By Jaydev Sanghvi, Executive Director, Aarvi Encon

 

While having the relevant experience/background, extracurricular activities and good marks to match may help one stand out, a poorly structured resumé will, too – but for the wrong reasons! As per research by recruitment platform The Ladders, employers spend 6.25 seconds going over potential employees’ resumé’s on an average.

 

A resumé is something that can make or break your chances of landing an interview, and it isn’t so difficult to put a good one together. Keep these 5 tips in mind to ensure you create a resumé that does justice to the hard work you have put in over the years –

 

Double-check for typographical and grammatical errors:

Good grammar is a must – and this is something that doesn’t just apply to resumé s. However, while drafting and tweaking it, you are likely to go over your resumé a few times and you may miss out on errors since the content has become familiar to you. Additionally, one of the most basic – yet commonly made – mistakes is to leave a glaring typographical error (a.k.a. “typo”) in your resumé. While this may not make employers think that you aren’t qualified or skilled enough for the job, it does have the potential to highlight a lack of attention to detail. This is something that most employers wouldn’t want to risk, as sometimes even minor errors can cause great problems. According to research by CareerBuilder, 58% of employers say they are likely to dismiss a resumé with typographical errors in it.

 

To avoid these mistakes, in addition to a spell-check on your computer, ask a couple of friends or family to go through your resumé and make suggestions. Spell-check often misses out on syntax and other errors which can be found manually.

 

Personalize the content and ensure it flows well:

People often make the mistake of thinking that tailoring the resumé to suit the role means adding lines from the job description. This is far from correct. No one wants to see a copy-pasted version of the same thing they have put up to search for you. Instead, to personalize your resumé, you should focus on mentioning the value you can add with your skills, along with anything unique you have worked on in the past that is relevant in terms of the job you are applying for. For instance, if you worked on a project for a Tech. firm, you may state details of the project, along with your role and the impact made as a result of the aspects you worked on.

 

Also, keep in mind that it is best to mention your most recent experience first. This is likely to be the most advanced level of work or the latest bit of skill development, that you have engaged in. It should highlight your strengths and what you brought to the table in each case with specific examples if possible.

 

Check that the formatting is consistent:

While there are several factors that make a great resumé, bad formatting can undo all that hard work at a glance! The way you present your resumé matters. Therefore, unless you’re going into a creative field, you should ensure you maintain the same font throughout – colors and styles too, only keeping headlines and subheads distinct, if at all.

 

Additionally, if you’re using a colored background or textbox, make sure that it’s something that doesn’t hide the text or distracts from it. Also, keep enough of a margin so that the text is neatly framed and there is enough space in case it needs to be printed.

Simplicity is key, especially now that many companies are using bots to screen resumé s before they decide whether or not a human team member should have a look.

 

It’s easy to overlook inaccurate information, but employers still notice:

If you use someone else’s resumé and change up the personal details, it is easy for an employer to detect this. There are multiple plagiarism software that can detect where you have taken the information from. Ensure you provide accurate information pertaining to your qualifications. Additionally, ensure the tenure of your roles don’t overlap, as this inconsistency can raise some red flags.

 

Inaccurate contact details mean that employers can’t reach out to you even if you meet their requirements. These include email, phone number, and an address if required. If you just mention responsibilities without elaborating on them a bit, it may seem vague to employers and may not give them enough to be compelled to hire you.

 

One page fits all – Keep the resumé crisp and according to your experience:

The average resumé should be limited to a single page unless you have around 10 years of experience, in which case it can be extended to two pages. Employers receive hundreds of applications for the same job and, at best, are likely to skim through your resume for a few minutes. You should be able to summarise each role or project with a couple of key points to highlight your contribution. Add only what is relevant and avoid the rest. White space in a resumé can do more than you think for the aesthetic – clutter is the last thing you want.

 

It is best for you to communicate the key factors precisely and concisely so that you leave enough for the interviewer to ask you once you land the interview. If you do feel like providing additional roles and information, you can take to professional platforms such as LinkedIn.