If you have submitted your job applications through multiple platforms and job advertisements, but you’re not getting any calls to arrange for interview. Then you might need to reevaluate the resumes that you have sent out and how you sent them out.
Keep reading to know our tips on getting your resume shortlisted for interviews.
#1 Work with a recruiter.
While it’s good to apply on job application platforms such as JobStreet, LinkedIn or Glassdoor, you shouldn’t solely rely on those platforms alone. We suggest that you either directly apply to the company’s website or with a recruiter.
A recruiter not only have vast networks with employers in different industries, but they also provide free consultations on how to increase your chances of getting hired. Recruiters are people who genuinely wants you to get hired and get hiring managers to solve their recruitment needs.
#2 Proofread for spelling and grammar errors.
When writing your resume, it’s common to overlook some spelling and grammar errors. As the person writing it, it might not be too obvious. However, to the person who is reading it, the errors are as clear as day. Having spelling or grammar error in your resume might jeopardize your image and give the impression that you do not pay attention to detail when doing your job.
We recommend getting a friend to read your resume for a final proofreading. Otherwise, you can also install a Grammarly extension in your computer for automatic checking or use the Microsoft Words features to the fullest.
#3 Use measurable terms and not cliché adjectives.
Another note on writing resume, avoid using vague adjectives when describing your profile.
Below are some of the vague words that ruin a resume:
- Think outside the box
- Hard worker
- Problem-solving skills
- Team player
- Detail-oriented
- Results-driven
Instead, use words that shows your actions during your previous/ current employment.
- Achieved
- Improved
- Managed/ led
- Resolved
- Increased/ decreased
- Consolidated
Action verbs have a stronger impact on readers since your performance can be measured and verified through your actions. Recruiters or HR will have an easier time to assess your profile and saves their time when checking with your referrals.
#4 Tailoring your resume to the job position.
Job seekers often make the mistake of writing just one resume and call it day. When looking for the right match, recruiters often look for the keywords that the client has presented in your resume.
We suggest that you read through the job description that you are interested in and use similar keywords that the employer uses. To top it off, you may also arrange your bullet points in the similar sequence that the employer is using.
Bonus! Your resume might not even be reviewed by a human. In this modern day and age, AI are slowly replacing humans in the workforce. Companies around the world are slowly utilizing AI technology to scan through your resume. Which is even more reason for you to tailor your resume specifically to the position that you are applying for.
#5 Is it a resume or a biography?
While it is important to showcase your past experiences and the skills you have gained, it is also important to know if it is relevant. Tailoring your resume doesn’t only mean highlighting the skills that the employer is looking for, it also means not showing the skills that has nothing to do at all with the job position.
Ask yourself, “if I want to apply for this position, do I need to highlight that you have a certificate for hiking Mount Everest? Or that one time during semester break when I worked at a fast-food chain?”
So, exclude all those irrelevant experience as it will only compel a recruiter to just skim through instead of scanning through.
#6 Only write truthful information about yourself.
Believe it or not, once you mastered the art of writing a good resume you can actually apply to any job vacancies under the sun. However, if you write any fabricated information, your resume will not only be excluded from the shortlist, but you might even get blacklisted by Recruiters or HR.
Recruiters and HR will always do a reference check before or after the interview. If you do get shortlisted for an interview and pass the initial round of the interviewing stage, the moment they do a reference check, and discovered your lies, you will immediately get rejected.
By now, you should be able to come up with a quality resume with higher chances of getting hired. For any advise and consultancy regarding job applications drop an email to info@careermaster.com.my or call 07-3535 294.