How to Write A Resume – 7 Tips By a Hiring Manager

Are you wondering why you have submitted your resume for over 300 positions but received only a handful of calls back and still have yet to find your dream job?

I am about to give you the insider secrets from a recruiter who has hired many people on how to write a resume that will get you calls back. Read on for the top 10 tips on how to write a winning resume:

1. Have other people review it for stupid mistakes.  The moment I see a spelling or grammar error, I skip on to the next resume.  One of my biggest duties when reviewing candidates is to hunt for reasons to say NO, not yes. The moment I find one, I skip on to the next. I need to filter 300 resumes down to 1 good hire and that requires lots of no’s. Don’t make it easy for me by having spelling, grammar, or formatting errors.
2. Don’t leave significant gaps in your resume. If I see gaps of a year or more, I assume you were unable to get a job and no one else wanted you or you were too lazy to get a job. Either assumption will get you tossed in the trash bin. If you do have gaps in your resume, fill it up with something interesting – “travelled to 35 countries and learned 2 languages” would work or “taught myself to program in PHP”.
3. Customize your resume for the job you are applying for. If I see you mention my company by name in your Objective area at the top, that shows you truly care about getting hired by my company. Make sure you highlight key skills and experiences that will show you are a good fit for the job you are applying for.
4. Turn your resume into an infographic. People who have unique (but still fairly professional) resumes always get a big leg up. It shows creativity, passion and a desire to work.
5. Do not use cutesy fonts, weird clip art, or lie. Lying and getting caught will get your resume instantly tossed out.
6. Use good keywords. Use specific words related to the skills and job you are applying for. For instance if you are trying to get a job as a programmer, use phrases like php, mysql, apache, Zend, and other technologies you have worked with.
7. Organize your resume so it is clear and easy to understand how to find things at a glance. A disorganized resume shows a disorganized person.