Is Your Resume Missing the Mark? Key Ingredients for a Winning Resume

Your resume is the most important aspect of your job search. Whether you are seeking entry-level positions or considering a mid-career job change, your resume can make or break your job search efforts. These are the key ingredients your resume must include to get attention from hiring managers and recruiters.

Skills and Experience

More than education and work history, prospective employers want to know what you know how to do. Not all of those things show up in job descriptions, so you have to tell potential employers what you can do for them.

The best way to do that is by using key words and phrases to describe your abilities. It’s even better if these words and phrases match up to what the job description asks for.

Including a list of skills on your resume is a great way to get the attention of application tracking software. This is the first hurdle you must overcome before a hiring manager will even set eyes on your resume.

White Space and Formatting

Long resumes with huge blocks of text are hard on the eyes and will have hiring managers moving along to the next one post haste. You need to create white space with bullet lists, numbered lists, subheadings, and spaces between section.

Measured Success

This is more important for those seeking to advance careers than those just entering the workforce. Employers want numbers, facts, and figures that show them what you have to offer. They want to know the successes you’ve generated for your organization.

The final thing your resume needs is an organized and well-reasoned flow of information. If your resume includes all these key ingredients, and all other things are equal, you’re the candidate more likely to be called in for the interview.