I am a highly qualified candidate. So, why am I not landing any interviews?
If you are an active job seeker, and you’re confident that you have the right skills, experience and background for the position, but you’re still not getting any call backs from hiring managers, then your resume could be the issue.
You may have spent countless hours reconfiguring your resume over and over with different fonts, character highlights, or captions hoping it would stand out to potential employers, but sadly, you may have been wasting valuable time. There are other important parts of your resume that need your attention.
Without direct network referrals, a resume submittal is the only way to get your foot in the door and interview for the job you want. Even though you may be the most qualified candidate for the open accountant, auditor, financial analyst or programmer position, until you interview, your resume needs to speak volumes for you. Your resume must stand out among the countless other applicants vying for the same role.
At Brilliant®, we don’t want you to feel like your resume keeps getting submitted into a resume black hole any longer!
Here are 4 brilliant tips to help you get your resume noticed!
- List all of your accomplishments, achievements and recognitions first.
One of the most common mistakes job seekers make is listing bullet points that focus on your daily job duties first on your resume. How will this make you stand out from a peer that is applying for the same accounting, finance or IT job with the same responsibilities? It’s important that you use the first three to four bullet points to illustrate the successes you have had in your career thus far. Include when you were recognized by your current and former employer(s). Add any significant achievements. Not every applicant will have the same highlights as you. So, the more you can differentiate yourself from your peers, the more you will stand out.
- Include all of your temporary, contract or consulting assignments.
Some individuals believe that listing jobs on your resume that aren’t permanent can be viewed as a negative, or devaluate you from a permanent position, by the hiring managers. However, this cannot be further from the truth. In reality, temporary, contract or consulting assignments show potential employers that you are or have been actively working! It also indicates that your skills are up to date, and not rusty. New skills and/or exposure to new industries from these types of positions can add tremendous value to a potential employer. Candidates who keep working and keep their skills sharp will always have an advantage over those whose resumes show long gaps between the current date and the date of their last job.
- Use multiple keywords that are specifically listed in the job description.
Since many organizations get flooded with hundreds of applicants, oftentimes resume submittals get sent to a computerized portal that automatically scans the resumes for certain words and phrases related to the job description. Many of these portals are designed to find a certain amount of keywords and then disregard the rest of the resumes. That’s why it’s important to take note of the language used within the job descriptions and include the same wording throughout your resume. Keywords can include anything from specific software names, specific job responsibilities, specific degrees or certifications to certain skill sets.
- Keep it to the point and easy to read.
Using pictures, graphics or extravagant fonts can make a resume look more like an art project. This may work for creative roles. However, when vying for an accounting, finance or IT position, chances are employers are quickly glancing at a resume to find the necessary skills/experiences for the open role. If there are distractions that make your resume look out of the ordinary, there is a good chance that it will annoy the hiring manager and get discarded. It’s best to play it safe by using standard and easy to read fonts and color types. Simply, list all of your relevant accomplishments, skills, experiences and education that the potential employer has included in their description. Everything else may be viewed as fluff or filler material.