A cover letter is a one-page document paired with a resume, carrying a basic introduction and additional information to complete the resume. It is directly addressed to the recruiter. It is written in paragraphs of four to five lines which show why the person is fit for the selected job. Here are the following guidelines How to Create a Standout Resume and Cover Letter.
A resume is a formal document which highlights the qualifications, achievements, and skills of an individual. It is important for an individual to create a standout resume because it increases the chances of getting selected as compared to a normal resume for a particular job role. The employers see the relevant skills, experiences, abilities to perform the job role etc in an effective and efficient way.
Guidelines for creating Standout Resume
It should be short and clear –
An individual should make sure that the resume should not be lengthy, which means fresher candidates should make their resume on only one page, whereas highly experienced candidates can include two pages, but both should make sure that their resume is clear and concise by including relevant skills and recent experiences and should not include too many unrelated work experiences. It is the first thing which a person should keep in mind while creating the standout resume in 2023.
The original template for the resume should be created –
There are three best types of format to create a standout resume which an individual can consider and they are explained in detail under which conditions those three resumes can be created –
Format 1
Reverse-chronological resume format.
An individual should create a genuine resume in a reverse chronological format (starting from the recent job positions/degrees to the previous) so that the qualifications and relevant information can be clearly identified. It is a good option for those candidates whose employment history shows a compatible, ongoing career path. This is the best format for creating the standout resume in 2023.
Format 2
Functional resume format.
A functional format of resume highlights skills rather than career progression, employment history or work experience, so it should be used by those candidates who have completed their graduation recently with less experience. An individual who is using a functional resume should make sure that it may not be ATS (applicant tracking system) friendly. It provides the best
chance to impress the recruiters for those who are highly skilled , switching careers or job seekers with gaps. These guidelines should be followed strictly for creating the standout resume in 2023.
Format 3 Combination resume
It is called a combination resume because it mixes two resumes, i.e, reverse chronological format and functional format, so it highlights both skills and work experience at the top of the resume. Candidates who are applying for a job can highlight the skills that are relevant. After this, it has a chronological employment history. It is used by an entry-level job seeker, recent graduate, or a student. Combination resume is used to highlight why a candidate is suitable/right for the job role.
All the above-mentioned tips and information are important guidelines for creating a standout resume so that your resume can get easily selected by recruiters for a particular job.
Denote results with numbers and metrics –
Using numbers and metrics is a great idea to demonstrate accomplishments with numbers because it gives the recruiter a clear sense of how an individual impacted his previous employment history. This is an effective point to remember while creating a standout resume in 2023.
Draft a summary of a professional background
It highlights the skills, accomplishments, qualifications and provides value for getting hired in an organization. It is a summary including the most relevant skills and experience to impress the recruiter. Therefore, it is necessary to follow these guidelines to create a standout resume.
Advance the keywords –
It is necessary that the resume should be an ATS optimized because it helps in getting quickly noticed in the recruiters’ eye. Keyword optimization is important in a resume because it provides impactful power to words for getting attention. It will help an individual to create the standout resume in 2023.
Conclude above the job work –
An individual can showcase his/her knowledge, skills and abilities in areas that the current job may not be allowed to display. Highlight on noticeable theoretical qualities and capabilities for quantifiable outcomes. One should follow these guidelines seriously to create a standout resume.
Point the suitable style to stand out –
An individual should use keywords like established, improved, achieved, designed for explaining the roles of job and projects because it will create confidence when denoting the important details. By following these guidelines, a person can easily learn about creating the standout resume in 2023.
Link the profile to resume –
Nowadays, recruiters are using social media for the hiring process. An individual should link their profile URLs like LinkedIn account, blog channels etc to their resume. It is important to do this because the recruiters will be able to identify the
individual’s strong network connection and also see them going with the flow of modern techniques by keeping an update of daily posts. An individual must consider these guidelines significantly to create a standout resume.
Analyze the faults –
An individual should recheck their resume in the following terms like headings, formats, grammatical errors, punctuation etc. The candidates must make sure that their resume is concise and clear. These are the important guidelines which one must follow for creating the standout resume in 2023.
Guidelines for creating a standout cover letter –
- A cover letter should be short and direct –
An individual should keep their cover letter simple, short and direct so that the hiring manager can easily understand, because it is an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and get selected. Keeping it short and direct will be effective for creating a standout cover letter in 2023.
- Don’t mention salary expectations –
It is important to note that an individual should not talk about salary; it might limit the opportunity for negotiating and one should avoid including salary expectations in the cover letter because it is not the right place and one can talk about salary expectations in their interviews. It is very important to follow these guidelines for creating a standout cover letter.
- Avoid the use of buzzwords – An individual should not use words like dynamic , professional words because it will not create a noticeable impact as compared to other resumes and an individual should not make their cover letter busy by including too much employment history. So, it has been suggested avoiding using these things so that a person can get a clear idea for creating a standout cover letter in 2023.
- Be clear about the outcomes – An individual should use proper grammar, punctuation and correct spelling because a cover letter is an opportunity which describes why the person is suitable for performing the job role and responsibilities. All these should be considered seriously as the guidelines for creating a standout cover letter.
- Avoid addressing ” To whom it may concern” in the cover letter – An individual should avoid addressing in such a way and should use words like ‘Dear’ or ‘Dear hiring manager’ because it sounds formal and professional, but should also note that they should avoid using ‘Dear sir and Dear ma’am’ because it has been outdated. One should not ignore these points because it is important for creating a standout cover letter in 2023.
- Double check the version –
If an individual does not check their control version, then it will not have a good impact on the eyes of recruiters because it shows the candidates are not attentive.
All the above are the guidelines for creating a standout cover letter which plays a significant role because it helps an individual to get out of the crowd and helps them to receive a positive response. Therefore, this process is mandatory for creating a standout cover letter in 2023.
Conclusion
It is important for an individual to create a standout resume because it increases the chances of getting selected quickly as compared to other candidates based on their skills, qualifications, employment history etc. An individual should be rational while selecting the format when they are making their resume. The candidates should prefer the format of resume accordingly which suits their situations.
A standout resume has a great impact on the hiring managers because it helps them to find what exactly they are searching for the particular job role so that a candidate can perform in an effective and efficient way in the workplace.
Nowadays, it is important to learn about making a standout resume and cover letter because it is beneficial for an individual during the hiring process as it increases the chance of getting hired quickly. So, a candidate can follow the above-mentioned guidelines for creating a standout resume and cover letter in 2023 effectively.
F.A.Qs
How long should the freshers resume?
Not more than one page.
Why is more than 2 pages of a resume not okay ?
Because it will not look standard and gets too lengthy and detailed.
Who can choose the reverse chronological format of a resume ?
Job seekers who are highly experienced and people who have a strong employment history.
Who cannot choose a reverse chronological format?
People who have large gaps in employment history keep changing their career paths and also include job switchers.
How to create a standout cover letter?
One can make a standout cover letter by using confident language and using proper grammar for highlighting relevant skills and experience.
How long should there be a standout cover letter?
It must be between half a page or not longer than the full page.
Format of standout resume and cover letter
| S. No. | formats of standout resume | Website |
| 1. | Reverse chronological format | https://enhancv.com/resume-templates/ chronological/ |
| 2. | Functional format | https://enhancv.com/resume-templates/ functional/ |
| 3. | Combination format | https://enhancv.com/resume-templates/ combination/ |
Format of standout cover letter | ||
| 1. | Website | https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/r esumes-cover-letters/cover-letters-that- stand-out |
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