Here’s a secret that HR departments and hiring managers won’t tell you – the CV (or resume) is a job seeker’s most powerful weapon. An attractive CV that captures the attention of a hiring manager is much more likely land you an interview than a regular one that simply “states the facts”. So, if it’s been a while since you’ve spruced up your CV, make doing so a top priority in 2019!
Not sure how to upgrade your resume from “drab” to “fab”? Here are a few easy-to-implement tips.
Beauty is (not) in the eye of the beholder
One of the best ways to instantly stand out from the competition is to make your resume more visually attractive. This can be done with simple design elements, an attractive and easy-to-read layout and a touch of colour. Not sure how to do this? You can hire a designer to add some visual flair to your resume. Think of it as a small investment to land a job you really want (with a salary you may now be able to negotiable a little more easily for). Or, look for a free template online and use that.
Either way, be sure to add a creative touch to your resume with some design elements!
Impress with photos
You may not be applying for a job as Singapore’s next top model, but photos still matter. Even if employers aren’t selecting interviewees based on looks, including a photo (or photos) with your resume will give your future employer more confidence that you’ve got nothing to hide and are disclosing all relevant information to them.
Just be sure to include photos that showcase your professionalism. Ensure your photo is fairly recent (i.e. taken within the past few years) and please, no selfies!
It’s in the name
Depending on the popularity of an available position, a hiring manager could receive anywhere from dozens to hundreds of applications for a single role. Your resume needs to be immediately noticed the moment a hiring manager opens your email, and not be mistaken as an unrelated attachment.
If your CV is currently named “AUDREY-08911991-updated.pdf”, you’re already putting a barrier between your CV and your potential employer. Instead, be considerate and include your full name and the position you’re applying for in your resume’s file name, along with the word “CV” or “resume” so there’s no second-guessing what this file is for (and who it’s from)!
Yes, you can be overqualified
- Higher salary expectations
- Jumping ship – a fear that candidates will treat the job as a temporary gig
- Possibility of being prone to boredom
- Possibility of a “seniority” complex that is brought over from the previous role
To avoid this problem, you should tailor your resume to fit the position you’re applying for. Leave out your specialised Master’s degree and other post-college qualifications if you’re applying for a non-specialised position.
Show your professionalism with the right file format
This is a small but important detail that job seekers often miss out. Do save your resume in a file format that your future employer can easily open. After all that good work you’ve put into creating/updating your resume, the last thing you want is for a hiring manager to realise that your file can only be opened on a different operating system, with the software they don’t own, or with a newer version of Microsoft Word that they have installed.
To be sure you don’t run into any formatting or compatibility issues, simply save your resume in a .PDF format (although Microsoft Word files are also acceptable).
PRO – TIP: Based on our experience, Microsoft word files saved with the (.docx) extension are a little troublesome to open and review. We recommend saving the resume as a (.doc) extension instead!
New year, new CV!
Now, it’s time to take that “new year motivation” and use it to update your CV in all the right ways – so 2019 can be the year you finally get your dream job!
Can’t decide what you want to do in life? Drop us your resume, and we’ll get one of our friendly recruiters to invite you down for a chat!
