How to Create a Great Resume That Gets You an interview!
Everyone wants to get into the perfect job. The career they’ve always wanted. The one that will make them money, provide them with the income they need and make them happy. The problem is that there are so many different jobs out there, with so many different opportunities, it can be hard to know where to begin. If you’re looking for your first job or a new direction in your career, then a career change may be in order. But if you’re looking to break into a field that you think is less popular or more stressful than yours, then it may be time to reevaluate your options. Because while getting an interview for a great job isn’t necessarily difficult, it can be challenging at times. After all, what if they don’t want you? Or what if the employer you applied to doesn’t even exist? Fortunately, there are ways that you can make applying for interviews a breeze! So here are some tips on how to create a great resume that gets you an interview:
Cover Letter
First things first, you will want to research and create a cover letter for your resume. A cover letter is not only intended to be an introduction to the person who is about to read your resume, but it is also your first contact with them. It is crucial that you create a cover letter that is tailored to the position you are applying for and the company. If you are applying for a specific industry, such as healthcare, transportation or financial services, a generic cover letter will do you no good. In fact, it may even do a company harm. A cover letter should be tailored to the specific job and company it’s intended for. Luckily, there are many free cover letter examples out there.
Network, Network, Network
No matter how great your resume is, it will not be as effective as a referral from someone who knows someone. Networking is perhaps the single most important skill you can have as an employee. It could mean the difference between landing a job and not, or at the very least, landing a job that is better than what you were offered. How do you network? The best way is to go out to lunch with the employees of the company you’re applying for and ask them about their experiences. Ask them for referrals, talk to them about their favorite places to work, what problems they are trying to solve at their organization and anything else you can use to get a foot in the door. You’ll be surprised how willing people are to help out a new colleague.
Be Yourself
This may seem like a no-brainer, but when it comes to applying for positions, there is no room for mistakes. If you are sending a cover letter that is too similar to other applications you’ve sent, you will come across as copy-and-paste and may get rejected in a heartbeat. Your cover letter has to reflect who you are as an individual, what you love to do, and why you want to work for the company. This means that, if you want to apply for a job in marketing, you will have to explain what makes you a good candidate for the job. Once you have that out of the way, you will want to remember to be yourself. This means that, if someone were to randomly ask you about your favorite sport, what time of the day do you like to spend with your family and what are you doing right now, you have to be able to give an honest and accurate answer.
Make your resume easy to read
When it comes to creating a great resume, ease of reading is definitely key. If the potential employer has a hard time reading your resume, they will not be able to make a favorable judgment on you based on it. If they can’t read your resume, they will not be able to see your potential. It doesn’t mean that they will not like your application, they may just not be able to read it. The key here is for you to make your resume easy to read. If you are using a font size that is too large for someone to read, then your application will likely seem more rushed, and you may come across as less confident. The color scheme, fonts, layout and the overall structure of your resume must be easy to understand for the reader. If you have a hard time with this, it may be a good idea to take a look at how other employees on your team are creating their resumes.
Show, don’t just tell
When applying for jobs, you will likely be asked to provide examples of work or tasks that you have done. While it is great to list everything that you have ever done, this is likely to be very long and detailed. However, it is also important to remember that the employer wants to see a sample work sample, not an encyclopedia-thick document. This means that you should create a resume sample that is only a few pages long. You can use our free resume template to help you create a professional-looking resume. Be sure to list all of your experiences, but keep in mind that they should be short and sweet. You don’t have to list every single thing that you have ever done, just the things that you like to show off.
Practice Makes Perfect
Ultimately, the best work always gets done by the best workers. In order to get yourself into a great position for an interview, you will have to practice enough so that you are confident when you go in. The best way to do this is by practicing interviews with different employers and by reviewing job ads in your area. When you see a job that you think might be worth applying for, make a list of the things that you would like to see on your job advertisement. Be sure to include any details that you think will help you get the job.
Don’t Forget About the Candidate Interview
Getting through the application process is the first step towards receiving an offer of employment. Once you have been offered the job, it’s time to put your best foot forward at the interview. Unfortunately, there is no “one size fits all” solution to getting yourself into a great position for an interview. Some people may have a natural advantage over others as they have a hard time getting themselves back into a job after a long break, while others may have to work harder to get their application and cover letter ready for the interview. The key here is to be prepared for whatever challenges you come across and to treat each interview as if it is the very last one that you will ever need to go to.
Conclusion
The process of applying for a job can be nerve wracking, but with these tips you will be much more ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Get ready to create a great resume that gets you an interview!
Author
Enrique Nevett – Hispajobs – Blogs
