Enrich Your Resume with these Tips

Writing a resume can be somewhat confusing, especially if you have little experience in writing a resume/cv. Though there certainly are things that may seem obvious to you such as your basic personal information and contact details with a list of jobs you have done in the past up until this point, you may find yourself omitting important information which can really attract the eye of a recruiter and/or employer.

Consider what a potential employer may be seeking, what environment you are looking to work in, and what the position you are after requires. Job searching is not about finding employment but also finding the right position and the right company fit for you. Through aligning your interests, achievements, and career within your resume you are able to show where your passions lie and how they can benefit a potential employer outside of the skill set you already possess.

Items to Consider for your Resume

Awards and Achievements

As this item is sitting here you may feel that it seems a bit obvious to be on the list however, you may be surprised at the number of resumes out there that are lacking this information. It may feel like you are bragging when mentioning your achievements but remember that a cv is about you and a little bragging where it is deserved is not a bad thing.

Include your specific achievements and awards within the roles you have held before. Be sure to be clear and try to include some solid evidence such as marketing goals and campaign analytics. It is valuable to show where your talents are as this can speak to an employer looking for someone just like you while giving compelling evidence to support your claims of being an expert in your field.

Volunteer Work

Perhaps you perceive sharing information that has to do with your time outside of work to be irrelevant to your resume. Well, I find that reserving a little space to chat about volunteer work is an efficient way of showing what truly matters to you and how you spend time giving back to the community. Generally showing what you do with your spare time as well.

Some organisations may find this to be valuable information and may even take it into consideration when evaluating you as an option. This might also give the interviewer an insight into you as a person while even possibly finding something they can relate to that can function as an ice breaker.

Ensure keywords are prominent

Now recruiters and/or employers are often going through many applications in a day and cannot realistically devote the required resources to properly check every single resume in full detail. They are likely looking for specific words or phrases.

Taking the time to research the proper terms used and the use of language within the sector you are targeting can greatly improve your chances of standing out. The trick is to steer clear of most often used jargon and trying to fill up your resume with them. Focus on applicable words and/or phrases that emphasize the value to bring to the table.

Hobbies/Achievements outside of career goals

Though it may seem redundant to have this as a separate item, it holds value in telling a story about you which lends to your overall personal brand story really. We all have interests that are outside of what we do in our careers and we often do not bring any of these up in a professional setting.

Aside from general hobbies that most people have like reading books, watching movies, or spending time on the beach you probably have a hobby that is specific to you and that your family or friends may even associate with you. This is something to share and give a little context behind. This holds value in giving potential employers more touchpoints to relate to outside of the skill set you have. Again, another possible ice-breaker topic.

Reviewing your Resume

As tedious as creating an engaging resume may seem it is an investment into your future. You want to find a position that is best suited to you and a company wants to employ someone they feel will be a good fit for the company. Finding the balance between presenting your experience up until this point, valuable skills, and interesting information unique to yourself is key to standing above the crowd. In the end, it is all about your personal brand story.