Are you looking for a job but not sure where to start? First, you should look at how to write an impressive resume that will help you to get hired quickly. Here are 8 tips to get you started:

1. Keep your work experience recent and relevant with keywords and numbers

You should ideally include the most recent 10-15 years of your work history and only include relevant work experience to the position you are applying for. Allocate more space on your resume according to its significance i.e. go into more detail about your current role rather than your university internship 20 years ago. However, if you are a fresh graduate without working experience, do focus on highlighting your transferable skills along with academic/side projects/CCAs alongside a cover letter that narrates why you are the best person for this role. Quantify your accomplishments with percentages, figures, and numbers as far as possible to help the recruiters to visualise the level of work or responsibility that was needed to achieve them. Look through the job description and check if you have included the keywords in your bullet points so that you are getting noticed in applicant tracking systems.

2. Showcase technical and soft skills as well as non-traditional work

Consider how you can demonstrate soft skills attributes in your bullet points without telling them directly. E.g. If you want to state that you are an “effective leader”, you could describe a project that you have led that achieved a quantifiable target or outcome. If you have worked freelance, part-time or contract roles or taken up any volunteering positions, you should still list these roles as part of your work experience and highlight the specific technical skills you acquired that are relevant to the role you are applying for.

3. Include up to date contact details

Hiring managers are unlikely to spend time finding the applicant’s contact details unless the job applicant is especially outstanding. Your resume should contain an updated personal email address and your contact number, but leave out your corporate email address if you are currently employed. Using your current work email address to apply for jobs portray you in a negative light as recruiters may be doubtful about your work ethics and professionalism.

4. Keep your formatting simple and free of errors

Instead of using fanciful online templates with multiple font types and sizes, it would be best to stick to a standard font and size and keep your layout clean and professional so that it is easy on the eyes. Recruiters usually do not spend more than 30 seconds reading your resume, so keeping it easy to read helps the recruiters to spot important information faster. Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors or factual mistakes in your resume as such errors reveal to the hiring managers how meticulous or professional you are. A good preview to capture your recruiters’ attention is to also add a career summary to introduce your professional background and skills that would value-add to the specific role you are applying for.

5. Double-check that you are applying for the right job

Apply for a job that fits your skills and expertise. If the majority of the keywords in the job ad make sense to you, then you are probably on the right track. Double-check that your qualifications, skills, and experience or professional certifications meet the minimum requirements indicated in the job posting. Your cover letter should also be addressed to the right employer and cite the right role you are applying for.

6. Keep your resume short and to the point

Remember that recruiters are busy people who do not have much time to comb through pages of resumes that are not relevant to the job opening. Keep to a maximum of 2-3 pages and focus on accomplishments that could value-add to your future employer instead. For fresh graduates, your resume should not exceed 1 page.

7. Spotlight your achievements

Substantiate your accomplishments and contributions in your previous roles with metrics as much as possible as job applicants who simply list their duties will not make the cut. Avoid over-exaggerating your achievements though as these may come across as red flags to potential employers. You may include links to your portfolio if you are applying for creative roles such as designers or writers.

8. Focus on the value you bring to your potential employer

Be very mindful not to badmouth your current or previous employers in your resume but instead, you should focus on the value you can bring to the table. If you change employers often or there are long gaps in your resume, you should also clearly state the reasons for leaving the jobs or explanation for the gaps. Highlight the skills acquired or courses you have attended and indicate reasons for why your work experience would be useful to the company you are applying to and reasons why you are attracted to the role. Job seekers who are looking for a career switch or have long gaps in their resumes could also create a functional resume rather than a chronological one. A functional resume puts more emphasis on your job functions or skills as well as your relevant achievements and experience without the specific employment history.

Are you confident of crafting and updating your resume after reading the above tips? Do check out RCNSG’s new arrival jobs to kickstart your job hunting journey!