{"id":4998,"date":"2023-06-26T11:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T10:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/?p=4998"},"modified":"2024-07-12T11:45:11","modified_gmt":"2024-07-12T10:45:11","slug":"crafting-an-attention-grabbing-resume-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/crafting-an-attention-grabbing-resume-best-practices","title":{"rendered":"Crafting an Attention-Grabbing Resum\u00e9: Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve ever wished for a few minutes in the elevator with your idol, an investor, a thought leader, the boss, or the CEO at the company you dream of working for to pitch your idea or yourself? Well, every time you send out your resum\u00e9, you are doing just that. Your resum\u00e9 is your elevator pitch, on paper, to the person who can help change the course of your career. Unfortunately, many people don\u2019t know how to craft an eye-catching CV that will land them a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/job-offer-formula-how-to-land-your-ideal-job\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">callback for an interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. We\u2019re here to help. Below, we\u2019re giving you the tips and best practices for crafting an <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/resume-builder\">attention-grabbing resum\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is a resum\u00e9?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your resum\u00e9 is a formal document that prospective applicants use to give an overview of your qualifications, work experiences, skills, notable accomplishments, and goals for a position. Its purpose is to show potential employers what makes you the best candidate to assume the position advertised. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At a basic level, your resum\u00e9 contains:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact information<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Introduction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Educational history<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Work experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skills<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/resume-builder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4776 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Resume-Builder_Blog_CTA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"50\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Types of resum\u00e9s<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are different resum\u00e9 formats. They each serve a specific purpose and emphasize areas of focus that the company will be looking for. Certain organisations and job roles may need you to submit a particular type of resum\u00e9 that highlights what the company is looking for. These are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Chronological resum\u00e9<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> this leads with an introduction and then gives an overview of your working history, starting with your most recently held post. This is best if you have different experience levels.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Functional<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> a functional resum\u00e9 focuses more on your skills and abilities instead of showing your career growth. It\u2019s ideal for those who have gaps in their career or those looking for a career change and thus has a short work experience section and a larger portion dedicated to your skills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Combination:<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the name suggests, this resum\u00e9 combines aspects of the chronological and functional type, presenting a balance of your work history and skills. This type of resum\u00e9 is ideal for individuals with extensive work experience and a high calibre of skills.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Targeted<\/strong><b>:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this is for those applying for a specific position and highlights the key skills and experience related to the advertised position. Each section of the resum\u00e9 emphasizes the qualifications and includes the skills, traits, and responsibilities you have and the requirements for the job post.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Best practices for crafting a resum\u00e9<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can easily be tempted to include all your skills, experiences, and qualifications on your resum\u00e9. What you should do is avoid going overboard. Here are the best practices for crafting that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/top-10-resume-dos-and-donts\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">attention-grabbing resum\u00e9<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><strong>Keep it simple<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first and probably most important rule of crafting a resum\u00e9 is to keep it short and simple. The way to do this is to succinctly detail the relevant information for the job you\u2019re applying for. You don\u2019t have to include every detail of your job history. Too much information and your resume become too busy and difficult to draw out relevant information. Simple. Succinct.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><strong>Give a career snapshot<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Career experts now suggest that instead of adding a statement at the top of your resum\u00e9, instead give a summary, a \u201ccareer snapshot\u201d. A career snapshot is your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/advanced-resume-writing-and-branding\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">personal brand<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> statement. It answers the question, \u201cDescribe your work experience in a single sentence\u201d. You share the value you bring, your skills, and your qualifications. Below this, add a few bullet points to highlight your experience but make sure what you include is relevant to the position you\u2019re applying for.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><strong>Make it readable<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers see hundreds of resum\u00e9s. Choose an original template that will make yours stand out from the others and clearly identifies your qualifications. If you\u2019re <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/introduction-to-job-search-skills-revised\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">applying for a job<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in tech or graphic design, find a template that best demonstrates these skills and plays to your assets. You need to structure your resum\u00e9 in a way that the information has a nice flow and your strongest points and qualities shine through here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Alison has a fantastic<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/resume-builder\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resume Builder<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tool that can help you build the perfect resum\u00e9 tailored to each job application and position you\u2019re vying for.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><strong>Use your words wisely<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have a short time to impress the reader so make sure you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/english-for-career-development\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">choose keywords<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in your resum\u00e9 that will get past the screener like an applicant tracking system (ATS). Include words used in the job post that apply to you and add these to your resum\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here, you want to use active words like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">accelerated, achieved, improved, drove<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">leveraged<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that show the work you have done. They read much better than passive words. Also try not to repeat the active words you use so that whoever your resum\u00e9 lands in front of, doesn\u2019t get bored. Be sure you get the message across, your suitability for the position, as effectively as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 <strong>\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><strong>Highlight your success<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let your resum\u00e9 highlight your past successes for your team and organisation. You want to put your best foot forward showing what you have done and what you can do for them. Don\u2019t skim over the challenges you experienced, but speak specifically about the results you achieved, how you overcame them, and your accomplishments by using numbers for effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><strong>List your soft skills<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/soft-skills-master-the-top-10-soft-skills-necessary-in-the-workplace\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soft skills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the personal attributes that enable you to interact well with others, are highly sought after in the workplace. Briefly list which soft skills you possess and believe qualify you and would help you flourish in the position you\u2019re applying for. A tip? These are usually found in the job description. Add these throughout your resum\u00e9 in your work background and skills sections.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, before hitting send, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/course\/an-introduction-to-proofreading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">proofread it<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Spell Check is your friend. Mistakes do happen but you don\u2019t want your resum\u00e9 to be filled with silly typos and grammatical errors. Come back to your resum\u00e9 after time away and look it over for any mistakes you may have missed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crafting an attention-grabbing resum\u00e9 takes time and needs special attention to get just right. Remember that you want to focus on your positives and outline your career background that shows your quality and suitability in the best possible light. <strong>Alison\u2019s<\/strong><\/span><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/psychometric-test\/personality\">Workplace Personality Test<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>\u00a0can help you discover your strengths, and the results will serve as a guide to what career path you\u2019re best suited for<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/resume-builder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4776\" src=\"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Resume-Builder_Blog_CTA.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"281\" height=\"50\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follow these best practices and you\u2019ll be well on your way to receiving that invitation to interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve ever wished for a few minutes in the elevator with your idol, an investor, a thought leader, the boss, or the CEO at the company you dream of working for to pitch your idea or yourself? Well, every time you send out your resum\u00e9, you are doing just that. Your resum\u00e9 is your [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":5028,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[12,17],"class_list":["post-4998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alison-in-action","tag-resume-builder","tag-writing","match-height"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Blog_Header-How-to-Craft-an-Attention-Grabbing-Resume-Best-Practices.png","featured_category":"Alison in Action","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4998"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5988,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998\/revisions\/5988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alison.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}