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Career Tips

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Date Posted: 04/28/2014

Your resume has one very important purpose: to get an interview with your prospective employer. Like that powerful advertisement on TV or in the newspaper that made you react right away, so is the way your resume should be presented.

To make yours stand out from a pile of hundreds, you need to entice the reader to want to meet you. Here are some pointers to help you create a resume that makes an impact:

1. Your resume is not just history. What value do you bring to the organization? Name specific benefits for the company to hire you by highlighting key accomplishments in your previous role. This creates the need for the employer to meet you and find out more about you in an interview.

2. Answer this question: What is the perfect type of candidate for this job? Review and understand the job posting you are replying to or check for the job description posted on the company website’s Careers section. This will give you a better idea of what the employer is looking for and how you compare based on your qualifications. Remember, if your resume is an advertisement, it should speak to and entice the need of the customer.

3. Write your objective. Think of this as the headline for your advertisement. It is the one sentence that grabs the reader’s attention and asserts your qualifications for the job. Example: A <Position> in a company in need of <qualities, achievements>. Ask yourself, “Would the reader want to pick up the phone and call me after reading this section?

4. Provide evidence. This section should summarize your work experience, skills and accomplishments. Once you have grabbed attention through your Objective, it’s time to keep their attention by providing concise but compelling reasons why the company should hire you.

5. Present professionally. A lousy advertisement reflects a lousy brand. Your resume communicates your personal brand. Make sure your resume follows:

a consistent and uniform font style that is easy to read

perfect spelling and grammar and punctuation

concise descriptions of previous jobs

This career tip for aspiring OFWs is contributed by Ikon Solutions. Inc., a POEA-licensed agency. For more free tips and available jobs from this agency, visit their WorkAbroad.ph profile.

©2014 Ikon Solutions Asia, Inc.

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