Great Tips for Crafting an Effective Resume

A perfectly crafted resume can be the very thing that gets you in the front door of the job of your dreams. But, the actual crafting part can be a very difficult part as it is not always easy to prepare a proper representation of your academic and professional experience. Making that stand out above the rest is a whole new challenge.

Furthermore, recruiters will rarely spend more than a few seconds glancing over the resume before they decide to reject it completely or call the person for an interview. Most people know how to give a decent account of their work history, but there are a few things you shouldn't include for example your resume should not include your date of birth.

Here are a few things that can help you resume stand up to that vital 7-second test.

1. Only include your address if it works in your favor.
If the position for which you are applying is in the city or town where you live, you probably don't need to include your address. If you do this it lets the recruiter know that you are a local and could possibly begin working immediately.

But, if the jobs you are applying for are in other locations and would require that you move before you begin working than it would be a good idea for you to include your address on the resume. But, if you don't absolutely need to leave it off, as companies generally prefer to hire someone who is local and can begin right away.

2. Be a name-dropper.
It may seem like poor form to drop names in real life, built on your resume, it is essential to send a strong message. If you have worked with any big companies or famous clients, place these names on your resume. "Closed deals for Google" is a great statement and is sure to catch the eyes of your recruiter.

3. Utilize your performance reviews.
You may not think of looking at your annual reviews as the best place to find material to include on your resume. However, highlighting your previous accomplishments and attributes to yourself is a great way to find important details that should be placed on your resume. Your attributes and accomplishments are things your potential recruiter will want to see when making their decisions.

4. Choose keywords Carefully.
Many companies and recruiters will use tools that allow them to sift out the keyword heavy applications. For this reason you will want to monitor your use of keywords carefully and don't use too many. Recruiters can sense keyword stuffed applications a mile away and it is not a good sign to them.

5. Use common sense email etiquette.
You probably have two email addresses that you should not be using for your new job application. These are your previous work email address and any sentimental personal email addresses you may have like naughty_hottie@hotmail.com. Try to use something a little more professional and use your name in the address as this always makes a better impression.

6. When it comes to skills choose only what is needed.
There is no need to write out a long list of skills that just about everyone in the job market should have, like PC and Mac proficient, Microsoft Office Suite). This can make it seem to the recruiter that you are just trying to fill up space. Keep this section short and direct with only those skills that will be relevant to the position you are applying to.

7. Choose to share social accounts strategically.
Including links to social media accounts is becoming a more and more popular thing in the job market. Nevertheless, it is important here to distinguish between the professional accounts – like your LinkedIn and possibly, your Instagram account. But, you will want to keep away from adding your personal social media accounts until later. Even though it can be great to show off your life and winning personality, this is something that should be saved for the in person interview.

8. Use hobbies to your advantage.
You may have a host of fascinating hobbies in your life, but not all of them will deserve a place on your resume. Those that highlight your personal qualities of attention to detail, perseverance and determination would be a good idea. Also, hobbies that are directly related to things happening in your field, like blogging, are also a good idea of things to include to pique your recruiter's interest.

9. Skip generic descriptors.
It can be tempting to fill your resume with generic terms like hard working, proactive or self-motivated, which are great but these do not really set you apart from the competition in anyway. Instead of using these words look for something more specific that applies to you alone.

10. Keep a journal of your accomplishments.
Keeping a log of your Works accomplishments and keeping it updated with all the details is a good way to get a head of this task. Use all the details that you can and you won't have to spend time and energy trying to remember them later.

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