How to make your resume stand out from the crowd

Have you ever wondered why you never heard back after applying for a very relevant role? There could be hundreds of others who have applied for the same job along with you. However qualified you may be, you will not be able to convince an employer about your suitability for the opening if they do not call you for an interview. So, how can you improve your chances of getting an interview?

There are three factors that differentiate the shortlisted CVs from the rest.

1.     Relevance

Relevance of your current experience in light of the job advertised is an important factor that determines if you make it to the shortlist. This is why tweaking your resume for the specific requirement is very important. Some job seekers prepare a standard resume and use it for all job applications. By doing this, you miss out on the opportunity to highlight the relevance of your experience.

2.     Achievements

Employers want performers and achievers to join them. But most jobseekers miss out on highlighting their achievements on their CV. Listing out your achievements is a sure shortcut to impress and proves you are a performer. Keep these points in mind. 1. Use power verbs and action verbs to describe your achievements – eg. – Improved, increased, achieved, introduced etc. Include work related awards and recognitions. 2. Be honest – do not write anything that you have not achieved or you cannot take personal credit. Remember – what you write gets reference checked. 3. Quantify the results – include numbers, monetary value and percentages to quantify your achievements. Highlight the magnitude of your contribution. 4. Achievements should be directly related to your work profile – being the best goal scorer for your company’s sports team can be listed elsewhere in the CV.

3.     Initiative

Have you done anything that is not part of your job description, but has helped to improve your/colleagues’/company’s performance – list it down. Have you helped with the software implementation or trained someone or developed marketing materials or written content for the website, though it was not part of your job? That shows initiative, leadership and collaboration – employers love to hire such people. List them down on your CV and mention how it has helped the company. You may also highlight new things that you have learned in the process. If you like, you may cover your initiatives in a separate section, for example, as ‘notable contributions’.

If you take care of these three factors, then anyone who reads your resume should ideally consider you for the job.

But how can you ensure someone is reading your CV? Most of the HR managers use one of the following methods to create their shortlist.

Option A: They go through the first ‘n’ number of CVs (say first 50 or 100); they either get what they want or they become frustrated by the number of irrelevant CVs and stop going through the rest.

Option B: They use keywords or allow a software or application to shortlist the relevant CVs and review only such shortlisted CVs. 

Option C: Even before they go through the direct applications, they receive relevant CVs through trusted relationships – colleagues, friends or recruitment partners and the position gets closed.

Option D: Any combination of the above mentioned options.

So coming back to the question how can you ensure your CV is read through? Some tips are:

1.     Timing your application

As mentioned earlier, the initial set of CVs probably receive genuine attention and screening whereas the CVs received after a week need not necessarily be reviewed. The best thing you can do is apply as early as possible, within the first or second day that the opening is advertised. If you apply after 5 PM and before 9 AM – your CV would probably be delivered to the hiring manager’s inbox the next day morning along with hundreds of other CVs. S/he might procrastinate if there are too many CVs to go through. The same rule is true if you apply for a job during the weekend. Hence, I would suggest applying during working hours preferably the off-peak working hours – (for many it is around 10 – 11 AM or 2:30 – 3:30 PM, but this varies from Industry to Industry). This would give your CV a higher chance of being reviewed. 

2. Keyword Optimizing your CV

If the HR or hiring manager uses keywords to shortlist CVs or uses a software to shortlist CVs – there is a straight forward solution – Keyword optimize your CV.  Preparing a keyword optimized CV and further optimizing it before applying for a specific job requirement is very essential in the current era of applicant tracking system. Keyword optimizing CV is a topic by itself; I will cover it in a separate post soon.

3.     Getting noticed

Is there any way in which you can bring your CV to the hiring manager’s attention? A catchy but relevant subject line and an impressive covering letter would help to some extent. If you know anyone working in that company, ask them to refer you for the job. Have you tried contacting the hiring manager directly or via professional networking sites? Well, it might be hard to get connected, but if you do – you have got your CV in the radar. If you can even convince the receptionist to re-direct your CV to the relevant person – your chances are better than otherwise.

Is there anything else that you have tried successfully? Write in to me with your ideas and comments….

Four Secret Strategies to Achieve Your Career Goals

Even if you are not currently looking for a job, there are four things you should still do!

It is good if you are not looking out for a job change. Reasons could be different - things are going on fine at work and you are happy OR you have a contractual agreement OR you just recently joined. Day to day work challenges take up all time and keep you busy. But remember things could change any moment. Your boss could change, your company could relocate and close the office you are working in, you may be laid off if you are the most junior member of the team. In that case, are you prepared for the next move? There are things you should still do even if you have no plans to change job: Plan – Learn – Attempt – Network (P-L-A-N)

PLAN

Plan your career. What would you like to do 3 to 5 years down the line? What are your next career move options? Remember – this is not just about job title; it is about the role. It should not just be one option – you should rather consider multiple job roles or options. Broaden your horizon - consider options within your company, competing companies and even within different industry verticals. You can also consider prioritizing your career options – Plan A – Plan B – Plan C. Planning will give you an idea about the Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA) that you need to acquire for a progressive career move.

LEARN

Once you are clear about your next plans, invest time in learning and improving on the KSAs required for the next move. Formal education or certification is good but learning need not necessarily be limited to formal education. Learn as much as you can by participating in new initiatives / projects or being part of knowledge sharing forums or interacting with people who are handling your target roles etc.

ATTEMPT

Attempt to be what you want to be. For example, if you want to be a team manager in future – then volunteer to mentor or train a new colleague. Yes, I know - it is not your job to train him/her – but take the initiative and do it. Do you want to move from telesales to sales – do it – start accompanying the sales team. Take up any initiative which will give you experience / exposure to your target role. These kind of initiatives combined with learning will help you prepare for the next career move.

NETWORK

Network with the right people; those who are handling roles similar to your target role with the aim of learning, knowing, and having more exposure to the role, challenges, and requirements of your target role. The quality of your network is what matters. The insight you get from interacting with those who are successfully handling your target role is like an internship! So, keep doing it.

P-L-A-N is not just to get promoted within your company or to find a better job elsewhere. It is a way of work life – a way to prevent career stagnation, a way to steer not just float, a way to experience job satisfaction. What do you think?  Let me know!