them on an unpaid basis. Recruiters often use your name to search for published works that may be attributed to you. This will showcase you as a thought leader in your field and can increase the chances you will be recruited.
Do Some Research
Just like website content, the best executive resume format is focused on keywords. Many recruiters now use software to look for certain key words or phrases within your executive resume bio. If they can’t be found, you won’t be contacted. If you aren’t sure which words would be most useful to you, some research into your industry can help. It can also help to post different versions of your resume on various sites and see which ones perform best.
Do Your Best
It’s not all about your cover letter and resume. Many recruiters will look within companies for their top performers to attempt to recruit them for bigger and better things. While you can boost your chances by adjusting your resume and cover letter, one of the best things you can do is excel at your job. When you stand out and are recognized, recruiters will take notice.
Writing a professional resume will help you stand out.
Most people already recognize the need to stand out from the other candidates by wiring an effective resume that showcases their skills. However, many of those same people have no idea how to accomplish this goal when writing a professional resume. The following tips will help you find new ways to make sure hiring managers notice your executive resume cover letter over all the others.
Dress Up Your Cover Letter
Every great resume begins with a cover letter that addresses the hiring manager and lets them know why you are considering the position. Unfortunately, this can be an area that many people struggle with, making it difficult to set yourself apart from the other candidates. It shouldn’t simply be a summary of what is included in your resume; instead, it needs to be a personal message to the hiring manager to help them see you as the ideal fit for their business culture.
In general, your executive resume cover letter should answer the question of why. This is your time to tell prospective employers why you are considering a position within their company and why you are the ideal candidate for the job. It can be useful to find a connection between something you have to offer and what they are looking for. Many hiring managers make the decision to request an interview based largely on the contents of the cover letter.
Create an Outstanding Resume
Once you have a cover letter that makes a great first impression, you need to focus on writing an effective resume that sets you apart and shows employers why you are the smart choice. When writing a professional resume, make sure to only include the relevant skills and experience, as well as a concise, narrative work history. This information will give employers a clear view of what you bring to the company.
Instead of listing work experiences that are unrelated to the new position, consider adding a section for non-work activities. This can give them a better idea of your personality to help them determine if you are a good fit for their company cultures. Therefore, it’s important to show them who you are, rather than simply what you can do.
As you consider your options for your future career, it’s essential to find ways to make sure you stand apart from the hundreds of other resumes that cross a hiring manager’s desk. From your executive resume cover letter to writing a professional resume, it’s up to you to show a company why you are the best fit for the job, especially over the other candidates who have applied.
