Tag Archive for: boost your resume

5 Ways to Boost Your Resume For Any Minnesota Job

When you submit your resume to most companies, the first person who sees it is a recruiter who sees dozens of resumes a day. You have one chance to make the kind of the first impression that gets you to the next step. Here are five ways to boost your resume past the first stage and move you on to more face to face interviews:

Make It Clean and Readable-

Want your resume to be read? Make it easy to understand. No wall of text sections. Use short, punchy bullet points, clear, concise information and sufficient white space. This makes it easy for your resume to be scanned.

Focus On Success-

You want to include your full toolbox of applicable skills and experiences. Don’t forget to show off these attributes as part of past accomplishments. Tie a skill with the way you used effectively and give specific results.

Use Relevant Keywords-

A good resume is like a good Google search: You get better results when you use the right keywords. Robin Ryan says you should “make a list of the “buzz words connected to perform your type of job. Look through employers’ job ads to uncover the major ones. Incorporate these keywords into the sentences describing your previous work experience.”

Tailor Your Resume for Each Application-

Every job post will clearly state what the company is looking for regarding skills and experiences. Make sure you include matching information using the same keywords as the job post every time you send out your resume. A short intro that has the exact info the recruiter is looking for is also a good idea.

Less Is More-

Remember your resume isn’t being read like a book, it’s being scanned like an outline.

According to Nancy Collamer, “we all skim more than we read, so to reward that reading style. Also, add white space between paragraphs to provide “breathing room.”

Excessive words are just clutter. Check your word count when you write your resume and see if you can cut 20% of the words without losing any essential info. You will be surprised how much cleaner and more professional this makes your resume look.

If you’re ready to get your resume out in front of prospective employers, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find a new job opportunity that lets you take advantage of your abilities to take the next step you in your career.

Resume Mistakes That Minnesota Job Seekers Make

If you’re applying for jobs and haven’t looked at your resume in a few years, it’s time for revision. Mistakes on your resume signal that you’re not only not ready for a job, but that you lack the discipline and focus on honing in on, and taking your career seriously. Here are some of the top resume mistakes you should avoid.

Don’t Add a Picture-

For some reason, people have started adding pictures to their resumes, but we’re here to tell you that’s a wise choice. Why? Because it invites the reader to make judgments about you based on your looks rather than your skill sets and education. If they are interested, they will see what you look like when they invite you in for an in-person interview.

Don’t Send an Unformatted Resume-

Don’t ever send a resume that’s unformatted. This will look messy and likely disqualify you from the job for which you have applied. One way you can remedy this is to make sure you always send resumes as a PDF instead of a Word File. This way, the formatting will be “preserved” so you don’t have to worry about your recipient receiving a disorganized version.

Don’t Keep References from More Than Three Years-

Don’t put references on your resume if they’re more than three years old. First of all, there’s a good chance that they no longer remember you and will be unable to give you an accurate reference. Second of all, this shows that you haven’t been able to make any new meaningful connections in the last few years, which is, of course, a negative.

If you’ve successfully edited your resume and are in need of a job, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find a job that is the perfect fit for you and your unique skill sets. Our team of hiring professional located in Bloomington, Chaska, Crystal, Delano, Maplewood, and Ramsey Minnesota are here to help you find you your next new job opportunity!

5 Ways to Boost Your Resume

When you submit your resume to most companies, the first person who sees it is a recruiter who sees dozens of resumes a day. You have one chance to make the kind of first impression that gets you to the next step. Here are five ways to boost your resume past the first stage and move you on to more face to face interviews:

Make It Clean and Readable.

Want your resume to be read? Make it easy to read. No wall of text sections. Use short, punchy bullet points, clear, concise information and sufficient white space. This makes it easy for your resume to be scanned quickly.

Focus On Success.

You want to include your full toolbox of applicable skills and experiences. Don’t forget to show off these attributes as part of past accomplishments. Tie a skill with the way you used effectively and give specific results.

Use Relevant Keywords.

A good resume is like a good Google search: You get better results when you use the right keywords. Robin Ryan says you should “make a list of the “buzz words connected to perform your type of job. Look through employers’ job ads to uncover the major ones. Incorporate these keywords into the sentences describing your previous work experience.”

Tailor Your Resume for Each Application.

Every job post will clearly state what the company is looking for regarding skills and experiences. Make sure you include matching information using the same keywords as the job post every time you send out your resume. A short intro that has the exact info the recruiter is looking for is also a good idea.

Less Is More!

Remember your resume isn’t being read like a book, it’s being scanned like an outline. According to Nancy Collamer, “we all skim more than we read, so to reward that reading style. Also, add white space between paragraphs to provide “breathing room.”

Excessive words are just clutter. Check your word count when you write your resume and see if you can cut 20% of the words without losing any essential info. You will be surprised how much cleaner and more professional this makes your resume look.

If you’re ready to get your resume out in front of prospective employers, contact Award Staffing. We will be able to help you find a new position that lets you take advantage of your abilities to take the next step you in your career.  There are new job opportunities every single day from Award Staffing. Find your future…today!