Reading time: 3 minsA good resume can get your foot in the door, but a well-written one can put you on the top of the consideration list. Here are a couple of tips to help you construct a resume that could give you an edge!
1. Provide concrete evidence of your qualifications
Most recruiters spend about 7 minutes scanning through profiles. In that time, an applicant’s resume should ideally communicate key competencies and achievements in a clear and concise manner. For students and graduates without professional experience, this means providing evidence of your qualifications in detail. Think about all the activities that you have been involved in that helped you develop as a person. This could be work experience, but it could also be voluntary activities or student societies.
2. Quantify your contributions
Sometimes the difference between a good resume and a great one lies in the details. When it comes to resumes, numbers speak louder than words. If you have written on your resume that you were active in a study or a student’s association, on a great resume, you would also quantify your involvement. For example, whether you had any budget responsibilities, how big the association was etc. Where you are not permitted to share the exact details of delivery such as profit or technical information that is sensitive or confidential find creative ways to establish the quantifiable delivery. For example if you have acted as Head of Marketing for student society “increased event attendees by 10% YoY” is more powerful than simply saying that you exceeded your targets.
3. Be concise
The best resumes are the ones that can communicate a candidate’s roles, achievements, and strengths from a quick glance. Streamlining your resume in a way that highlights your competencies clearly is key. Only include details that will lend insights into your achievements. Avoid vague and generic statements, and most importantly, choose function over form. The resume should be written in a manner that’s clear and concise. Add a statement at the top stating your career objective and why you’re qualified for the particular position you're applying for.
4. Use key words and action verbs
To stand out from other applicants, try identifying the unique set of keywords associated with your target role, often found in the job description, then tailor your resume to accommodate those words. Use powerful words in terms of describing what you did. We’d like you to use action verbs, or task-based words. Continuing with the example of Head of Marketing in student society: it is more powerful to write that you “developed and led a marketing campaign that boosted events attendees” rather than you “were responsible for marketing activities to attract events attendees”.
5. Ask a friend for a review
Sometimes a good way to gauge how easy it is to understand your resume and your qualifications is to get a fresh perspective from someone you know. Along with possible minor typos and grammar errors, there may be terms in there that a recruiter or hiring manager may not be familiar with or may not understand. For students and graduates, it is helpful to provide context where something is specific to your school or university. Bear in mind that the person or the recruiter reading the resume might not be knowledgeable for instance of a student association that you’ve been a part of so it’s important to provide some explanation.
Final remarks
Your CV is your personal marketing tool—make it count. By applying these five tips, you’re not just listing your experiences; you’re telling a compelling story of your potential. Whether you're a student, graduate, or early-career professional, a well-crafted resume can be the key that opens doors. So take the time, refine the details, and let your achievements speak for themselves.
Your next opportunity could be just one great CV away.