Since you are reading this, you are likely thinking of how to write a good resume to land your dream job. If you are stuck in the process, don’t fret. We’ve got you covered! Every year comes with different resume writing tips. In this article, we are going to share with you some of the best tips, techniques, and strategies that will help you in your job search in 2022. A good resume is essential if you want to impress the employer and get the job that you’ve always wanted.
Table of Contents
Answer the basic questions
Before you start writing and updating your resume, you need to focus on answering the following questions. These questions will help you figure out what matters most as you think of the role that you want to get:
What is my target?
Your document should be focused on helping you get a specific position. The best employers are always on the lookout for specialists. Therefore, don’t be a generalist.
Which organizations am I targeting?
Knowing the organization that you are targeting will allow you to narrow down your research and be specific in your piece. Conduct extensive research to find the company’s pain points and come up with the best solutions.
Which skills are needed to succeed?
Answering this question will help you know the keywords and skills that you need to include on your resume in 2022. If you find yourself stuck, start by searching for the position on social media platforms such as LinkedIn. You’ll get to see the top skills that are needed for a particular role.
Focus on the future
Before you start updating your resume, you need to position yourself for the job that you are targeting correctly. That’s why you should answer the questions that we’ve shared with you. Your achievements, qualifications, and experience are important in a resume. However, all the information you include should be based on your career goals. When writing a resume, you should avoid focusing too much on the past. Instead, seek best resume writing service help and write to the future. By doing this, you’ll position yourself for the next career move. A resume acts as a marketing tool. You should focus on where you want to be; not where you are at the moment.
You can do this by:
- Looking at job postings and gathering insights
- Identifying the skills that are relevant to the opportunities that interest you
- Review your accomplishments and focus on the technical, professional, and academic skills that are aligned with your goals.
- When writing down your accomplishments, focus on the positions that are relevant to the role that you want.
- Include technical, professional, and academic keywords that will help you land your dream job.
Use the appropriate words
One of the best ways to improve your resume is by replacing passive voice with active voice. Most job seekers include words and phrases that don’t add any value especially when they are read by potential employers. To make a good first impression, you need to replace useless words with meaningful ones.
Instead of using words to prove the results that you obtained in the past, consider using numbers. You can do this by including bullet statements as you highlight your accomplishments. The CAR (Challenge Action Result) formula will be beneficial here.
Highlight a challenge that you faced and the actions that you took to address the problem. The numbers that you provide will be proof to the employer that you are a valuable person.
You need to focus on the areas that you are experienced in. Mention the hard skills, academic credentials, and technical skills. Instead of writing lots of general statements, include a few clear statements. Remember, no one wants to spend hours reading a single resume.
Start with a professional summary
The intro of a resume should provide a snapshot of your skills, experiences, and qualifications. The intro should be comprised of around four sentences. It can be written in either bullet or sentence format. Here are the most popular types of resume introductions in 2022:
- Resume Summary: This is an intro that highlights an individual’s most impressive skills and achievements. A resume summary is perfect for individuals with many years of work experience and accomplishments that are linked to actual numbers.
- Resume objective: This type of intro is focused on a career path and professional goals. And how they are linked to the organization’s objective. A resume objective is perfect for candidates who don’t have professional experience or those who want to change their careers.
Align your work experience to the job
Most recruiters are interested in work experience. Yet, only a handful of applicants spend their time on this section to get it right. For your work experience to shine, you need to target every bullet point to the job that you are looking for. Review the skills that are mentioned in the description and showcase your skills with relevant examples.
Include your education details
The education section usually comes after the work experience section. However, you can start with it f you’ve never had a full-time job. If you didn’t get the chance to attend college, you can add your high school diploma. In the education section, you need to include:
- The name of your certificate
- The name of your learning institution
- Date of graduation
- Your GPA
You should add relevant coursework to your resume if it addresses the ad and the needs of the organization.
Highlight your skills
Since the employer is looking for a person with a particular set of skills, it’s important to include this section in your resume. Always format them in a bullet list for the reader to skim easily. Look at the job description to find out what the employer is looking for. And then highlight the skills that you possess. To show the employer that you are a well-rounded individual, always use a mix of soft, hard, and technical skills. Always be honest when highlighting your skills as you’ll be tested when you are hired.
- A few examples of hard skills: Bookkeeping, project management, computer software, and presentation.
- A few examples of soft skills: Leadership, adaptability, problem solving, and perseverance
- A few examples of technical skills: Project management, computer software, typing, and bookkeeping
Include other relevant resume sections
Depending on your background and experience, you should consider adding more resume sections. For instance, awards and certificates are perfect if they are relevant to the job that you are seeking. On the other hand, volunteer work and hobbies are useful if you don’t have experience. In some job posts, you’ll find that these sections must be included regardless of your work experience. Always consult before submitting your resume to avoid costly mistakes.
Proofread your work
After completing the writing process, don’t submit it immediately. Instead, spend a few hours or days going through it. You’ll be amazed at the number of spelling and grammatical errors your resume has. If you don’t have time to go through your work, consider sharing it with a friend. No one enjoys reading a document that’s full of errors. Remember, your resume is supposed to impress the employer and help you get the job. If you cannot proofread your work, you should consider seeking professional help online. There are a lot of experts in the field of proofreading who’ll help you save time and land your dream job at an affordable price. Never submit your resume without proofreading.
Conclusion
Resume writing is not easy. However, adopting the right procedures will pay off in spades in the long run. Which tip will you start using today to achieve your resume writing objectives in 2022?
Author Bio:
Charlie Svensson is fast, engaging freelance writer.