The perfect resume is a physical or digital document that brings together all your academic, professional, research, leadership, and volunteering experiences. Essentially, it gives a glimpse of your abilities, skills, and professional profile so that other people can evaluate you as a candidate for an employment opportunity.
Why it’s so important
“Someone can ask for your resume on many occasions, not just for employment. You may need it to apply for graduate school, for a loan, to start a business, to give a lecture, or to join a group or association,” said Cassandra Vega, Senior Manager of the Sagrado Careers Unit at the Sagrado Corazón University. However, this document is essential when looking for a job.
That’s why it’s so important to upload your resumé or LinkedIn profile URL when registering for El Comeback. To make sure you’re doing the best you can, Vega shares seven tips to make sure you write the perfect resumé:
The Seven Tips for a perfect resume
1. Research what type of resume your industry requires. “An actress’ resume is not the same as a scientist’s resume,” Vega said. Knowing what your industry looks for will help you ensure that your perfect resumé contains all the essential information to apply for different positions in multiple companies.
2. Read the description of the position you want to apply for carefully. This will help you understand the company’s expectations. Also, it will help you focus on the skills and abilities that make you the ideal person for the job.
3. Use professional and intentional language. The job description will help you find the keywords that must appear on the perfect resume. Make sure that the document reflects the skills, experiences, and attributes that the employer is looking for. “We have to create a mirror effect. In other words, what they are looking for should be very palpable in your resume. For example, if the job description says that they need a person capable of handling international clients, you want to make sure that your resume says that we have previous experience working with clients internationally”.
4. Organize the information well. The first part of the resume should be your contact information. In that section, be sure to put a professional email address. Then, place the professional profile that consists of a brief description of who you are, what you do very well, and where you are going in your career. The next step is to add information related to your academic preparation, professional experiences, leadership, or volunteering. Finally, you must highlight your skills and abilities.
6. Report your achievements. When you apply for a managerial or specialized position, show what projects you have worked on, the tasks that you’ve completed, and your achievements. It’s highly recommended to include quantitative metrics on project success. This information is not required when applying for a job in a store, a restaurant, or other general employment.
5. Be transparent; recruiters value honesty. CareerBuilder notes that 75% of recruiters notice when a person lies on their resume. According to Vega, you should not eliminate abilities and skills that you have not fully developed. However, it is vital to indicate the level of dominance of these abilities and skills, whether basic, intermediate, or advanced.
7. Make sure the document is well-written. According to CareerBuilder, 77% of recruiters disqualify candidates because their resumes have spelling and grammatical errors. Also, according to the Employment Outlook Report, 82% of recruiters look for candidates that have excellent communication skills.
When sharing your perfect resume, make sure it is written in a legible font (preferably Arial or Times New Roman) and that’s in an appropriate size (11 is standard). If the delivery is digital, don’t forget to save the document in PDF format.
¡Éxito!
While we’re at it, here are some tips for writing a great cover letter.
El Comeback, a program of the nonprofit ConPRmetidos, attracts and retains professional talent for 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico-based jobs. Register to get matched with professional opportunities on the island.
