Your resume is the most important document you will ever need. A resume is a marketing tool that highlights your skills, education, experiences, and accomplishments. But, having a resume does not mean you are done. You must continue to revise your resume for every job that you apply for.
A lack of skills or education that matches the job requirements is one of the most common problems with resumes. These are just four reasons why it might not be wise to apply for a job.
- If you don’t have passion or an interest in the field
- You don’t possess at least half the skills listed
- Your work experience is far below the requirements. An entry-level candidate for a senior job might be deemed absurd.
- Deep down, you know that you don’t possess the skills or experience necessary to complete the job.
You should still take a look at every job posting, despite the reasons you have already mentioned. Your resume is a living organism that can adapt to different needs. These are some tips to help you showcase your skills and education to attract the attention of hiring managers.
Learn about the job posting
- Job postings are often standardized. These include:
- Background of the organization
- Job title/Job description
- Requirements (skills and education, experience).
How to Apply
The information provided on the job could be limited depending on where it is posted. You should always be prepared to dig deeper. You can find more information about the job on the organization’s website. Follow the person who held the previous post if possible. This could help you find out what potential employers are looking for.
Follow people in similar roles on social media as well as professional networking sites like Linkedin. Subscribe to their blog and take a look at their posts. You will learn about the intricacies of the job, and what to expect.
Learn more about the company culture and whether or not it is in keeping with your preferences. This will help you to develop your soft skills. Read on to learn more about the vision and mission of the company. Take a look at their future plans to see if there are any opportunities for you to be a part of them.
Start with your resume summary
The resume summary is what a hiring manager will first look at. My guess is that you will not nail the summary.
The professional summary is also known as the resume summary. It consists of three to five short sentences. These sentences highlight the unique qualities that set the applicant apart from others. Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System to filter out unqualified applicants. Your resume summary should include keywords and relevant data. A summary should not be written solely in the first person. This reduces the document’s bite and makes it seem unprofessional.
Highlight the Most Important Skills
An ATS system screens applicants for keywords that are relevant to the job description, as we have already mentioned. A job posting for digital marketing might include keywords like SEO, SEM and Google Adwords.
Make a list of the most essential skills required for the job opening. These job listings often include required skills and desirable skills. Keep this in mind. Search for similar jobs on Indeed to compare the skills needed – there will always be some overlap.
Asking for help is a great way to get thorough advice. There are many people you can learn from, including former students, consultants, and people with Linkedin connections who have held the position. Your contacts may be able to help you avoid rejection and land you a job.
- Next, think about your own skills. Next, make a list of all your skills. There are three types. These are:
- Transferable Skills: These skills can be applied to many different jobs. These skills include computer literacy, writing, and sales.
- Job-related Skills are skills that are only applicable to a particular trade. Consider programming languages like Java and Python.
- Adaptive Skills are skills that relate to personality and character. Examples include creativity, diligence, and the ability learn new things.
Compare the two with the required skills for the job. Even if the words are different, there should be overlap between a few skills. These skills should be highlighted on your resume.
Highlight your Education
It can be difficult to highlight your education in a resume depending on the quality and level of your education. These are some general tips to help you.
You don’t need to list every course you have taken if they aren’t relevant to your job description. You can focus on the most important things, make it the main point and include the training seminars that you have attended. It may be a better idea to leave your education undated if it was more than ten year ago. You can mark ‘pending’ if you are currently enrolled in a course that is relevant to your job application.
Professional Experience
Extensive professional experience is required, especially for jobs at the middle and senior levels. Your professional experience, also known as the career highlights section or simply your work history, details your work history. You don’t have to list your job title and number of years. Give a few details about the role and the results. This is the place where you can make sure your experience matches the job description.
You can use keywords to describe your professional experience, for example. This will position you to reap the benefits of the ATS.
Conclusion
Generic resumes are not the best choice in a world with high unemployment. You might only get a glance from a hiring manager, and then you’ll be lost in a sea of resumes. Your resume should be customized for each job that you apply for. You can adapt your skills and education to the job, even if they are not exactly what is required.