Do you find the thought of writing a resume about as much fun as the thought of visiting the dentist? If so, there are probably several reasons why. These reasons are outlined below along with some helpful tips that you can use to write a highly effective resume that makes employers sit up and take notice.
Resumes Shine A Light on What We Have (Or Haven't) Accomplished
Writing a resume requires you to take an honest look at your career. Even if you have worked hard and achieved success in your past jobs, you may feel like your accomplishments don't measure up when compared to other applicants.
This can leave you feeling disheartened and discouraged. The good news is, these feelings typically don't last long. After all, there is a reason why you chose the career path that you did. The fact that you enjoy the type of work that you do is usually reason enough to keep searching for a career in your chosen field even if some of your past positions haven't worked out.
Resume Writing Is a High-Pressure Task
Because your resume plays such a key role in determining whether or not you get hired, there is a lot of pressure to get it right. In fact, even one small mistake can cause your application to get moved to the rejection pile. If you are thinking “I need professional help with my resume” don’t despair there are professionals resume writing ready to help. If you are applying for your dream job, the pressure is even higher since you don't want to miss out. Any rejections you have gotten in the past can zap your confidence, making it feel like you will never get your ideal job.
The thing to remember is that rejections happen to everyone. Even if your application gets rejected, life will continue. Your only task is to keep networking, keep searching for job opportunities, and keep submitting applications until you find a job that is the right fit.
Even though rejection can be a hard pill to swallow, it is something that happens to everyone. Remember – searching for a job is a temporary situation. Years from now, what seems like a major struggle will be little more than a blip on the radar of your life. The key is to just keep moving forward.
Writing A Resume Isn't Much Fun
Few things marry stress and tedium in quite the same way as resume writing. Putting together your own resume can be particularly boring. Most people would rather help a friend put together a resume rather than working on one of their own.
The good news is, the work that you do today on your resume will help you land the job of your dreams tomorrow. Think of it as a stepping stone to a more fulfilling life. Even though creating a killer resume takes work, it is time well spent since it can lead to future success.
Six Ways to Make Writing Your Resume Easier
Even though writing a resume isn't much fun, it is a necessary task. To make the process go as smoothly as possible, try using the following six tips:
Don't wait to get started.
Most people have a tendency to procrastinate when it comes to putting together a resume. This almost always backfires. What happens if you suddenly happen upon the perfect job? The last thing that you want is to have to throw together a resume in a hurry. It is much better to start now so that you can take your time and create a resume that you are proud of. Putting together an excellent resume takes time. Plan to spend at least a week or two fine-tuning all of the details and getting everything just the way that you want it. Keep in mind, as well, that you can always make revisions in the future even if you don't get everything perfect right out of the gate.
Prepare your information ahead of time.
Writing a resume is easier when you have all the information you need right at your fingertips. Spend a little bit of time gathering contact information for all of your past employers, your employment dates, and any other important details. Check your diploma to see exactly how the name of your degree is listed. Having this information ready to go will simplify the process.
Share your accomplishments.
One great thing about writing a resume is that it gives you a chance to see everything that you have already accomplished in your professional life. Don't just focus on your job duties. Instead, share some of your successes, as well. To make your resume more impactful, use facts and figures to demonstrate your success. Did you save the company you worked for a specific amount of money? If so, how much? How many customers or employees were you in charge of? What was the size of your budget? Did you exceed your goals by a specific amount? These types of details go a long way toward helping potential employers understand exactly what you have accomplished and what experience you bring to the table.
Think about your future objectives.
The goal of writing a resume is to help you move forward to whatever is next in your career. Spend some time looking at job listings to see which ones interest you the most. Pay particular attention to the skills or experience that employers are searching for. If you have the right type of experience or the necessary skills, draw attention to them when writing your resume.
Highlight your soft skills, as well.
Employers are constantly searching for people who have soft skills like the ability to resolve conflicts or the ability to communicate effectively. While technical skills are important, it is also important to show that you are a well-rounded employee who is capable of handling any issues that may arise on the job. A lot of employers ignore millenials because they don't think they have these skills - however, SSQ Legal Search put up a good argument why they shouldn't be ignored and need to be looked after.
Don't do it alone.
Instead of writing your resume by yourself, consider having someone that you trust help you with it. Solicit help from your mentors, people you have worked with in the past, or other people who are searching for jobs. Reaching out for advice is a great way to improve your resume. Keep in mind, however, that everyone has different preferences and opinions when it comes to resumes. Don't treat outside opinions as hard-and-fast rules. Instead, use the ones that you find the most helpful and put the others aside.
