It is of utmost importance to submit a resume that is not only substantial but also has relevant content. And by substantial, we mean one which has an emphasis on important information such as personal, educational and previous work information. And by relevant content, we mean core skills, accomplishments and achievements, and experiences that closely match the job requirements set by the employer or recruiter. But applicants should not be confined to substance and content alone. A compelling presentation of the contents relevant to the position desired can broaden your chances of being invited for an interview.
Before creating a well-presented resume, know more about your desired position first. If you can research more about this, the better, although employers would usually give only a general description of the job. It will also work to your advantage if you could research more about the profile of the company you are applying to so you could tailor the objectives of your application according to their needs and your skills.
Most recruiters nowadays give paramount importance to skills and accomplishments which may have been developed either through extensive work experience or intensive undergraduate training from a reputable institution. They also give credit to training, workshops or seminars attended which is a reflection of the applicant's knowledge and abilities. To emphasize these details on your resume, highlight it or utilize a functional style of resume to stress your skills and accomplishments which meet the job qualifications and requirements thus, increasing your chances of being noticed and interviewed.
But do not be overly focused on your skills alone. Remember that most employers only invest a very small portion of their time in screening applicants and your resume should stand out immediately from the employer's first glance. To do this, it is strongly advised that you create a "Summary of Qualifications" section in your resume which would present your background and everything that you have to offer and can contribute to their organization in a nutshell. As long as this summary of qualifications contains only the most relevant info like your college degree and other post-graduate achievements, your core skills and abilities, your achievements and accomplishments in your previous jobs, this summary will compel the recruiter to further read your resume and eventually invite you for an interview. The key here is to keep them hooked and keep them interested by keeping your resume clear-cut, concise and professional. Save all the explicit details for the interview, only write down the most interesting yet most significant information to the position desired. This is how you can present your credentials in a compelling and interesting manner.
Basically, there are five vital sections that need to be in your resume - personal information, objective, a summary of qualifications, educational background, and work experience. All other sections such as character references are optional. To reiterate, the "objective" section of a resume answers the question "Why do you want to work for this company or organization?" and the "summary of qualifications" section answers the question "What can you positively contribute to this company or organization?" The rest of the sections are self-explanatory. With today's changing and fast-paced ways of running businesses, employers are looking for clear and straightforward resumes and these two sections are the most highly regarded by many recruiters.
Truly, resume writing is a systematic art; systematic because you need to follow a certain logical sequence to create a consistent, complete, and accurate flow of information. And it is an art because it takes skill and creativity with words to squeeze in all relevant information without sacrificing conciseness and clarity. The bottom line is your resume should present yourself in a professional and interesting manner worthy of the recruiter's time. It is your advertisement of yourself.
