No matter where you are in your career, keeping an up-to-date resume is a great way to be prepared for new opportunities.  There are many online resources to help you build and maintain your resume and to create an effective cover letter which can be an integral part of the application process.  

 

8 Resume Tips to Make a Good First Impression

 

1. Tailor your resume to the job: Customize your resume for each job application by carefully reading the job description and highlighting relevant skills and experiences. This shows employers that you are a good fit for the position. Knowledge of the company and the position you are applying for will help you cater your resume and cover letter when a traditional resume will not suffice. 

2. Use keywords: Over 98% of Fortune 500 companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) of some kind.  Make sure you utilize all the important keywords to make an ATS friendly resume.  Incorporate industry-specific keywords and phrases from the job description to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS) and increase your chances of being selected for an interview. However, make sure the keywords are used naturally and don't compromise the overall quality and readability of your resume. 

3. Include a professional summary/objective and skills/hobbies sections:

• Write a brief summary at the beginning of your resume to highlight your key qualifications and career goals. This helps employers quickly understand your value proposition and what you're looking for. 
• Your skills and hobbies section should be compelling and can boost your credibility, so don’t overlook these sections. 

4. Highlight your accomplishments: Instead of just listing job responsibilities, focus on quantifiable achievements and results. Use action verbs and specific numbers or percentages to demonstrate your impact in previous roles. Your resume should be more than just a bunch of bullet points. It should tell a compelling story to make you worthy of a job interview. (DO use bullet points to make it easier for employers to scan your resume quickly) 

5. Avoid common red flags.  For example: Gaps without explanation – Location that makes no sense – Titles that a layman may not understand - Typos can leave a negative impression so proofread and have others or AI programs review it as well. 

6. Get advice from other professionals to review your resume and provide feedback before applying for a role. 

7. Consider a cover letter to help highlight any experience or background that may not translate onto the resume. It is also an opportunity to showcase your personality as it will provide your voice on paper. Cover letters are not always required in a job application but can usually still be submitted. 

8. Utilize AI & online resources to help you build your resume and/or cover letter. Many tools use AI to help you build and customize your resume to match the job description in which you are applying to. 

 

Recommended ATS Compatible Resume Building Tools

 

There are several resume and cover letter tools to help beginners and pros. There is more to writing a resume than listing your career experience. Let these resources help you make the best first impression to prospective employers. If you do not have a resume, AI can help you build one in minutes. If you do have a resume, these tools can help you optimize your resume to better match you to your prospective job.

 

See all tools & comparison chart on Jobtress.com/resume

 

Alternate Resume Tools to Stand Out

• Landbot.io - build a virtual resume or chatbot resume without code A chatbot resume is a CV in the form of a virtual conversation. Recruiters can chat with the bot and focus only on the parts of your work experience, education, and expectations that interest them. 

• Biteable - Create a video resume! Users can use biteable to create a rejection-proof video resume in minutes. Free with a watermark or membership options available. 

To find other helpful resources to help you along every stage of your career journey, visit Jobtrees.com