In the increasingly competitive job market in Nigeria where employers receive thousands of job applications, your resume is easily your most important job search tool. Unfortunately, over the years, there has been some confusion on whether CVs are the same as resumes. So, what exactly is the difference? The primary differences are in the length, layout, and purpose of each document.
A resume is more often, a one or two-page document presented as a brief summary of your experience and skills. Resumes can be tailored to every job position you are applying for. The CV, on the other hand, is a document which contains an overview of your full working career. It can be written to cover more than two pages and is organized chronologically. The CV does not change for each position.
So, what determines if a resume is effective and gets noticed by hiring managers?
Search for a Job
Your resume should be created in a format that is relative to your industry and job. Do a search on your job or industry and look at resume samples. Concentrating on one position gives you more opportunities of finding exactly what you need.
Tailor your Resume to the Proposed Position
Before submitting a resume, get details on the organization and the vacancy they offer. If you want your resume to be chosen among the hundreds of others, try to make it fit the position you are applying for as much as possible.
Include Job-Specific Keywords
If you want to be found by hiring managers, incorporate keywords that are in the job descriptions in your resume. This will increase your chances of being invited for an interview.
Choose and Stick to a Format
You can choose between several resume formats: functional resume, chronological resume, targeted resume, or a combination of all. Having selected your desired resume, organize the list of information that should be included in it. Whatever format you decide on, stick to it.
Provide a Summary of your Qualifications and Work Experience
Make your summary of qualifications stand out! Make everything possible to persuade the recruiting manager to choose you for the job. Try to provide all necessary information.
Exclude Irrelevant Information
This might sound new, but avoid adding irrelevant information such as your hobbies as no one is interested in knowing how you kill your free time. If the employer is actually interested in knowing such things, you can share them at interview.
Keep Length Limited
Value your potential employers’ time. No employer is interested in your life’s story. So, keep the information crisp and limited to a one or two-page resume.
In summary, to minimize your chances of rejection and catch your potential employer’s eye, avoid mistakes like typo/grammatical errors, inconsistent format, poor portfolio, and too many pages.
So, what are you waiting for? Follow these smart tips and get that job!