20 Key Steps to a Perfect Resume – Stand out from the competition and get your dream job
Did you know that your resume is your first step toward your dream job? Unfortunately, many of us forget that a Curriculum Vitae is not just a formal document – it’s your business card, a chance to attract an employer’s attention, to showcase your potential and emphasize why you are the perfect candidate for the job. Don’t let a lax approach to creating a resume get in the way of your professional goals. That’s why it’s worth ensuring that your resume makes a good impression. In this article, you’ll learn how to do it and how to avoid common mistakes that often derail our chances for a job.
1. Customize your phone number and email address
It is worth ensuring that your phone number is written in a form that is readable to the recruiter. The format “666 888 999” is much clearer than “666888999.” Moreover, the email address on your resume should sound professional. Avoid incomprehensible phrases and nicknames, and definitely reject addresses that are associated with an account on “buziaczek.co.uk.” Your contact information should be visible and easily accessible on your resume. Hiding them at the very end of the document can make it difficult for a recruiter to contact you. Make sure they are placed at the top of the page.
2. Personalize your resume
It can be tempting to send mass-mailed resumes to various offers, but this approach rarely yields positive results. It’s a good idea to tailor your resume to a specific job offer. Highlight those skills and experience that are most relevant to the employer’s requirements. This will show that you are interested in the offer and have what the company needs. Highlight the specific skills and accomplishments that are most important for the position. It’s a good idea to use industry-related keywords to make it easier for ATP systems to identify your resume.
3. Stand out in the “Work Experience” section
This is where you can convince the employer that you are the ideal candidate or candidate. Don’t just list positions and dates. Describe your responsibilities and achievements in detail. Focus on what specific benefits you have brought to your previous employers. Show that you are not only an employee, but also actively support companies in their success and development, growing with them. Also, when describing your work experience, it’s a good idea to add information about the industry in which the company operates. A recruiter is not necessarily familiar with all the companies in the market, so stating the industry will help them get a better idea of your experience.
4. Lack of experience does not have to be a curse
If you are fresh out of college or changing industries, your lack of work experience can be a problem. However, this doesn’t mean you’re doomed to spend forever looking for a job “in the background.” Focus on your education, internships, volunteer work and projects that show you have the potential to grow in your field. If you’re at the beginning of your career and don’t have a lot of jobs to list, consider adding the subjects you studied that were of particular interest to you. This will show in what direction you want to grow. Provide information about your education, including the name of your university, your major and graduation dates. If you are still studying, don’t forget to list your mode of study (full-time, part-time, etc.), which will help the employer understand your availability for work.
- Focus on education: Pay attention to your education. In your resume, list the name of your university, your field of study and dates of completion. If you are still studying, don’t forget to mention your mode of study (full-time, part-time, etc.), which will help the employer understand your availability for work.
- Internships and Volunteers: If you have participated in internships, volunteers or projects, highlight them. Describe the specific tasks and accomplishments you achieved during these experiences. This will show that you have practical skills that are valuable to an employer.
- Highlight your interests: If the subjects you studied were particularly interesting, share them on your resume. This can help an employer understand your passion and commitment to a particular field.
- Indicate your direction of development: If you have a clear idea of the direction you want to take professionally, include it in your resume. A brief mention of your career goals and why the job offer is in line with your plans can get an employer’s attention.
Remember that everyone starts their career at the beginning, and it’s how you present your achievements and goals that can convince an employer of your potential. Don’t be discouraged by your lack of experience, but instead focus on what you have to offer.
5. The key to standing out – hard skills
Point out specific skills and tools that you know and can use. This could include handling hardware, data analysis software, graphic design, or tools related to your field of work. For example, if you are proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe products or other specialized programs, be sure to indicate that. Try to match the skills listed with the requirements of the job offer. This will allow the employer to quickly understand that you are the right candidate for the job, because you have the specific competencies they are looking for.
6. The key to job success – soft skills
During a job search, we often focus on emphasizing hard skills, but soft skills are equally important, and sometimes even more important. These are not only communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, but also adaptability, empathy, creativity, decision-making ability, stress and conflict management. It’s worth highlighting these skills on your resume, as employers are looking for candidates who fit into the culture of the organization and can work effectively with others.
7. Foreign Languages – information worth highlighting
If you state on your resume that you know a foreign language, add whether you are a beginner, advanced, or have mastered the language to a proficient level. Additionally, specify whether your language skills include the ability to speak, write, or other aspects of the language. With this precise information, the recruiter will be able to accurately assess for what purpose and position your language skills will be most useful.
8. Interests – your chance to catch the employer’s attention
When describing your interests in your resume, it is worth showing how they can translate into your job. This will help the employer understand that you are motivated to constantly develop and contribute something of value to the team. This is not only proof of your commitment, but also a way to get the recruiter’s attention. For example, by applying for the role of Export Manager and listing running marathons as your hobby, you are proving your perseverance and discipline, which are crucial in the long-term process of acquiring customers and achieving sales goals. This is not only proof of your commitment, but also a way to draw the recruiter’s attention to specific qualities that may be valuable in the field.
9. Add a portfolio
If you are a graphic designer, programmer, artist, musician or are involved in any other field that allows you to create specific projects, it is worth creating an online portfolio. You can include examples of your work, projects you have completed or are working on, and evidence of your achievements or skills in the field.
Examples of portfolio content might include:
- Graphic designs, such as posters, illustrations, user interface designs, etc.
- Source code examples, if you are a programmer or developer.
- Audio or video recordings, if you are a musician, music producer or filmmaker.
- Examples of articles or publications, if you are a writer or journalist.
- Executions of business projects, if you are applying for a position as a project manager or marketing specialist.
It’s worthwhile to make your online portfolio professional and aesthetically pleasing to demonstrate your skills not only in content, but also in presentation. By adding a link to your portfolio, you will provide employers with easy access to your work and evidence of the skills you possess.
10. Avoid Information Overload
Avoid overloading your resume with information. Try to be concise and clear. Employers often have limited time to review resumes, so make sure important information is easily accessible. Take care of the layout, and try to make sure your resume has consistent formatting. Spacing, paragraphs, bold – all these affect the perception of the document. If you use colors, try to make them subtle and professional. Avoid bright colors, which can distract from the content. Remember that a professional resume is a document designed to convey information about your experience and skills in a clear and focused manner. Complicated graphic embellishments can distract from the important content and make the resume more difficult to understand. Ultimately, simplicity and clarity are key in designing an effective resume.
11. Photo – the right choice
If you decide to use a photo, making sure it looks right is key. First impressions are important, so match the look in the photo to your desired image. Remember that whether you include a photo on your resume depends on regional norms and practices. In some countries and industries, a photo is standard, while in others it is optional. Before putting a photo on your resume, it’s a good idea to check whether this is expected in your area or industry.
12. Readiness to relocate
If you are willing to relocate, state this on your resume. By doing so, you will avoid potential rejection due to an incompatible location. If you are willing to relocate or work remotely, it is a good idea to make this clear in your resume. You can add information about this in the “Additional information” section. This will help you avoid potential rejection at the recruitment stage due to differences in residence.
13. Chronology – the most important at the top
Arranging your work experience in chronological order on your resume is often the best approach, as it allows an employer to quickly understand your career path and recent professional accomplishments. Here are some tips on how to organize this section:
- Most recent at the top: Put your most recent work experience at the very top of your job section. Employers are often most interested in your current position and accomplishments.
- Full dates: Provide full dates, including the month and year you started and ended your position. This provides a more complete picture of your career.
- Focus on results: Focus on presenting the results you have achieved in your most recent positions. Explain how your work has contributed to the company’s successes.
- Continue downward: After your most recent experience, continue downward, presenting subsequent positions in chronological order. Avoid overly long descriptions of past jobs, focusing on those that are most relevant to your current application.
14. Avoid generalities
Try to back up your accomplishments with numbers and evidence. For example, instead of a general statement that you were responsible for increasing sales, give specific numbers: “I increased sales by 30% during my first year on the job.”, instead of “Project management” better “As a Project Manager, I supervised a 2 million zloty project in the IT industry, coordinating a team of 10 programmers and engineers, which led to delivering the project ahead of schedule and exceeding the budget by 15%.” This definitely makes a bigger impression on the employer.
15. Include certifications and training
Highlight relevant certifications and training you have to highlight your qualifications. Create a separate section on your resume titled “Certifications” or “Training.” Place it in an appropriate place, such as after the education or skills section. If you have multiple certifications, consider sorting them by importance or relevance to the job you are applying for. If possible, provide a link to a website or certificate number that the employer can check to confirm its authenticity. An example of this section might look like the following:
Certifications and Training
Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe) Graphic Designer Certificate, September 2021
Project Management Institute (PMP) project management training, April 2020
Digital Marketing Specialist Certificate (HubSpot Academy), July 2019
Highlighting certifications and training on your resume shows employers that you are investing in your professional development and are well prepared to perform at the highest level.
16. References
If you have references from previous employers, include a note that you are willing to provide them upon request. This confirms your professionalism and value to a potential employer. If you have references that you would like to attach to your resume right away, you can create a separate addendum. It should be titled “References” and include contact information for people who can provide references. Example:
References
Person 1
Name: [Name of reference].
Position: [Position of reference].
Company: [Company name of the desk officer].
Phone: [Referent’s phone number].
Email: [Referent’s email address].
17. Add a career goal
Add a short paragraph describing your career goal and desired position – it should be clear and catch the employer’s attention. For an experienced Export Manager, it could read as follows:
“I am an ambitious and experienced professional with extensive knowledge and skills in the export field. My main career goal is to develop international markets and increase the company’s global presence. I am looking for a position that will enable me to use my experience in team management, trade negotiations, strategy planning and identifying new opportunities in international markets. I am confident that my skills and commitment can contribute to the company’s international success.” Tailor it to your experience, skills and career aspirations and convince the employer that you are the ideal candidate for the job.
18. Spelling and grammatical errors
This is trivial advice, but surprisingly often neglected. Spelling and grammatical errors in your resume can get you rejected at the outset, suggesting to the employer a lack of diligence or carelessness in your work. If you can’t take care of linguistic correctness in your own application document, how is an employer supposed to perceive you as a competent and reliable person in your daily work? It’s a good idea to take advantage of available tools, such as word processors with built-in spell and grammar checkers. Nonetheless, it’s worthwhile, with a critical mind, to read your resume carefully to catch subtle errors that programs may overlook. Once you’ve proofread, ask someone to read it again. A third party may spot errors that you missed.
19. Watch out for the clause
Avoid generic clauses on your resume, such as “[company name],” as they can imply a lack of commitment. Instead, personalize the clause to a specific company, and above all, make sure you use the correct company name in the clause.
20. Be ready for questions about your resume at an interview
During a job interview, you can expect to be asked questions about your resume. Be prepared to answer questions about your experience, skills and accomplishments in detail. Try to be consistent with the information on your resume to avoid contradictions. Remember that the interview is an opportunity to have a deeper discussion about your qualifications and better understand your potential as an employee.
Summary
Your resume is the key to being invited to an interview. Try to tailor it to the specific offer, highlighting your strengths, both in terms of work experience and soft skills. Avoid spelling and grammatical errors and make sure the document is legible and clear. Don’t forget references and recommendations. This is the first step toward your dream job, so make sure this step is sure and firm. Now that you know how to create an impressive resume, there’s nothing left to do but apply for our job openings. Don’t delay and move towards your dream position today!
Apply today for:
Junior Export Manager, Warsaw
Junior Export Manager, Lublin
Export Manager, Warsaw
Export Manager, Lublin
Export Manager with French, Malaga
Key Account Manager (Export)
International Commodity Trader
Commercial Director
Junior Administration Specialist (with English)
