How do you make your resume stand out? Especially when you know the hiring manager is receiving tons of applications. Many conflicting recommendations concerning the right way to write your CV exist, both online and offline.
Your application is the first impression you make on the
recruiter. Statistics show that 95% of CV’s are usually thrown out, this is for
failing to make an impression on the recruiter. Thus, you ought to make your
application count, or else it joins these statistics.
Tips for writing a winning resume
So you have seen a job advertisement running and it fits
what you are looking for. The first thing is to read the requirements for the job at
hand, make sure you read everything carefully.
What is going to follow is to carry a SWOT analysis on
yourself. The main aim of this SWOT analysis is to examine where you want to
be. You are supposed to ask yourself these two critical questions
“Who am I ? “
“Where do I fit best ?”
To answer these two questions especially the second one
you’ll have to carry out further investigation on the organization that is
recruiting. Research whether the culture of the organization fits in with who
you are as an individual. Your answers to these questions should be in the
focus of the job description on the job advertisement.
Finally, after finding out the answers to these fundamental
questions you may proceed to apply for that position.
Your application will consist of two parts
- The CV
- The
Cover letter
The CV
The rule of thumb here is :
Do not have a one size fits all CV
Each and every CV you send in your application should be
tailor-made for the position that you are applying for. You can have a
foundational CV that compellingly articulates the most important information.
Your point of reference as you format your CV for the
application is the Job Description (JD) on the advertisement. Take note of the
Keywords in the JD and ensure you use them in your CV. I don’t mean using these
keywords haphazardly. You have to think carefully about what to say and how to
say it so the hiring manager thinks “This person can do what I need done.”
Formatting your CV
You need a summary up top. The first few sentences of your
CV are critical, these are about the first 15- 20 words because this about how
long you have the recruiter’s attention. The anatomy of this paragraph should
consist of a job title e.g “Cybersecurity specialist who….” It doesn’t matter
if this is the exact job title you have but it should match what the recruiter
is looking for. For this section also avoid cliche’s like “highly motivated
professional”.
Adding your education after your summary is important,
however, it’s not a must, you can reserve this section for the last part
especially if it’s a business-related resume. Remember to keep this section
short, most preferably in point form so as to make it easy for the recruiter to
scheme through.
Adding an accomplishment section right after your education
makes the bridge between your experience and the job requirements. These are
the main points you want to get across that will make the reader sit up
straight and say “Holy Cow!”.
After the accomplishments section lists your employment
history and related experience. By this time you should have already started to
convince the recruiter that you’re capable of doing the job required. It is
tempting to list every job, accomplishment, volunteer assignment you’ve had but
don’t. If you have expertise in software for example make sure to include it in
the experience section. If it’s a drop-dead requirement ensure you include it
in the uppermost section i.e the summary.
Highlighting your accomplishments is especially important in
today’s tight job market. For example, if you worked through the pandemic and
helped your team adapt ensure you highlight such key aspects.
Avoid fancy templates, it’s not about how fancy it looks but
rather how clean, elegant, and simple it is. Also remember to save your CV
using simple names that won’t put off the recruiter, something like Sally’sCV.
The Cover letter.
Just as the name suggests the cover letter is the cover to
your CV. Cover letters have been evolving in the way they are written over the
years. From writing a separate sheet of paper to attach to your CV before
mailing it or hand-delivering it to the hiring manager.
Nowadays, cover letters should just be sent as an email.
Cover letter emails should be short and concise.
Even before beginning to write this cover letter first of
all attach your CV in the email.
So, how are we supposed to format this email that is
supposed to be our cover letter?
A cover letter consists of 3 sections
- The
subject line
- The
body
- Signing
off
The Subject line
You should never miss writing the subject of the email of
your cover letter. Before writing the subject first of all refer to the
advertisement to check whether there are specific instructions on how to write
it since you’ll find most recruiters include instructions on how to write the
subject header of the email. If it’s not included narrow down the subject line
to what you’re applying for.e.g
APPLICATION FOR ACCOUNTANT POSITION
The Body
This is the main section of the email and of your cover
letter. Add the address of the company on the top right section of the body as
you would while you address a letter. Include the name of the company you’re
applying to and to whom you’re addressing the cover letter to. It’s a rule of
thumb to address the letter to the hiring manager.
After this write the salutations Dear Sir/Madam
Begin the main section of the body in this paragraph. State
the position you’re applying for, your education, your qualifications and your
most relevant experience related to that job.
e.g
Dear Sir/Madam
Following an advertisement for the position of an
accountant I saw on a social media platform. I am writing this email to express
my candidature. I am a holder of a bachellors degree in accounting from the
university of Schnitzel. I am a seasoned accountant with over 6 years
experience and i have completed my CPA certifications till section six. I have
worked in the industry for many years having previously been employed by Goldman
Sachs as the chief accountant in the East African Region.
The next paragraph should outline your soft skills and the
things that make you unique. You could pick some of the keywords from the Job
description of the advertisement.
I am a well organized reliable friendly and easy to work
with fellow. I relate well with fellow colleagues and also step up as a team
leader when required.
In the last paragraph, should you explicitly state you have
attached your CV.
I have attached my CV outlining my qualifications and
experiences for your reference and consideration. Please don’t hesitate contact
me for further clarifications.
The final section is the signing off. Its a critical section
and you have to include your links and your contacts because recruiters would
be at times eager to contact you and it also makes it easier for them.
Sally Sounnes,
signature
links(linkedIn,Github,etc)
Wrapping up
After making sure everything is okay by proofreading your CV
and cover letter, make sure you’ve attached all the documents and have the
email address of the recruiter well written before sending.
After sending your application, don’t be so quick to follow
up however you could always follow up if you have not received any
communication from the recruiters after about two weeks or so.
Finally, remember to apply for job positions early enough to
increase your chances of shortlisting.