A resume is an essential part of any job search. It’s the first impression you make on a potential employer, so it needs to be perfect. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 30% of resumes get thrown out because they don’t include a cover letter. And even if you do have a cover letter, your resume might still end up in the trash. So how do you create a modern resume that gets you hired?
What Should Be In A Resume?
A modern resume should include a professional summary, education, skills, employment history, and personal interests. The professional summary is usually the first thing a potential employer sees on your resume. You want to make it appealing and provide your best qualities upfront. This is a great place to put your awards and achievements if you have any.
Your education would go below the professional summary and should include where you got your degree. If you have any certifications or special skills, these should be listed as well. For example, Microsoft Office or SAP are both considered special skills that might be worth mentioning on your resume. Your employment history should list all of the different companies you’ve worked for and what position you held in each company.
And finally, you could also mention your interests on your resume creation but keep them short if they’re unrelated to the job or company you’re applying for because they will take up space that could be better used highlighting more relevant information.
Your resume should not exceed 2 pages since anything beyond that is considered too much information to read through quickly. You want it to appear concise and easy-to-read so a potential employer can find what they need quickly without having to struggle with scrolling through pages of text or unnecessary information like hobbies or interests.
The Importance Of A Cover Letter
Job recruiters spend an average of 6 seconds looking at a resume before deciding whether or not to call someone for an interview; but it takes 20 seconds to skim a cover letter.
So, what should you do? When sending your resume to potential employers via email, make sure to include the cover letter as well as the resume in the body of the email message. It will give them time to read your cover letter before moving on to look at your resume
Why Do You Need An Objective Statement?
Many people think they should use a resume to describe their entire life story. But that is a big mistake. You want your resume to be short and to the point, so as not to bore potential employers. The way you can do this is by including an objective statement at the beginning of your resume.
It should be no longer than a sentence or two, and it should succinctly communicate what you hope to achieve from this job. That way, your employer knows why you are applying for this position before they even read the rest of your resume. A good objective statement might say something like “Looking for full-time employment in customer service.”