What do I need to put on my resume?

If you are looking for a job, one thing that should concern you is the length of your resume. Typically, resume length grows as we advance education or gain more experience. At times, we are tempted to write all the best information about us, making the resume look more like a report. You should always know one thing; a resume is a sales pitch and not a book report. Even if you have been working for the last three decades and possess several degrees, you have to find ways to make it short. If it is too long, there is a high likelihood that it will get ignored. It’s possible to make your curriculum vitae short and still convey your worth. Here are 6 ways to do it:

1. Only Include Relevant Information

As you know, different jobs require different skills and experiences. Even if you possess a thousand skills, only include those relevant to the job you are applying for.

2. Consider Using Keywords

Today, most companies are using resume screeners to filter out job applicants. The screener compares the information you have provided in the resume with the job requirements to see if you are a good match. As you read a job advert, take note of the skills and experience required. Use these as keywords to draft a small resume that is friendly for the applicant tracking systems.

3. Keep the Objective Statement Short but Objective

If you are used to long objective statements, please stop it. According to Top Resume, this statement should be two to three lines. This is enough to capture your skills and experience and how they connect to your career objectives.

4. Focus More on Accomplishments

For some people, the resume is more about the job description. This is wrong. If you are highlighting your experiences, be clear about what you accomplished in a specific role and not everything that the role entailed. You can even use bullet points to make it short and clear.

5. Always Use Bullet Points

If you use paragraphs, there is a high likelihood that your resume will be long. Why not use bullet points instead? This not only makes your curriculum vitae short but also makes information easy to read and digest.

6. Be Cautious with Wording

Most resumes are long due to poor wording. Avoid passive voice and instead use active, powerful language. Wordiness makes your resume bloated and hard to read. More importantly, it obscures your accomplishments.

The Bottom Line

For most people, it’s always a struggle to sum up their entire career in one or two pages, but it’s possible. For your information, an employer has less than 10 seconds to go through your resume and decide if you should receive further consideration. Thus, you need to master the art of making your resume short.

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Photo by iStock Keeping your resume short and to the point is key.