I know that the majority of our younger generation receives these skills as part of their curriculum prior to graduating high school. Some of us, however, tend to forget these skills as time goes by.
There may have been times that we hadn’t had to think about a resume in a long time. Perhaps this is because we have been at a job for quite some time and we now need to find another for whatever reason. Or we might be considered for a promotion, therefore we need to freshen up the resume that got us in the building in the first place. If you can relate to any of these circumstances, then this article might help to jog your memory. There a lot of ways that you can revive your resume in 2021. With use of the internet and other resume software, we can look at other resume templates and pick or choose what types of things we want in it. We have free reins to control how and where we choose to place this information, which may in turn be stifling. When we have too many choices, our minds may find this a little overwhelming. We may overthink what we would like to use or where would be the best fit for it. Have no fear, that’s what this article is for. Let’s get into it. #1 Tools Needed Before we consider writing the resume, we need to look at the tools we might need in order to create a visually pleasing resume. Most of us think that we need some fancy resume software- NOT THE CASE. You can make a great resume by using either Google Docs or Microsoft Word Online. Both these competitors have amazing resume templates that allow you to view the layout of your potential resume. Not only that, they also offer some great tools to help you during the creation of the resume, such as auto correct, and word count. This should not take the place of proof reading. You will definitely need to proofread your work prior to submitting to any potential employer. Don’t like the layout? By all means, create your own. I am a fan of not falling into the cookie cutter image. Let your creative spirit flow by adding tables and experimenting with fonts. However, do not go too overboard with colors and added elements to it such as graphics. Remember, you are going to hand this over to a company executive. You do not want to be handing over what looks to be a document that is overwhelmed with so many graphics that it looks sort of like a coloring book. #2 Visually Pleasing We touched a little on this in the previous step. It’s a fact, visually pleasing resumes get looked at a little closer than other resumes. Choose a layout that is not busy with too many elements, is clear and easy to read through, and follows the natural line of reading. I probably should mention here that adding your Instagram picture here is not professional and should not be done. Stop laughing. You would be surprised at what comes by a manager's desk. If you opted to create your own resume layout, seek an opinion from someone you trust to critique it. They will be able to better guide you should you get a little carried away. #3 Grammatically Correct We often communicate with each other in relaxed settings. When we finally have an important piece to write, and we forget to take a look at how our words are being used. IMs, comments on social media sites, messages, emails to loved ones do not warrant this type of attention. Certainly resumes do though. When you have completed plugging in the information that you want your prospective employer to look at, take a look at how it was written in. Did you use slang in your wording? Did you write as if you were commenting on a YouTube video? Make sure to use the software that you have available to review for spelling and punctuation. You should not, however, fully rely on it. You should always take the time to re-read and make corrections. Most editing software will not be able to pick up words that are not miss-spelled but are misused. #4 Great Content Have you have ever been shy about highlighting your strengths? This is not the time for it! Take the time to think about all the great things about you. What can you offer an employer that no one else can? Why? Do you have supporting evidence of work experience for that specific skill set? Skills that should take precedence in your resume are things that you feel you have learned throughout your career in that particular field of practice. These skills should be those who may seek the employer's attention: such as Microsoft Word proficient or knowledge in medical policy guidelines. Make sure that your resume conveys an air of confidence without completely sounding like an ego frenzied freak. Sometimes your ego can get the best of you. And it is definitely a fine line that we walk between confidence and complete jerk. Take the time to review the underlying tone of your email. Do you sound sure of what you are putting on paper? You should. Now is the time we can take to freshen up on the skills. Make full use of free available resources such as YouTube to review Excel and Word skills. That way when the time comes, you do not have to worry so much about the actual skill it takes to keep the job once you have it. #5 Clear Objective What exactly are you trying to say to your reader when she sees your resume? What job are you hoping that this resume will land you? Make sure that your resume reflects who you are in a professional matter. What is your end game? Besides earning income, what do you hope to accomplish in your career? Make sure that this information is clear, and to the point. Most of us when we were young, looked at the world with a fresh prospective. We had high dreams, high hopes, and high ambitions. Your objective should indicate your highest goals without sounding like a farfetched dream. For more on goal setting and breaking big goals down to bit size pieces, check out my article From Complexity to Simplicity. It will give you a great guide on how to take any big career goal and break it down into smaller, manageable pieces. #6 Great Cover letter Don’t head off to Indeed just yet once your resume has been completed! You still have your cover letter to write. Your cover letter should state clearly who you are, what position you are applying for, and why you think you would be the best possible candidate for the job. It should be composed of 1-2 paragraphs that gives your prospective employer a quick summary of what may be in your resume. This is a great option if you are applying for jobs posted on internet job search engines such as Indeed.com, Monster.com, or CareerBuilder.com. In these situations, you have no face-to-face interaction with the company you are applying for. Spending a few extra moments to create a cover letter may help give your resume the extra push it may need. Resume building may seem like a daunting task when you initially sit down and begin. You may think there are a lot of things that go could go into the resume and feel completely overwhelmed. Your emotional response may already be high due to the circumstance surrounding why you are creating the resume in the first place. Whatever the case may be, I am sure that with the information located here within this article, you will be able to present a well-polished resume that is sure to land you that dream job. Keep in mind, there is also another option to generating an income. And that is entrepreneurship.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorYaritza Ellison has been an nurse since 2010. She has been essential to the healing process of many and seeks to continue to do so. Her passion for mental health and self help literature has lead her to launch justyari.org, where she aspires to coach young ladies navigating through work-life balance. Categories
All
|