12 Writing Tips for Creating a Perfect Resume

It’s a bit of fine line, isn’t it? Knowing exactly what to put in your resume can be confusing. Too much irrelevant information will get you passed over. And not enough information may cause suspicion, as though you’re trying to hide something.

So, to compose the perfect resume, apply the following 12 tips from industry experts to ensure success.

1. Customize your resume specifically for the job you’re applying to.

Study the job posting and the company’s website for clues as to what kind of information to present. Don’t copy and paste a one-size-fits-all resume; rather, tailor it to reflect your prospective employer’s values and philosophy. To make your resume appealing, demonstrate your understanding of the company by “Mirror(ing) some of the language and values” they’ve used in the posting.

2. Length matters.

Edit the length of your resume to reflect your experience. For a candidate in their 20’s, only one page is recommended as their job history is limited.

According to a study by Zip Recruiter, the ideal length for a resume is between 600 – 700 words. Feel free to apply format changes in the margins and fonts, use bullet points, single space and edit mercilessly all non-relevant information.

3. Know the sweet spot.

The area in the upper middle of the first page is considered to be a resume’s “sweet spot”; the area recruiters tend to pay the most attention to. To make the most of this practice, ensure your resume holds only essential and pertinent information in this area.

4. Your resume should be easy to read.

A cluttered page is difficult to read and will quickly get bypassed. Know which fonts make for easy readability, both online and on paper and use lots of white space to direct the reader’s eye.

5. Use appropriate keywords.

If you’re submitting your resume online, ensure it has keywords that are listed in the job posting. This will get it past the filtering software now being used to scan for job vacancy specifications in resumes.

6. Use power verbs to describe your skills and qualifications.

And when possible, quantify your skills to clearly describe what you’ve done and your effectiveness.

7. Spelling and grammar count!

The University of Kent reports that “Applicants sending CV’s (resumes) and letters without spelling mistakes are 61% more likely to get a reply and 26% more likely to get an interview.” To avoid being labeled as sloppy or hasty, use spell check and proofread vigorously.

8. Include only pertinent experience.

Your resume should be informative, but concise. Consider it as a lead-up to the more in-depth interview, giving enough information to be interesting while still retaining relevant points to be shared in person.

9. Use reverse chronological format.

A functional resume emphasizing only skills and avoiding chronology, can be seen as an effort to hide gaps in your employment history, job-hopping or outdated skill sets.

10. Mind your manners.

By saying “Thank you”, you’ll increase the chances of considering your resume top rated by up to 10%.

11. Know the purpose of your resume.

A resume is an advertisement of your skills, outlining the benefits you’ll bring to the table. Don’t include any information that will distract from creating interest for an interview.

12. Keep it relevant.

Avoid inclusion of any information such as hobbies, languages, accomplishments or personal interests that aren’t relevant to the job vacancy.

Your resume is your first impression on potential employers – it should at all times reflect confidence. So, give your resume the advantage over other applicants by applying the 12 tips outlined above and remember: the more resumes you send out, the greater your chances of success are.

Author Cari Bennette, writing expert at JetWriters company and professional editor. Cari writes on different topics and is a blogging addict.