How To Improve Your resume

There was, there might be, or there would always be a time when we’re walking through corridors, a bit nervous, dressed in your best suit even when the rest of the world is embroiled in a long, hot summer, with a little briefcase in one hand and your resume in the other. A resume is like a mark-up of everything you’ve done in life – which is why it is very important to keep it sleek, clean and appealing. It is the first thing that a prospective employer is going to see, and look for the skills relevant to the job. Here are some tips to keep it niche, minimalistic, and help it in actually boosting your future career.

  1. Design is important
    Since we all take everything around us visually, we tend to pay more attention to something that appears to be visually appealing. Make sure that your resume does not look shabby and crowded with information, or has too big or too small fonts. Keep it minimal, with a good, readable font and a design that does not draw attention.
  2. Declutter
    We know that you’ve got lots to talk about. You have your achievements, positions and experience, but that does not mean that you cram all of it into one little piece of paper. Only keep the relevant details that can actually be beneficial to your career and let the employer know that you have acquired such skills. Many people get bored – and do not finish – reading a long-winded resume, and hence it is important to keep it to a minimum. This includes unnecessary dates, comments or irrelevant information.
  3. Check the grammar
    Even the little things can be very off-putting. Be sure to proofread your resume and correct any mistakes, if necessary. If you have used a particular phrasing, make sure that you continue on it. Do not mix up noun and verb phrases.
  4. Keep it short
    Most companies have a rule that it is better if the resume is only one page long. But if you cannot condense all that information in only a single page, don’t fret. Make a few adjustments. Use bulleted points, narrow down your margins, or use two columns.
  5. Present the Information
    Don’t just write things onto the paper. Use bulleted styles to present your relevant experiences chronologically. The basic rule of thumb is to divide your resume into sections titled, ‘Education’, ‘Work Experience’, ‘Positions’ and so on. You can also list them out based on importance. Overall, be focused on what you’re going to write, and do not use sentences of vague meaning.
  6. Gain Experiences
    A resume looks good and can really help you stand out as a person if you have worked with varied jobs along with your academic life. This includes any hobby, a sport, or volunteering activities. If you are in college, then there are lots of instances where you can take part in club activities or volunteer in college events. They can really boost your resume and you’ll also gain life skills for your own personal and professional development.
  7. Leave out the Personals
    It is better to limit any personal information. Make sure you add your phone number, email ID and address underneath your name, and that the email ID is not something like gameboy94@yahoo.com. It would only leave the employer unimpressed. On the other hand, elaborating and summarising on not just the job experiences, but the accomplishments you obtained – will assist in marketing yourself.

So there it is! A good resume can go a long way. Good luck out there on your future endeavours.

Sanika Tipre

Serial procrastinator and Photoshop addict.

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