Despite inflation and high interest rates, economists claim that the current job market is strong. Whether job seekers are fresh out of college or experienced professionals looking to switch careers, now is a good time to get out there.
“The key to getting a foot in the door is crafting a standout entry-level resume that highlights unique skills and experience for prospective employers,” says Shiela Mie Legaspi, President of Cyberbacker.
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Understanding the job market
Blasting identical resumes to hundreds of employers is unlikely to yield results. Today’s applicants must identify the roles they want to target, analyze the qualifications required for each, and Tailor a resume to match those expectations.
“Before you craft a resume, take time to understand the job market,” Legaspi warns. “Know what skills are in demand and which employers are looking for them, then learn what jobs are available and how they’re categorized in the industry.”
Once job seekers equip themselves with this information, they can tailor specific resumes for the roles that interest them. They will understand what employers are looking for in terms of skills and experience, as well as how they want employees to present themselves on paper.
Structuring an effective entry-level resume
Applicants should start with a resume format that has a simple, clean layout, then choose an easy-to-read font that’s not too small or too large — 11 pt is ideal. Professional formatting steers clear of fancy graphics, numbered lists, tables, and charts.
The applicant’s name and contact information should always appear at the top of the document, followed by education, work experience, skills, and achievements in reverse chronological order, with the most recent events appearing first.
“Structure your resume in a way that makes sense,” advises Legaspi. “Read the job post carefully and think about how you want to present yourself as the ideal employee for that position. Write down everything that comes to mind, then scratch out any skills or experience that do not relate directly to the job description.”
Highlighting relevant skills and experiences
The key to writing a stand-out resume is showcasing what a candidate does well. “Highlight relevant skills and experiences above all else,” Legaspi says. “Include awards, accolades, and achievements related specifically to the position you want.”
In addition to relevant skills and experiences from past jobs, applicants should also showcase transferable skills gained through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work by emphasizing relevant coursework, certifications, or extracurricular activities related to the target role. Finally, they can use their resume to demonstrate proficiency in technical skills, software applications, and tools relevant to the industry.
“Prioritize real-world experience,” Legaspi notes. “Describe projects or case studies you completed during internships or academic programs, and illustrate the practical application of skills and hands-on experience through internships, co-op programs, or apprenticeships.”
Utilizing action-oriented language to describe experiences and achievements
Action-oriented language is the best way for job seekers to describe their experiences and achievements. Clear action shows they have a strong understanding of the job and can hit the ground running.
“Action verbs show that you’re a person who gets things done,” Legaspi remarks. “Instead of listing the titles of roles you held, use action verbs when describing projects or tasks.”
For example, if an applicant was an intern at a marketing agency, instead of writing “marketing internship,” they could use action-oriented language like:
- “Drafted and published blog posts on behalf of clients” to show that they took initiative and got results, or;
- “Created weekly newsletters highlighting new products and services offered by our clients” to show that they were able to meet deadlines while staying organized.
“Some action words are better than others,” argues Legaspi. “Whenever possible, structure your resume with action verbs that are quantifiers, such as ‘increased’ or ‘reduced.’ Pairing these powerful words with numbers demonstrates tangible results and shows recruiters exactly how well you performed in previous roles.”
Tailoring the resume for Applicant Tracking Systems
Before crafting a resume, it’s essential to understand how Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) work. ATS are software applications used by employers to manage their recruitment process that scan resumes for keywords and use those terms to match candidates with jobs.
To ensure they optimize resumes for ATS, job seekers can incorporate relevant keywords and phrases from the job description. They can use the job post to select terms that are relevant to the position and describe what they have accomplished at previous jobs.
It’s not just the content of a resume that matters — job seekers also must tailor their formatting for ATS scanning software. Failing to do this may prevent resumes from being picked up by the system and considered for any given position.
“To make resumes AI-friendly, applicants can optimize the document with bullet points instead of paragraphs and break up long lists into shorter ones,” Legaspi says. “Just be sure to use consistent formatting throughout all sections of your resume.”
Crafting a compelling cover letter to supplement the resume
“The cover letter is an opportunity to tell your story,” says Legaspi, “so personalize it as much as possible and avoid using templates. The goal is to demonstrate your interest in working for the company and explain why you stand out from other candidates.”
A cover letter offers applicants the chance to write a personalized introduction to the company and hiring manager. It’s their one shot to demonstrate enthusiasm for the role, convey why they are uniquely qualified, and further explain relevant experience or skills on the resume.
“Don’t reuse a cover letter from another job application,” advises Legaspi. “Your letter should reference specific details from the job description. If the job mentions information about the person who would be successful in this role, your cover letter should mention it, too.”
Seeking professional guidance and feedback
When crafting a resume, it’s a good idea to seek guidance and feedback. Candidates can always ask friends and family for help but can also ask their peers, professors, and other industry professionals for advice in refining content.
Additionally, applicants can talk with a career coach with extensive experience helping people write resumes. They can also direct job seekers to online resources, workshops, and networking events that offer valuable resume-writing tips and best practices.
Crafting an impactful resume entails a combination of job market research, clean structure, relevant skills, action-oriented language, a compelling cover letter, and outside feedback. “It takes time, effort, and creativity to craft a resume that stands out from the pack,” Legaspi concludes, “but when you are equipped with the right strategies and know what employers want, you are ready to pursue the interesting and high-paying jobs you dream of.”
