How to Make Your Work Experience Stand Out on Your Resume
You can craft a job description that makes your work experience look better, passes through Applicant Tracking Systems, and impresses hiring managers. Even if you have a dull job, you can focus on your best skills and highlight them on your resume.
Tips for Writing a Job Description on Your Resume
Edit your resume for each job. It may take considerable time, but the more time you invest in your resume, the better your chances of benefiting from it. Review the job advertisement and break it down to understand what the company wants from applicants. Create a list of what the organization is looking for and highlight those qualifications in your resume. Prioritize. Tailor your resume for each job application. Position the most relevant tasks at the top, and ensure your achievements are tied to the job description. Move other responsibilities down. You can “mix and match” based on the job opening, ensuring your best qualities are always listed first. Use bullet points along with narrative paragraphs. To highlight your work achievements, format them into instant bullet points followed by a brief description of your specific job responsibilities. This will make your accomplishments stand out on the page, distinguishing you from the competition. Quantify your achievements. Numbers work well on resumes. They are informative and noticeable. For example, “Increased fiscal year revenue by 25%” sounds much better than “Improved revenue.” Use percentages, dollars, and figures instead of words to showcase what you accomplished in the roles you held, and select these numbers strategically to immediately catch the hiring manager’s attention. Show what you achieved at work. Include actionable accomplishments, not just a description of your daily tasks. Hiring managers want to know why you’re a standout employee, not what you did daily. Use action words to describe your responsibilities. Here’s a list of action verbs for resumes and power words to get started. Keep it concise. You don’t need to include everything you did in every job you worked in your resume. Three or four sentences per description, followed by a few bullet-point achievements, is sufficient. Include your most valuable contributions to the organization. You will have the opportunity to discuss your other tasks in detail when you interview.
Example of a Revised Job Description
Here’s a “before and after” version of a job description written to highlight the candidate’s best qualities.
Before: I was responsible for designing and developing websites for a variety of clients. I oversaw data optimization, product uploads, product management, and diagnosed and fixed product issues. My responsibilities included executing and managing projects from design to launch. I managed search engine marketing, SEO, and online advertising for several clients, including devising strategic solutions to improve visibility.
After: I created, developed, launched, and managed websites for a variety of clients with a focus on modern, responsive, user-oriented designs. I implemented improvements in data, products, and design. I managed SEO and marketing, while monitoring site statistics to enhance visibility. Increased search engine traffic by 25%, pages per session by 18%, and doubled site revenue over the past year. Trained and mentored 5 new team members on effective customer relation strategies. Implemented improvements to the employer’s site that increased the client list by 45% between fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2021.
What to Include in the Revised Description
Do you see the difference? By using active verbs and concrete achievements in bullet points, the “after” example makes a more compelling case for the candidate’s fit for the job.
Do
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-make-your-resume-work-history-sound-better-4105677
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