Just because you put together a resume doesn’t mean it will hit the mark with employers. If you’re not careful, small details could hurt your chances of landing your dream job. Thankfully, with the right approach, you can prepare application materials that pique employers’ interest.
Here are small details that can make a big impact on your resume and why you need to focus on them as you get ready to submit your application materials to employers.
Check Your Resume for Spelling & Grammar
Proofread every time you refresh your resume and apply for a job. Doing so won’t take up a lot of your time. If you don’t, you risk spelling and grammatical errors that can make an employer question whether you are taking your job application seriously.
Whenever possible, err on the side of caution by having a family member or friend read through your application materials before you submit them. If any spelling or grammatical errors are present, you’ll be able to address them right away. Plus, you can receive feedback about these materials and ensure that they will resonate with an employer.
Keywords
Review a job posting as you craft your resume. From here, you can identify resume keywords. Otherwise, if you choose to exclude relevant terms and phrases from your application materials, an employer may miss them.
Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to vet application materials. These systems allow businesses to search various terms and phrases to find applications from qualified candidates. Thus, if you incorporate keywords from a job posting into your application materials, it becomes increasingly likely that companies using ATS will find them.
Account for context as you integrate keywords into your application materials. If you use a wide range of terms and phrases correctly in these materials, you’re well-equipped to make a great impression on an employer.
Formatting
Look closely at how your resume is formatted. Employers will notice if you’re using many different fonts, font sizes, and styles. If the formatting makes it difficult to read your application materials, employers are prone to move on to other candidates.
Make your application materials clear and concise. Ideally, your resume should be at most two pages. The font, font size, and style should be consistent. Meanwhile, everything should be divided into sections with clear headings and ample space between them.
Verify that your resume is reader-friendly on both desktop and mobile devices. Print out a copy of it to see how it looks on paper, too. If your application materials look great in multiple formats, they may be ready to send to an employer.
Let the Elby Professional Recruitment Team Help You with Your Resume
At Elby Professional Recruitment, we want your application materials to show an employer that you deserve an opportunity to join their team. Our team helps you at each stage of your job search. We can provide resume and cover letter tips and other job search guidance. Check out our job board to learn more about the employment opportunities we currently have to offer.