6 principles for an effective resume

Recruiters often criticize resumes for being unsuitable, inconsistent, or even bland. This is often due to difficulty in seeing things from the recruiter's point of view and understanding their expectations. Fitting all professional information into such a small space isn't easy. You need to learn how to combine clarity and argumentation.


1- A resume is meant to be readable
The readability of a resume always seems obvious to the writer. Unfortunately, it's much less so for the recipient.
To make sure you're perfectly clear, it's best to ask yourself the following questions.
"Am I sure that the titles of my previous positions and my training are explicit?" Companies sometimes use vocabulary that only makes sense internally. If that's the case, translate it into a standard equivalent that everyone understands. The same goes for your training: get to the point.
"Is my vocabulary understandable overall?" Showing that you know your job is a good thing, but doing too much becomes suspicious. Outside of technical skills (for example for a developer), be wary of professional jargon. Also note that the latest trendy terms in blogs and magazines aren't necessarily used in companies. It's preferable to use them cautiously and especially to be able to give a precise definition in an interview.
"Am I sure that my resume can be read and understood quickly?" Reducing margins and cramming text allows you to give a maximum of information in a minimum of space. However, that's not the purpose of a resume. The goal is to be concise and select a limited amount of information to highlight. A resume that's too crammed becomes indigestible and uninviting. You need to space things out to allow the recruiter to comfortably read your resume.
Finally, and this is very important, syntax and spelling are not optional! Have your resume proofread (if possible by several people) to ensure that no mistakes mar it.


2- A resume is meant to convince
A resume is not a simple neutral and objective list. The vocabulary, organization, and layout speak almost as much as the content itself. In short, nothing should be neglected; you must find the right balance. Avoid the following pitfalls:
The shy resume: a list of skills reduced to a minimum, experiences limited to the job title, not a word more impressive than the others… Such a resume says too little about you; you risk being forgotten before you're even contacted.
The eccentric resume: bold, italics, underlined (sometimes on the same words), flashy colors, unusual fonts, or superlatives and shocking expressions… Be careful, your resume is not a flyer advertising the supermarket's latest promotion! By trying to do too much, you risk bad taste.
The neglected resume: poorly aligned text, errors, incomprehensible organization… Such a resume is difficult to read and makes you look inattentive or even disrespectful.
We could also dwell on the pretentious resume or the self-centered resume…
Certainly, the approach changes depending on the profession: for example, more eccentricity will be accepted for a creative profession than for an accountant. But you must keep this fundamental principle in mind: a resume is meant to convince. To be credible and capture your reader's attention, you must take care of both the substance and the form, finding the appropriate vocabulary and tone.


3- A resume describes the past to better evoke the future
A resume is often described as the spokesperson for the past, and the cover letter as the spokesperson for the future. This is undeniably true in broad strokes. But when you look more closely, you realize that this idea has its limitations. Indeed, the cover letter is generally focused on the future, but it uses our experiences. Similarly, the resume describes the past to sketch the future in dotted lines. This is reflected in the choice to emphasize a particular experience, the skills highlighted, and of course the title.
In other words, your resume should outline your next experience.
To test the effectiveness of your resume on this point, present your resume to a professional in your field after having previously removed the title. They should be able to tell you what job you're looking for.
Note that the title is essential. Unless you have a wealth of experience that allows you to look in several directions, you must have a clear and explicit title on your resume. However, this doesn't mean you should only aim for one position. A title remains a valuable indication, but it doesn't prohibit flexibility.


4- Your background is unique
Other people's resumes are among the best resources for improving yours. Indeed, browsing resumes gives you ideas. You pick up expressions, you see organizations you hadn't thought of, or attractive tones. It's an excellent way to regain your momentum when you're "stuck."
However, be careful not to fall into one of these two pitfalls:
Copying someone else's resume. Such dishonesty is unforgivable, but more importantly, you risk inconsistency. While drawing inspiration from others and borrowing a few phrases here or there is acceptable, plagiarizing a whole section of a resume indicates a deeper problem. Indeed, you may lack confidence or precision in your professional project. In this case, it is more effective to work on it upstream.
Having a complex about your background and believing in the ideal resume. There are always profiles that seem much better than ours. Admitting this is a sign of humility, but you must put things into perspective and especially not devalue your background. Each background is indeed unique, and the reverse is true for most positions, especially those with a high level of qualification. If recruiters need guarantees to be reassured, they are not looking for something "pre-formatted." It is therefore important to trust yourself and own your background.


5- A resume is meant to be seen
Your resume is meant to be on the recruiter's desk, not yours! So you must disseminate it as much as possible!
For this, there are traditional methods:

• Applications in response to a job offer;
• Unsolicited applications;
• Resume databases;
• Databases of companies that interest you.

However, that's not enough. You must not neglect any lead:

• Hand delivery at professional meetings;
• Making it available online (Blog, social media profiles, online comments, forums, etc.)

6- A resume is made to get hired
But not only! Now that you can put it online, your resume is like a business card. It allows all your professional contacts to know who they are working with and who they are dealing with. It's a very good tool for strengthening your network and building your future position.


Conseil-emploi.doyoubuzz.com