What is the purpose of your resume? Is it to get you a job? Well, not really. Your resume can only get you an interview, a foot in the door, so to speak.
Hi, I’m Kathryn Burke from Résumés For Results and in this video I share 3 strategies that you can apply to your resume that will increase your chances of landing an interview.
What is the purpose of your resume? Is it to get you a job? Well, not really. Your resume can only get you an interview, a foot in the door, so to speak.
In these three strategies, I talk about selling yourself (your 30-second commercial), appealing to the reader and a brief overview of the types of information you need to include in your resume.
Tip 1: Sell yourself
Selling yourself is your 30-second commercial highlighting to the employee that you’re the right candidate. It must be concise and hard-hitting. You also need to use the correct format and style, include information the employer or recruiter wants to know and remove anything that’s not relevant.
Tip 2: Appeal to the reader
Every job application you submit must appeal to the reader.
The reader could be the business owner, the HR manager or a recruitment consultant. If you want the reader to pick up the phone and offer you an interview, you need to appeal to them by including the information they are looking for in your resume. You want your resume to get past the first, second, third or fourth cull and get shortlisted. Then y ou will get a call from the reader of your resume.
Tip 3: Only include relevant information!
Read everything
How do you determine what the relevant information is? My suggestion is to read the job advertisement very, very carefully. Highlight the keywords that you feel are important for the role. Go on and read the role description if they’ve given you one. That gives you more information about the job and more keywords, giving you an idea of what is essential to the reader.
Research the company
Research the company, their website, their LinkedIn profile. Find a person, a decision-maker, go to the company website or LinkedIn profile, then contact them to clarify what they are looking for in a candidate.
Prioritise the content
Once you know what information is needed, then you prioritise the content for your resume. The most important things need to go first.
You must target the requirements of the role by:
Showcasing how your experience, skills and qualifications match the job.
Tweak it for technology so that you maximise your chances of getting to the human reader.
What to include
Most people think this part is easy. It should be commonsense, right? Well, no. Many job seekers get it wrong. Here is a brief overview of what to include:
Contact information: Include your name, professional email address, correct contact number, LinkedIn URL, personal branding page URL if you have one. Ensure all your contact information is absolutely 100% accurate; otherwise, you will not get a call.
Overview, profile or summary: This is a summary of your top skills, experience and qualifications that target (align with) the role.
Qualifications: Include your education, professional development and training. Don't include anything older than ten years.
Key achievements: They can go next or place then with their corresponding role.
Employment history: List the last 5 to 10 years. Include essential duties and notable actions that are relevant to this specific application.
The bottom line is you need to showcase, in a professional, no-nonsense way, that you have taken the time to pursue a specific job opening.
So the bottom line is you need to showcase, in a professional, no-nonsense way, that you have taken the time to pursue a specific job opening. When they see what’s in your resume and how it aligns with their needs, that’s what they will think.
If you would like to know more about the author Kathryn Burke, click here.
Need Assistance Crafting the Perfect Resume – We Can Help!
We can show you how to craft a resume that is keyword-optimised, highlights your unique employability skills, technical skills, education and work experience.
We offer services across Australia, including all capital cities and regional areas. Our Resume Writers bring years of experience to the table, with a full range of career services available. Résumés for Results are here to assist you to succeed.
When it comes to job application documents – resumes, cover letters, selection criteria – our expert resume writers know exactly what you need to succeed. Learn more about our services today!
Career Articles
Resume writing tips, career advice and interview strategies to help you get the job you want!
3 Resume Strategies to Land Your Next Interview
What is the purpose of your resume?
What is the purpose of your resume? Is it to get you a job? Well, not really. Your resume can only get you an interview, a foot in the door, so to speak.
Hi, I’m Kathryn Burke from Résumés For Results and in this video I share 3 strategies that you can apply to your resume that will increase your chances of landing an interview.
In these three strategies, I talk about selling yourself (your 30-second commercial), appealing to the reader and a brief overview of the types of information you need to include in your resume.
Tip 1: Sell yourself
Selling yourself is your 30-second commercial highlighting to the employee that you’re the right candidate. It must be concise and hard-hitting. You also need to use the correct format and style, include information the employer or recruiter wants to know and remove anything that’s not relevant.
Tip 2: Appeal to the reader
Every job application you submit must appeal to the reader.
The reader could be the business owner, the HR manager or a recruitment consultant. If you want the reader to pick up the phone and offer you an interview, you need to appeal to them by including the information they are looking for in your resume. You want your resume to get past the first, second, third or fourth cull and get shortlisted. Then y ou will get a call from the reader of your resume.
Tip 3: Only include relevant information!
Read everything
How do you determine what the relevant information is? My suggestion is to read the job advertisement very, very carefully. Highlight the keywords that you feel are important for the role. Go on and read the role description if they’ve given you one. That gives you more information about the job and more keywords, giving you an idea of what is essential to the reader.
Research the company
Research the company, their website, their LinkedIn profile. Find a person, a decision-maker, go to the company website or LinkedIn profile, then contact them to clarify what they are looking for in a candidate.
Prioritise the content
Once you know what information is needed, then you prioritise the content for your resume. The most important things need to go first.
You must target the requirements of the role by:
What to include
Most people think this part is easy. It should be commonsense, right? Well, no. Many job seekers get it wrong. Here is a brief overview of what to include:
So the bottom line is you need to showcase, in a professional, no-nonsense way, that you have taken the time to pursue a specific job opening. When they see what’s in your resume and how it aligns with their needs, that’s what they will think.
If you would like to know more about the author Kathryn Burke, click here.
Need Assistance Crafting the Perfect Resume – We Can Help!
We can show you how to craft a resume that is keyword-optimised, highlights your unique employability skills, technical skills, education and work experience.
We also provide and specialise in cover letter writing, interview coaching and job search advice.
We offer services across Australia, including all capital cities and regional areas. Our Resume Writers bring years of experience to the table, with a full range of career services available. Résumés for Results are here to assist you to succeed.
When it comes to job application documents – resumes, cover letters, selection criteria – our expert resume writers know exactly what you need to succeed. Learn more about our services today!
Share this post
Search Career Articles
Related Articles
AI versus Human
Remote Interview Hints
How to Write the Perfect Cover Letter
Returning To Work After A Career Break
The 3Ps For Interview Success
How to make sure your job application isn’t discarded!