It’s about time we take a different approach when it comes to searching for a job. The job search can be a long and tedious process with a lot of hits and misses, so we thought we would put a twist to it so you can understand the importance of making sure certain things are up to par.
Much like a job search, a first date is bound to bring you anxiety. Before the date, you may worry about what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to do, what you’ll talk about, or if the person is going to like you or not. Believe it or not, these are the same questions you may ask yourself during your job search. Now we can’t guarantee you a second date, but we follow the key steps below and it will lead you closer to your next job. Below are a few key steps that we believe will increase your chances of being called in for an interview.
The Outfit
We encourage you to give your resume the eye test. Hold your resume at arm’s length away and ask yourself "does this look good?" I'm sure, before your date, you check yourself in the mirror. We say treat your resume the same. Before you send out your ticket to the next stage, avoid these common mistakes:
- Overwhelming Resume: Avoid trying to cram your entire work history into one page. Space is limited and it is best if you use short statements that lead straight to the point.
- Bad Grammar: It will be hard for you to sway any hiring manager with misspelled words and other grammar mistakes. Take to the time to avoid the biggest turnoff for employers and proof read your resume.
- Format: Making that first positive impression is key for your resume to stand out. Stick to using easy to read fonts such as Arial, Garamond, or Tahoma. Avoid using two different fonts. To hiring managers, it can look like a mistake. Make you headings standout by making the words bold, italicized, or underlined.
The Conversation
How you engage your date will be the deciding factor when going to the next stage. You'll spend a chunk of time asking questions to find out your dates likes and dislikes. Now imagine if you already knew exactly what your date was looking for. All you have to do is apply yourself in a way so that he/she can’t say no. You have that upper hand advantage with your job search. Do your research on the company by reviewing the job description, looking at their website, and other social media outlets. This will give you an enormous amount of information about employer you want to work for. Knowing all of this, here are some key factors your resume should include to get the attention of any hiring manager
- The Basics – A proper resume always includes your contact information, professional statement, experience, education, and any honors or awards.
- Buzzwords: For those who don’t know, there is a lot of companies that use applicant tracking systems (ATS) when managing incoming resumes. Now these systems are known to rank incoming resumes depending on what keywords are used. Be sure to include words that match the job description.
- Relevant Information: Here is where you take your resume to the next level. By adding any volunteer experience or memberships to any professional associations will reinforce your qualifications. Also be sure to add links to your own personal website or projects if any.
Feel free to reach out and ask any questions you may have. Find us on Instagram, Twitter, or shoot us an email.