When you apply for a job, you want your resume to land in the interview pile, not the circular file. Use these tips to grab your prospective employer's attention and win the interview:
It can be frustrating to hear crickets from employers after you've spent time crafting and sending resumes. Whether you are a transitioning or reserve service member, or spouse seeking employment, the following tips will help you create a resume that leads to an interview.
Tailor your resume to the job description
Complete the following basic sections of your resume:
- Header — Include your name and contact information (phone number, email and mailing address).
- Objective — Explain the position you are seeking, and why you are qualified. Be brief, specific and employer-oriented.
- Employment history — Provide employer names, your position titles, employment dates and a description of your responsibilities.
- Education — List any earned degrees or certificates, and continuing education.
- Skills — Identify any expertise and technical skills you have not included in your employment history.
Review the job description, go back through this list, and make sure you show how your skills and experience match the specific qualifications in the job description.
Set the stage
Read
more tips about writing your resume.
Every resume must have the basics, but how you present the information makes you stand out. Organize your resume so that the skills and experience that qualify you for the position are located at the top.
Consider these formats and select the one that best describes your qualifications:
- Chronological — A chronological resume highlights your employment history. This format is best for individuals with strong and continuous work experience and the desire to continue working in their current field.
- Functional — A functional resume emphasizes your skills over employment history. This format is ideal for someone seeking work in a new field or looking for that first job after completing a degree. It also works well for military spouses who may have time gaps in their work history because of PCSing, college or caring for children or family at home.
If you don't have much work experience, but do have a strong education background, you should consider listing your education before employment history.
No matter what format you choose, keep the following information in mind:
- Font — Choose an easy to read font like Calibri or Times New Roman at 10 or 12 point.
- Margins — Use the default margins in your word processing program.
- Headings — Make headings bold or italic for the different sections of your resume.
- Spacing — Leave a space between each section to avoid a cluttered appearance.
- Length — Use one page for entry-level positions and more than one for other positions.
Speak their language
Get
your foot in the door with a standout resume. Here's how.
A strong resume is your ticket to an interview. Make it count, and be prepared to expand on the information you present. Describe your qualifications using the exact words the employer used in the job description. Employers (and sometimes computers) scan hundreds or thousands of resumes for key words that are in the job description.
Try to incorporate as many action words as possible from the job description into your resume. Your qualifications might not be identical to the ones an employer is looking for, but they may be comparable. Using similar language is a way to reinforce that.
Show don't tell
Clear and concise writing will get you in the door. Use action verbs and short sentences (edited, built, managed, coordinated, organized or sold) to show you did the task instead of using a lengthy explanation.
Make your cover letter work for you. Focus on your strongest qualifications in the cover letter (using the same language they used). Show the employer that your experiences and skills are the best match for that position. The employer doesn't always have time to make the connections, so you have to make it easy for them to see you are right for the job.
Whether you choose to focus on your skills in the functional resume or your experience in the chronological resume, make sure that you put your best qualifications at the top of each section.
Schedule a dress rehearsal
After you proofread, ask a friend to look at the job description and review your resume to see if it clearly shows that you are qualified for the job. Take time to revise your resume to make it stronger by including more action verbs from the job description, or rearrange the order of the sections to get your best qualities at the beginning. If you find the format you chose isn't working, change to the other format.
Have someone double check your resume for grammatical errors, brevity and clarity. Grammatical errors and unclear sentences can put your resume in the trash heap.
If you need information or personalized assistance with employment or education opportunities, visit the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities website or call 800-342-9647 to talk to a certified SECO Career Counselor.