Your resume is the passport to your potential employers. Employers see in the resume what values you can offer for the position offered as a candidate. It sells your skills and abilities through a thoughtfully articulated message that demonstrates your eligibility for the position you have applied for.
For immediate effect, important information should be conveyed in a concise form in it, keeping readability and length under control.
5 Key Components Employers Look For in Resumes
Most recruiters skim resumes for an average of 7.4 seconds, as per a survey. The design of a resume for jobs, therefore, is insistent on conveying important information that employers want to see in this situation.
Skills are arguably the most important factor driving the recruitment process; however, most employers look for the following key points:
1. Skills and Expertise
Make sure that you include all the previous roles and all the skills you have acquired. Your skills will complement your experience and ultimately qualify you for the job offered.
2. Qualifications
Highlight the relevant academic credentials, especially when they are listed as required or desirable in the selection criteria. Certifications add weight to the specialised line of work.
3. Experience
Your resumes are scanned for the right kind of experience. Make sure that your experience, regardless of tenure or the number of positions, is consistent with the position you are applying for. Mention your contribution and value addition in high-profile assignments.
4. Accomplishments
Achievements are measurable and must be specified in numbers or percentages. Recruiters attribute your qualifications to past proven results. As a digital marketer, you may have achieved more than your target for a marketing campaign, for example; make sure that you mention it with numbers and also demonstrate how you achieved it.
5. Presentation
Effective resume format, language, and readability make the resume catch the attention of a hiring manager.
To do this, make sure that you pay attention to the following details.
- Formatting – Make sure that your resume format is such that the recipient can open it easily – no HR wants to download software to view the resume. When you save your resume, include your name, for example, “JP Nath –Resume”, in the saved title. It is also a courtesy to keep your online resume light.
- Language – Include keywords in the resume by scanning the job description and making sure that your language in the resume matches it. This will create a connection between your profile and the role requirements in the evaluator’s mind. Avoid flabby matters because HR personnel may not be personally technical or industry experts; however, it is clear what employers look for in a resume.
- Readability – Ensure that a resume layout is clear and consistent, with only one type of font (even for highlighting). Use bullet points instead of rambling sentences to outline skills, accomplishments, responsibilities, etc. Avoid spelling and grammar mistakes at all costs.
- Consistency – Keep your resume run in reverse chronological order and leave no ambiguity in work history. While keeping the description as concise as possible, make sure that there are no inconsistencies in the responsibilities or accomplishments you have included in the resume.
At high-end companies, your resume often needs to be integrated with a robotic applicant tracking system (ATS) before it can be delivered directly to an individual. According to Forbes, 75 percent of job applications are rejected before the human eye can see them. So, consider creating it to match the expected keywords in your job description with the components of your resume.
5 Crucial Keywords in a Resume
Candidates, especially the experienced ones, are expected to combine their professional qualities with the following types of skills and experience so that employers can evaluate their resumes.
1. Problem-Solving Skills
Problem-solving is a skill that is used by every employee to accomplish work objectives and solve problems in the workplace. Candidates need to demonstrate this strength in their resumes, as it shows their ability to face and solve challenges.
2. Communication
One of the strongest skills employers look for in resumes is communication. Demonstrate written communication skills in your CV, as it is an essential tool for employees to communicate with stakeholders at all levels. Candidates who can demonstrate strong writing ability have a better chance of finding a job.
3. Leadership
Employers seek leadership experience on CVs because they expect their employees to take the initiative and report new ideas to management. Candidates need to be good communicators, able to show confidence in decision-making and have the ability to lead a team.
4. Collaboration and Team Building
Presenting your ability to work with different colleagues in the resume increase the chances of an employer giving you preference.
5. Productivity and Performance
Candidates should be able to justify in their resume how they did contribute to the success in their previous jobs. Employers want to understand how you can increase the success of your company as well as your ability to drive the overall performance of the company.
Finally, provide concrete examples in justifying the skills. Interpret the statements as suggested by Laszlo Bock, starting with the active verb, numerically counting what you have achieved, providing a baseline for comparison, and detailing what you did to achieve your goal. It takes the form somewhat of “Accomplished [A] as measured by [B] by doing [C]”. For example, “Developed a computer program that made it easier for building architects to manage more than 10 building designs over a 3-month period.”
Resumes for freshers should also follow a similar pattern.
Tips for Career-Focused Students
In today’s competitive world, students should seek the help of a career counsellor to determine their career path from the very beginning. Properly highlighting your skills is an art. Virtual Internships can make your resume stand out. In other words, you can boost your resume through a virtual internship.
Conclusion
Get the right career counselling through top services like Mindler that will help you in customer service, film production, dentistry, law, etc. When considering a resume, Mindler gives you the best guidance on what employers look for in a resume and help you grow your resume.