Everybody is looking for an edge when it comes to their resume. They want to set it apart and make it look different, so that it catches the eye of the hiring manager.
However, many job seekers and potential candidates focus on the wrong things in their varied attempts to set their resumes apart. For example, they might choose a unique font or perhaps use a brighter shade of paper.
True, this might catch the eye of a hiring manager, but probably not in the way that the candidate was hoping.
No, if you want to truly catch the eye of a decision maker, you must focus on the right things. Those right things are your accomplishments.
For hiring managers, past accomplishments are a key indicator of future performance, and of course, they want to know what you can accomplish for them in the future if they hire you. If your past accomplishments don’t convince them that you have the capacity to help their company grow, then they won’t hire you. It really is as simple as that.
There are four key areas to consider when you’re assembling your resume:
- Professional achievements—Speak in quantitative terms, if possible. For instance, if you’re in sales, refer to your sales volume. If you’ve saved money for your current employer or helped it to generate more revenue, discuss the specifics of those situations. That’s what a hiring manager wants to read about.
- Professional training designations—Are you licensed in a particular area? Have you earned various certifications? If so, list those, as they are definitely applicable.
- Educational accomplishments—Yes, list your college degrees, but also include any relevant awards, honors, or scholarships you’ve received.
- Additional skills—These could include a wide range of competencies. Perhaps you can speak a second language. Maybe you know sign language. You should list anything that you believe would be valuable for a hiring manager to know.
If you have the skills, talent, and experience necessary, making your resume stand out isn’t necessarily difficult. You just have to emphasize the right things and illustrate why you’re the person they should hire!
We help support careers in one of two ways: 1. By helping find the right opportunity when the time is right, and 2. By helping recruit top talent for the critical needs of organizations. If this is something you would like to explore further, please send an email to stacy@thevetrecruiter.com.