Using a resume to highlight qualities and skills
August 6, 2012|employees, Tips At work| No comments yet
In today’s competitive job market, making sure that a resume stands out is essential in the process of finding available work, and gaining employment. Having a stand out resume can not only guarantee interviews, but it will give the potential employer reason to want to learn more about the applicant over all others applying. There are many ways to accomplish this, but using a resume to highlight skills and qualifications as well as give an overall sense of the type of person that created the resume is the first step to success.
A typical resume includes many things. Contact information, education, experience, references, and skills should all be included, but another good section to add is any redeeming qualities that a person possesses. The ability to remain calm in an argument, rational thinking skills, the ability to look at situations with an unbiased opinion, and even honesty can all be assets to a resume, and will show the potential employer that there is a desire to express personality as well as get down to business.
Another important section to focus on is the skills list. This portion of a resume will show the potential employer available skills, even if they have not been used on the job in the past. This is an ideal opportunity for an applicant to show off - especially if they change this section for each resume that they submit. Tailoring this section to a specific job will keep it at a manageable length, as well as highlight specific skills. For example, listing skills like “computer literacy, housekeeping experience, and interpersonal skills” would not be necessary to include for a position within a restaurant, but adding skills like “following recipes” and “organization” would be good additions to a set of skills, so long as the prior experience existed. Changing these skills to suit the needs of the position being applied for will make it seem as if the resume is not stock, or used repeatedly.
A resume is a chance for an applicant to brag. This means that it is ok to show off, it is ok to list activities and awards from many years prior, so long as they say something about the individual. Sharing that a person made the Dean’s List in college multiple times, or that they received a humanitarian or volunteering award in high school will say more about a person than simply listing qualifications and moving on. Focusing on past events that have something to do with the potential employment can set one resume apart from the others, and in doing this, the applicant will be more likely to receive an opportunity to interview.
In many cases, a resume is the first contact that an individual will have with a company, so it is important to make a good impression. Bragging is fine. Highlighting skills and qualities is important. The resume is an extension of the applicant themselves, and can mean the difference between getting hired or not - so it needs to give a completely accurate portrayal of the applicant, or it is not doing its job.
