The Perfect Resume: 3 Simple Steps

Does the perfect resume exist or can it be created? The answer to these two questions can come about by asking a few more clarifying questions. Questions like of have you yourself created a resume sent it off online or the old-fashioned way via snail mail and received a response from the company hiring requesting that you come in the interview. Well if your answer is yes then you have already answered the first of the original questions. You see, the purpose of the resume is not to get you the job but only to help you get your foot in the door for the all- important interview. If that has happened, then for all intensive purposes you have created the perfect resume to accomplish the goal of getting the interview where you can sell yourself to the potential employer. Now for question # 2 Can the perfect resume be created. Well, there are many different opinions on how to accomplish this goal so here are 3 considerations to keep in mind the next time you create your perfect resume.

Understand Your Audience

Success in landing that interview starts with the research you do prior to the actual writing of the resume. I know when some people hear the word research their eyes start to glaze over. I am not going to lie that it doesn’t take some work because it does. Having said that the amount of research that you do can be minimized if you know what information you require such as information about the organization, including any specifics the nature of their business, customers, organizational culture, initiative they have undertaken. Information about the position applying to and how the skills, qualities and characteristics of the applicant meet the need of the employer.

Create a Resume that is Easy to Read

Some think that the more information on a resume the better but in fact too much information will certainly hurt your opportunity to make it to the interview stage of the hiring process. If read by an actual person, then most potential employers will only take anywhere from 10 to 20 seconds to read an individual resume so it needs to be clear and relevant to what the reader are wanting to read. The effective use of at least an font type and size is an important consideration and I would suggest that the most common fonts that can be chosen are Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana and Calibri These font types at the 10 to 12-point size should work well and be readable by most human and robot if you are applying through a n online application system.

Other things to consider are as follows;

Identifying the correct resume format that will showcase the information included. Some of the choices in this regard are Chronological and Functional and Combination resume formats
Ensuring the pertinent contact information is on the top of each page including name, address and contact telephone and email address.
Using bullets to represent the skills experience and qualities that are relevant to the job requirements you identified during the research stage of the resume preparation process.
Effectively use of white space so all information included on your resume stands out on their own
Proof read to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors is essential

Match What You Can Offer with the Employers Needs

Creating that perfect resume means including keywords that directly target the jobs you are interested in. These keywords in your resume should reference how your relevant skills, technology competencies, relevant credentials, and previous employers meet the needs of the position you are applying to. Doing so will increase the chances of your resume being compatible with a job that’s open, and your resume being chosen to be given to the person making the decision on who will be offered and interview.

Any how, and as mentioned there are many different opinions on how to create the perfect resume but the three considerations noted above will get you started in accomplishing this goal.

If you are interested in finding out more about developing a resume that will increase your success in securing an interview please connect with us directly by telephone or email .

Brian Lambier is a career coach and the owner and operator of Career Vitality Services Inc. located in Calgary, Alberta. We offer a comprehensive variety of career transition related services.