Yes! 7 seconds is all your resume has to make a good first impression.

Add to that, most employers or should we say, Human Resources (HR) people spend less than 30 sec scanning your resume.

If you have been wondering why you are not getting calls from HR on all those job applications you submitted, it is high time to consider revising your resume because it is simply not EFFECTIVE.

What is then an effective resume?

An effective resume is the one that catches the attention of the reader and considers you for an interview. Yes, the main aim of a resume is for you to have an interview.

How would you then do it?

Below are checklists for an effective resume to survive the screening process.

Customize for a Specific Position

You have to tailor made your resume to the particular position you are applying. If you are applying for a secretarial position, do not submit a resume that would look better for a clerical position. Revise, cut, edit and delete the content to fit the need of the position you are applying.  Be forewarned: be real, be honest. Trust is important.

Be Neat and Error Free

Run a spell checker to weed out all typos and grammar errors but do not fully rely on them. Do your own checking. Let a friend review it. Two heads are better than one. Check, check, check.

Use Keywords

Keywords are those specific words or phrases that employers (or search engines) use to find the right candidates. If you do not have them, you are out of the game. The more keywords you use, the more chances the employer will notice you. Include specific words and phrases that describe your skills and experience like Income Statement and General Ledger for Accountants, C+++, Visual Basic for Web Developers, and others.

Use Action Verbs

Make yourself standout in your resume by using action verbs. Do not write “Responsible for handling Accounts Receivable” instead write, “Reconcile Accounts Receivable”. You got it.

Highlight Key Points

Although formatting like bold, underlining, italics and others are discourage in electronic resume (use ASCII or simple text format), you can use CAPITAL LETTERS, quotation marks, and even asterisks to emphasize important words. It will catch the eye of the reader.

Be Organized, Logical and Concise

Your prospective employer does not only peruse your resume for your qualifications, he is also getting a sense of whether you are organized, logical and concise.

Just Communicate

Avoid using grandiose, exorbitant and heavy vocabulary. Do not try to impress employers with the depth of your vocabulary. Use words everyone can understand. Keep it simple.

Sell yourself

Do not under-emphasize your strengths and experience. Put yourself in the best possible circumstances. However, do not promise the moon and stars.

Show Consistency

Do not highlight glaring gaps in your work history by using a traditional Chronological format, which list work experiences by year, instead use a functional resume, which focuses on your skills and accomplishments.

Keep it short

A one-page resume is enough, two at most, more than that tear it down. They want to know more, they call you for an interview.

There you are the checklist (tips or guides) on having an effective resume.

Before you go, here are more for you:

• Portray yourself as a problem solver,
• Quantify your accomplishments with hard numbers whenever possible,
• Do not mention your current, or expected salary on the resume,
• Show valuable personal traits,
• Never use the pronoun “I”,
• Focus on the employer’s needs,
• List your awards, professional and community memberships.

Remember, you are selling yourself and your resume is the one first seen before you.

What are you waiting? Pull out your resume and start revising now. The job you are waiting for may show up tomorrow.

Wish you the best always.

Maraming salamat.

This post was submitted by ExpatPinoyAdmin.