In the UK, there were an estimated 818,000 open positions from September to November 2024, down 31,000, or 3.7%, from June to August 2024, and the US Job openings rate was 4.5 percent in December 2024.
But you feel you still didn’t get enough interview calls? Maybe your Resume is causing trouble.
Want more interviews in the UK or US job market? It starts with your resume.
The world is changing with the rapid advancement in AI. In fact, the godfather of AI says that in a few years, the best career might be to become a plumber. Well, while there are still corporate jobs available, let’s focus more on polishing skills and building a good resume.
Whether you’re applying in London or Los Angeles, understanding the format, tone, and strategy that appeals to recruiters in each region is essential.
Tips to Build a Job-winning Resume
What do you want from your resume? Well, a job. So, follow the tips below and ensure you hit where your demand increases from any other candidate.
- Keep it Short and Direct
Resumes should be focused, direct, clear, and concise.
Keep your resume under two pages. With recruiters reviewing hundreds of applications daily, brevity and relevance are key; they rarely make it to the third page. Additionally, according to CareerBuilder’s research, 24% of recruiters look at resumes for less than 30 seconds overall.
Your resume should be easy to read, and every line should serve a purpose
You don’t have to include every detail of your entire work history or volunteer experience, even if you think some of your previous positions might be helpful.
- Use Simple Language
While it may be tempting to use a lot of technical jargon to seem like a top-level expert, the goal of your resume should be that the average person can read it.
Remember that the first person to view your resume could be a recruiter, an assistant, or even an executive, and you want to ensure it is comprehensible, relevant, and engaging.
To enhance the description of your work, please include highly technical terms in the Job Responsibilities section.
- Highlight Your Achievements
Highlighting your accomplishments is a great way to improve your resume and set yourself apart from other applicants with comparable qualifications.
Therefore, you should list your most significant tasks and responsibilities from prior jobs, but you should also include your professional achievements.
List them in bullet points in a skills section, which is one of the best resume tips. This section includes your language, soft, and technical skills.
Remember to add some important facts and figures to go along with these. This will undoubtedly demonstrate your worth to the business and provide you with an edge over other applicants.
- Design and Layout
Having a clean and consistent format that is easy to read and eye-catching, even at first glance, is very important.
Some things to keep in mind when writing a resume are: –
- Use headings and subheadings to organize information, which makes the resume easier to read.
- Use bullet points to break up large paragraphs.
- Use a font style that is easier to read.
- Avoid using decorative fonts or excessive graphics and maintain consistent formatting throughout the document.
- The resume will normally be on 1-2 pages, but in case of additional academic and work experience and achievements, it can consist of more.
- Use important keywords
Using keywords according to your industry is crucial.
Some tips are:
- Research job description: use industry-specific terms and keywords used in the job description.
- Naturally, use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords naturally. Avoid stuffing, and ensure they reflect your actual experience.
Just remember that the keywords need to accurately represent your past job responsibilities, background, and qualifications.
- Make it an Application Tracking System (ATS) friendly
An application tracking system is a software used by employers for the hiring process, and helps in recruitment
This system helps you save time as it matches the job requirements, and you don’t need to add additional information that is unrelated.
It also increases the chance of one’s selection if the information matches the requirements, and then it reaches the human recruiters.
Your application may stand out among others if it’s correctly written, as the market is already saturated, and it helps to separate it from the others.
- Proofread, Then Proofread Again
This will give a bad impression in your resume if there are any Grammar and spelling mistakes. These are simple ways to have your resume rejected.
Carefully proofreading your resume several times for errors is one of the most crucial resume tips you should abide by.
How to Tailor Your Resume for a Specific Job?
Writing a resume is time-consuming, but doing so is important. And it’s essential that your resume is tailored to the roles and industries you’re applying for, since you need to stand out and get noticed.
Relevant skills
It is essential that you highlight your skills and experiences that match the job description to show that you are a good fit.
Include results for the impact
It is important that you include and highlight your achievements to demonstrate your impact and usefulness.
Transferable skills
Make sure that while writing your resume, you are adding and highlighting skills that are transferable to other industries, showing your versatility.
Understanding resume format
Different countries have varying resume formats, like: –
USA: They typically follow a chronological format, where you list your latest work experience first.
UK: They often use a functional format, meaning you are highlighting your skills and qualifications before your work experience.
Reverse chronological resume format
It shows a clear snapshot of your achievements, growth, and abilities.
Tips for crafting a chronological format
- Highlight Recent Roles
- Use clear dates and titles
- Showcase achievements
- Keep it short
- Include Education at the end
Functional resume format
This format showcases your strength and transferable skills.
Tips for writing a functional format
- Start with a compelling summary
- Group skills into categories
- Quantify achievements
- Include relevant experience
Conclusion
Your resume is your professional handshake—it speaks before you do. Whether you’re applying in the US or UK, a clean, tailored, and well-proofread resume can put you ahead of the competition. Treat it like a pitch, not a biography. Make every word count.
FAQs
How do I write a resume that will impress potential employers?
Crafting an impressive resume requires a combination of strategic writing and tailoring. Here are some key tips:
- Use strong action verbs
- Highlight relevant skills and experience
- Keep it concise and easy to read
What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing a resume?
To avoid common pitfalls, keep the following in mind:
- Typos and grammatical errors
- Generic and nonspecific language
- Exaggerating or lying
