A resume is a central part of the job application process. Even more so than an interview. So, an effective way to increase one’s earnings by landing a high-paying job is to perfect one’s resume. With these tips based on recruiter survey data and hiring managers’ recommendations, you’ll soon be much happier with your salary.
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Professional Help Is Always a Good Idea
First, think twice if you want to write a resume yourself. As tempting as saving on a professional resume and write paper reviews services is, hiring an expert is way more effective. Even if you’re fairly confident in your writing skills, you’ll hardly be able to prepare a job application as well as an expert can.
Resume Writing Services Do Work: A Success Story
Still in doubt? Check a story that the user Havajkamaxn has shared with fellow Redditors. They describe struggling to hear back from recruiters and confess that a professional resume writing company was the career saver that eventually made their job search successful. They got a great job in just two weeks after hiring an expert.
Mimic Functional Resumes
But if you’re adamant about writing your job application, good for you. The first rule is to make one’s resume more functional than chronological. It’ll likely have elements of both but try to lean toward functionality more.
You should focus on your skills and strengths rather than dates and places. Recruiters are more interested in skills than anything else. It’s the first section that most of them look at.
Don’t Forget About ATS Optimization
Also, put enough time and effort into writing an ATS-friendly resume—it’s critical even more so if you hope to maximize your earning potential. As many as 98% of Fortune 500 employers rely on ATS to manage their recruiters’ workload and leave unsuitable candidates out. Unless your job application has enough keywords, no one will even see it.
Use a Tag Cloud for Keyword Research
Selecting the right keywords may seem intimidating, but a helpful trick helps. Find at least 20 job descriptions similar to the one you’re applying for and copy and paste their content into a tag cloud. The keywords you should put in your job application are the most common words and phrases.
Make Your Resume Skimmable
Next, it’s essential to make one’s application skimmable. On average, recruiters spend no more than one minute reading a candidate’s resume. So unless it’s skimmable, they might miss the most crucial information, and you’ll never hear back from them.
Use headings, fonts, and spacing to make the text easy to read. Consider highlighting the essential things in bold.
Include Numerical Data
Experience might be the second most important section (after skills), but it only matters when the candidate lists it correctly. To impress recruiters, add specific numbers that prove your accomplishments.
For example, write “increased the team’s productivity by 23% over six months” instead of claiming that you “increased the team’s productivity.”
Remember That Even Tiny Details Matter
As Harvey S. Firestone (who definitely knew a thing or two about making money) famously said, “Success is the sum of details.” This applies perfectly to job applications.
Before you submit a resume, make sure that it’s flawless. Something as seemingly irrelevant as a typo can cost you a high-paying job.
Include Location Information
One such detail is the location information. Many job seekers mistakenly believe they expand their job opportunities by excluding their location from the application. In reality, recruiters often use the name of the city as one of the keywords when looking for relevant resumes and profiles. By adding it, job seeker increases their chances of getting noticed.
But Don’t Include a Photo
In contrast, a photo on a resume is a faux pas these days. According to recruiter surveys, a photo leads to rejection in 89% of cases. So it’s much safer to exclude it altogether. After all, except for a few industries, your appearance has nothing to do with your ability to do your job.
Consider Adding Your Expected Salary
If salary is one of your priorities in a job (which is perfectly fair), you’ll save your and recruiters’ time by stating your salary expectations in a job application. This way, the companies who can’t pay you as much as you’re hoping for won’t bother you with interview invites that are doomed in advance.
That being said, mention that the number is flexible. A company with exceptional development potential for you might make you change your mind. After all, salaries are reviewed every 6 to 12 months. Sometimes, a lower-than-desired salary at the beginning turns into a high one sooner than expected.
An Afterword
Overall, writing a winning resume capable of landing a high-paying job is all about putting oneself in the recruiter’s shoes and following the best resume-writing practices. Some key things are focusing on one’s skills, remembering about ATS optimization, prioritizing readability, and thinking through every tiny detail.
FAQ
When I put salary expectations on a job resume, how do I know if the number is fine?
Research the market first to ensure your salary expectations are realistic and won’t scare off 90% of potential employers. Putting a number at the higher end of the range is okay. But if it’s twice what other people in your role typically earn, recruiters will hardly take you seriously.
I keep applying for jobs, but nothing happens. What’s the problem?
There might be an issue (or ten) with your resume or cover letter, and professional writing help might be useful. But it’s also possible that you haven’t applied for enough positions. On average, only about 3% of applications succeed. You must apply up to 50 times to get what you want.
Can I apply for jobs without a cover letter?
You can, but it’s not a good idea. A cover letter is a candidate’s chance to tell more about their skills and experience. It also helps establish a human connection with the recruiter before meeting them. So unless the job description explicitly requires applicants to apply without a cover letter, it’s better to include it.
Works Cited
- Hankel, Isaiah. “9 Resume Strategies to Increase Your Starting Salary.” LinkedIn, 16 July 2019
- “When it’s tough to write a resume: My story.” Reddit, 29 Jun. 2022
- Indeed Editorial Team. “Tips for How to Write Your Expected Salary in Your Resume.” Indeed, 24 Feb. 2023
- Parker, Alvin. “89 Resume Statistics for 2024 (Data, Facts & Trends).” Prosperity For All, 18 Jan. 2023
- Pohle, Allison. “18 Résumé Writing Tips to Help You Stand Out.” The Wall Street Journal, 11 May 2021