17 October 2023 
4 mins to read What does it take to create a resume that catches the eye of an employer? Consider this, one in six hiring managers spend an average of 30 seconds or less reviewing resumes.
So one may ask in such a short-time frame what can they do to make their resume’s standout from the rest? Perhaps writing fancy words may do the trick. Just to lend a sense of “professionalism” to the resume.
However, this approach tends to have an opposite-effect. The use of such words leads to jobseekers sometimes including irrelevant experiences that a recruiter will care about.
Time is an asset, for both the job seeker and the recruiter. For the recruiter they have little time for wordy applications. They would rather arrive at the crux of the resume as fast as possible.
Which is why this article will tell you the tips and tricks for a concise resume writing that can land you the job you so desire.
To know more about tips in searching for jobs for recent graduates, visit the linked article.
Things to keep in mind when writing a resume
1. Include relevant experiences: While applying for a job, recruiters first would want to know if you are qualified for the position or not. They would skim to the part how your experience and skills fit perfectly in the job requirements
In this case customize your resume to cater to the job description. One may have multiple experiences in different roles, so include only the best ones that are fit for the job you are applying for.
2. Use the right words for a resume: There is a thin line between acceptance and rejection of resumes. And the thin line is the usage of the right kind of words.
When it comes to resume writing, certain words and phrases are accepted by hiring managers. Some of those words include:
- Achieved
- Improved
- Trained
- Managed
- Volunteered
- Ideas
- Launched
- Under budget
These are the words that one must avoid when writing a resume:
- Go-getter
- Think outside of the box
- Team player
- Go-to person
- Bottom-line
- Hard worker
- Dynamic
- Self-motivated
- Remove redundancy.
Now we all know that it is a challenge to come up with engaging descriptions for previous job experiences, but including and excluding some of the words above will be a great start.
Another fact to keep in mind is repetitive words, phrases, adjectives and verbs. For example, avoid saying “I am seeking a job” in your resume.
This is already implied as you have sent the resume in the first place and you need not repeat it again.
The difference between upskilling and reskilling can be explored further in the linked article.
3. Avoid Help Verbs: Along with repetitive words helping verbs are also to be avoided in resume writing. This means avoiding verbs such as “have,” “had,” “may,” and “to be” .
This generates more fluff and affects the readability of the resume.
It can be better explained with the following example: “Managed a team of sales associates in order to help them achieve quarterly goals.”
The above phrase can be made better with specific numbers like: “Managed a team of sales associates in order to help them achieve a 20% rise in sales numbers”.
4. Look out for vague terms: In resume writing, vagueness is an issue. Precisely writing your experiences and subsequent accomplishments will clear the clutter.
For example, if you’re writing a description for a clerical position and said something like “I assisted with paperwork,” this doesn’t tell the hiring manager anything about what you did or accomplished at that job.
Instead, you could write “Assisted with clerical duties including database entry, paperwork filing, and answering phones.” This gives the hiring manager a more detailed description of what you performed during your last job.
Know more about exploring traditional career paths by clicking on the linked article.
Writing a concise resume takes a lot of practice and patience. However, if you master these tips and you’re diligent during the editing process, you’ll write a resume that will definitely stand out to employers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing
For the majority of job-seekers, the best resume format in 2023 is the reverse-chronological resume format. This resume format involves listing your resume information (e.g. your work experience and your education) starting with the most recent one and going backward through relevant jobs, degrees, or qualifications.
There are three common resume formats: chronological, functional, and combination. The table below describes and gives the pros and cons of each. Use it to decide which is best for you.
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