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Attention seeking resumes

July 28, 2022 by Kelly Kendall-Jones

Attention seeking resumes

We recently posted about the importance of writing an effective opening statement in your resume, in order the gain an employer’s attention. Now that you’ve captured your audience, it’s time to keep their attention and showcase why you deserve to progress to an interview.

Tip 1 Include keywords

You’re sure to engage a hiring manager if you’re mirroring their language. Using keywords from the job ad can highlight how you’re a good fit for the position and the company.

Some organisations use applicant tracking systems (ATS), which scan resumes to identify the relevant keywords for the job. If your resume passes through the ATS, you have a good chance of being called in for an interview!

Tip 2 Quantify your achievements.

What’s your wow factor? Instead of just listing your previous responsibilities and day-to-day tasks, make yourself more memorable by listing your achievements. According to Indeed,quantifying your performance on a resume is an effective way to demonstrate your value to a potential employer and help you stand out from other candidates.

It’s not as simple, however, as saying ‘I organised the recruitment drive during Curtin’s Orientation Week for my student club’. Instead, how about the following: ‘As the events coordinator for Curtin University’s Women in Business club, I was responsible for overseeing our semester one recruitment drive during Orientation Week. The successful organisation and running of this stall resulted in our club increasing its memberships by thirty percent.’ Makes a stronger impression, doesn’t it?

Tip 3 Use action words

Don’t bore your reader with tired cliches and vague statements – your resume needs to show action. You can do this by replacing passive language with action verbs. This is one way of conveying confidence and competence, and showing you’re the right person for the job. You can weave these action verbs into your skills, work experience and achievements sections.

Some examples include word such as achieved, implemented, managed, advised, and collaborated. For more info on using action words, check out Positive Action Words on UniHub!

Tip 4 Don’t forget about transferable skills

Also referred to as employability skill, these are highly sought after by employers, as they are skills are applicable in a range of situations. These transferable skills include things like communication, leadership, teamwork and problem solving. Be sure to not simply list your transferable skills but also back them up with real-life examples.

Tip 5 Maximise readability

Everyone is busy, including the person reading your resume. As such, don’t create jazzy design elements at the expense of good content. Use a reader-friendly font such as Calibri or Cambria, include clear section headings, and be sure to have a clear timeline. Avoid too much white space by aligning everything from left to right rather than using columns.

Remember, resumes take time, and should be tailored to each job you apply for. Search ‘resume’ in UniHub’s Resource Library for help with crafting a stand-out resume that’s sure to keep an employer’s attention.

And if you’re looking for instant feedback on a resume you’ve crafted, check out VMock.

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