Career Guide

WINNING RESUME TIPS & TRICKS

Insider secrets from the HR Table

With Successful Interview Guiding Principles

YOUR DREAM JOB AWAITS

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WINNING RESUME TIPS & TRICKS
With Successful Interview Guiding Principles

TIPS FOR WRITING AN EXCEPTIONAL AND WINNING RESUME

This career guide will give your resume a 21st century look and feel, as well as it will let you
know about the latest insider strategies and techniques from the senior recruitment managers
to help you write the best resume possible. Organizational researchers say that “employers
look at resumes for an average of only six or seven seconds” to see whether the applicant is a
good fit or not. Thus, your resume should be easy to read and self-explanatory that summarizes
your eligibility and strengths in a better way.

Below are 10 TIPS to help you write an exceptional and winning resume;

1. KEEP YOUR RESUME SPECIFIC AND RELEVANT

Majority of the recruitment managers don't read every single line of the resumes they receive.
That means, you should keep your resume pretty concise and relevant to make it easier for
recruiters to skim through and find the most important details quickly.

For example, rather than writing a job description as one long paragraph, break it up into
specific bullet points that focus on your biggest or most relevant accomplishments.

2. LIST APPLICABLE QUALIFICATION AND WORK DETAILS

Qualification and work experience show hiring managers your academic and professional
strength that you earned throughout your academic and working journey. For a specific job,
your resume should always have applicable education and work details that summarizes your
eligibility to the recruiter.

For example, if you have done different degree programs, certifications and work with various
organizations, then you should choose the best qualification, certification and work details that
best fit to the job requirements.
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WINNING RESUME TIPS & TRICKS
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3. INCLUDE BOTH HARD AND SOFT SKILLS

It is important to show both hard and soft skills on a resume because your each skill matters for
a recruiter. Keep in mind that soft skills such as communication, leadership, management etc.
are highly demanded by every organization, while hard skills take you to the next level in the
hiring process by differentiating you from others.

However, it’s also significant to mention skills that can be appreciated within the employer’s
industry. For example, if you are applying for a teaching role then you should mention your
presentation skills-set on your resume to the recruiter.

4. ALWAYS TAILOR YOUR RESUME TO THE JOB DESCRIPTION

Hiring managers look through a lot of resumes on a regular basis that contain basically the
same information. So, you can stand out by taking the extra time to edit your resume to be
tailored specifically with the job you are applying for. You can do this by using similar keywords
from the job descriptions in your resume. Job descriptions actually contain a good amount of
information that can be useful to you when crafting your resume. Locating those keywords and
finding ways to repeat them in your resume is a good way to show hiring managers that you are
attentive to detail and took note of what they were specifically looking for. This also greatly
increases your chances of passing an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) screening as many
organizations are now using ATS software to sort through the thousands of applications they
receive on a regular basis.

5. CHOOSE PROFESSIONAL FONT AND EMAIL ADDRESS

As employers have only a short time to review your resume, it should be as clear and as easy to
read as possible. You should use a basic, clean font like Arial or Times New Roman. Keep your
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font size between 10 to 12 points. Selecting a clear, readable font will help make your resume
appear more professional.

Moreover, avoid a funky email address with some random combination of words, nicknames,
and numbers. If your email falls into the category of silliness, it could be off-putting to potential
employers. For instance, it is better to use your actual name with other word that match your
work, qualification or personality.

6. INCLUDE ACHIEVEMENTS WHEN APPROPRIATE

When submitting a resume to a hiring manager, remember that they will potentially be
receiving hundreds of resumes that may all look and sound similar.

How are you going to stand out from the crowd?

One effective way is to show achievements in your work history. Including achievements or
accomplishments on your resume is a great way to show not only that you have relevant work
experience, but that you also have the talent and potential for growth in that specific field.

7. KEEP YOUR RESUME UP TO ONE OR TWO PAGES

The No. 1 rule of writing a best resume is to keep it short and to the point. The general rule is
no more than one page unless you have a very good reason for it to be longer, like an extensive
career or a lot of highly applicable work experience.

For entry and mid-level professionals, a one pager resume is the most common resume length.
A two pager resume is fine if you have extensive experience or skills and really can’t cut things
down further. Three or four-pager resumes are almost exclusively used by senior executives or
academics with publications. Most experts recommend to include jobs from the previous 10 or
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15 years only, although this time frame may be shorter if you are new to the workforce.
Including too many unrelated work experiences can make your resume appear too busy and
draw attention away from your relevant qualifications. Your resume should be focused, clear
and concise.

8. USE A TWO-COLUMN LAYOUT

This is very challenging to make a resume attractive and eye-catching. To this purpose, two
column-layouts are great because you get to see more at a glance through two column-layouts.
But not only should it be attention-grabbing, it should also contain elements that make it
appear more visually organized and easy to read through quickly. A hiring manager should be
able to effortlessly find the information they are looking for without spending too much time
on it.

9. MAKE SURE YOU’RE USING THE RIGHT RESUME FORMAT

Most job applicants use the standard resume format, also known as reverse-chronological
format. It's the most common and often what recruiters expect to see. According to the
reverse-chronological format, put your latest or current position up top. Follow it up with the
previous ones. This is how the reverse-chronological resume order works.

10. DON’T INCLUDE A PHOTO

Although in some countries it may be acceptable to include a photo, it is not the norm in the
majority of countries. It can actually lower your chances of obtaining a position and divert the
whole focus of your resume. You want the employer to focus on your skills and experience, not
what you look like.

Sometimes, hiring managers will instantly trash a resume that includes a photo, unless you’re
writing a modeling or an acting resume.
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WINNING RESUME TIPS & TRICKS
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SUCCESSFUL AND WINNING INTERVIEW TIPS AND TRICKS

A successful interview depends on various factors, from what steps you take to prepare to how
you present yourself in the interview. You may have multiple rounds of interviews before
receiving a job offer, so it's important to ensure you approach each one appropriately.
Regardless of the type of interview you're expecting, you can follow some guiding principles
that will help improve your chances of impressing a potential employer. In this guide, we review
some tips that can help you achieve success in your interview.

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH ON EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION

You need to know the employer organization like the back of your hand. Before going to an
interview, make sure to visit their website and social media channels to collect information
about their vision, mission, goals, objectives and work-done. Learning as much as
possible about a company’s services, products, customers and competition will give you an
edge in understanding and addressing the employer’s needs.

In today’s digital world, you can learn all about the company, its competitors, its products, and
its goals in short order by spending some time on the Internet. Review the employer’s website,
press releases, products and services to know who they are and where they are going. Then, be
sure to focus on how you align with the job’s requirements as well as the employer’s goals and
mission.
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WINNING RESUME TIPS & TRICKS
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2. RESEARCH THE ROLE:

Job descriptions are partly different from the actual role, as a result it often misleads the
applicant. Things always sound different on paper compared to what you will actually be doing
in the role. Thus, this is recommended to dig deeper than the job description in the
advertisement. Put a call through if a contact number is provided. You can find out which of the
skills that the employer requires are actually the priority.

3. KEEP YOUR INTERVIEW’S ANSWERS READY

This is very important to know the general and expected questions from the employer like;
what do you know about the organization, why you want to join us, your strengths and
weaknesses etc... When you answer the questions, you need to sound like it is very natural to
share this information. You won’t have that unless you memorize it, practice it aloud, and grow
into it, just like an actor does with a script.

4. LOOK SHARP AND PROFESSIONAL

Experts say that some job seekers make the mistake of putting on a distracting outfit, so this is
recommended that “Don’t do anything to the extreme, unless you know the culture at the
company”. As long as you look presentable, the interviewer is going to be paying attention to
what’s coming out of your mouth, not what you’re wearing. Experts also say that trying too
much perfume, too much makeup, too many designer logos - those are the things you want to
avoid.

5. LISTEN CAREFULLY

During the job’s interview, you should listen each word by the interviewer to understand each
question effectively. When you listen carefully, you will feel more confident and fearless to
answer it. Don’t interrupt when the interviewer is talking; maintain good eye contact, lean
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forward, and face the interviewer directly to boost your confidence throughout the interview
duration.

6. BE PREPARED WITH EXAMPLES OF YOUR WORK

During the interview, you will likely be asked about specific work you’ve completed in relation
to the position. After reviewing the job description, think of work you’ve done in past jobs,
clubs or volunteer positions that show you have experience and success doing the work they
require. As the job interview for an interviewer is to assess your skills as per the needs of the
organization.

7. DON’T FORGET ABOUT NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

Nonverbal communication plays a major role in a job interview. Are you looking at your feet?
Do you have your arms crossed? Do you lean on the back of your chair? All these signs will
show inward-looking attitudes to the interviewer and he won’t feel free to get to know you
better. Make sure to keep this in mind. Also, employers will be looking at your appearance and
how you present yourself.

Tip: Don’t forget to give a nice and firm handshake to the employer before and after the
interview.

8. KNOW YOUR RESUME BETTER

Before going to a job interview, first study your resume very well. Your interviewer will prepare
their questions based on the information you provided on your resume or application.
Remember that be positive and confident about your skills and experiences you mentioned in
your resume.
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9. DON'T TALK TOO MUCH

Telling the interviewer more than he needs to know could be a fatal mistake. When you have
not prepared ahead of time, you may ramble when answering interview questions, sometimes
talking yourself right out of the job. Prepare for the interview by reading through the job
posting, matching your skills with the position's requirements and relating only that
information.

10. SCORE A SUCCESS IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES

Some studies indicate that interviewers make up their minds about candidates in the first five
minutes of the interview – and then spend the rest of the interview looking for things to
confirm that decision! So, what can you do in those five minutes to get through the gate? Come
in with energy and enthusiasm, and express your appreciation for the interviewer's time.

FINAL TAKEAWAYS

 Your effective resume can be your golden ticket to the job of your dreams.
 Job interview can be a game-changer, if you prepare yourself for the interview.
 Using the tips discussed here will greatly help you in optimizing your document to be
noticed by more hiring managers and land you a spot in the crucial interview process.
 Always be mindful of the relevancy of the information you are sharing.
 Use conciseness and structural elements, such as bullet points and headings, to give your
resume visual organization and an easy-to-read flow.
 Always double-check your resume to confirm you have provided the right information.
 Before and during the job interview, make your passion and profession parallel.