Winning Resume Format. How to get that Interview – Secrets Revealed

Choosing a favourite resume format can be confusing. There are hundreds of websites offering thousands of resume templates and examples. Each one of them will try to be picked up by you to become your favourite. A fancy font may catch your eyes or you may get attracted to a funny image at the top. You may just like a resume template because it looks official and makes a good impression.

You must read this article from top to bottom very carefully; ideally twice. Only then, you will be able to absorb the knowledge and forge a Resume Format that will almost guarantee you the interview and the job.

So, what is the best Resume Format for you? It’s quite simple really; the one that gets you an interview and then a job. I am not trying to be clever or vague with this answer. It’s quite accurate and focussed. Let me explain. It simply means to FOCUS on the GOAL rather than the TOOL. By focussing on the JOB i.e. the goal, you will be able to find the right TOOL i.e. the best resume format.

This is the tough part - There is no single generic best resume format that you can just email to all the vacancy advertisements and get interviews. Sure, you can get lucky; but we are discussing the things you can manage and refine. As you read through this article, the meaning and solutions will get clearer.

Each job, candidate, country, company and situation is different. There are just too many variables to have one generic “Best Resume Format”. In short – there is no “Magic Bullet” version of the Best Resume Format. Each job application will require its own targeted and customised Resume Format.

Resume is your advertising material to get a personal interview to close the deal (get a job). Just like a piece of advertising; the Quality, Placement, Timing and Presentation of your resume format will have direct impact on your job application outcome. It will also affect your first impression, career entry level and the salary you are offered. It is critical that you get your resume format right.

Just like an advertisement; you need to research and target your audience (prospective employers). You also need to “Pitch” at the appropriate level – not “Too High” to look boastful, pretentious and exaggerated or “Too Low” to look incompetent, sub-standard and unworthy.

There is a commonly known sales technique of “Mirroring” your target customer. That implies behaving, posing, moving and even thinking like your target customer. It has proven to be extremely successful in forming instant rapport and closing the deal, in sales terms. Your RESUME FORMAT needs to “Mirror” the Target JOB.

How do you do that? Read the Job Description or the Job Advertisement at least 3 times. I assure you that you will find new pieces of information every time you read it. It is not just what’s written but how it’s written. Just “Mirror” that and you are almost guaranteed an interview.

You still need to do all the other things right and mind the Do’s & the Don’ts. Refer to this useful article on this topic - Resume Tips for success in your Job Search. There is no point creating such a powerful tool if it is not delivered properly or if it gets lost. Please read the link above to ensure your resume gets to the right person, on time, in proper format and gets read.

I am going to give 2 examples now to elaborate.

Example 1 – Skills: Look at the following job advertisement tasks description and an example resume for an accounting position.

Job Advertisement:

An experienced accountant is required for our national head office to perform following tasks:

• Enter accounting data into the accounting program
• Generate monthly accounting reports and analysis
• Process Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables
• Manage accounting information to Trial Balance stage
• Help with generating PNL statements
• Process time sheets and payroll

Suppose you are an accountant with 2 year’s experience. Make your resume format “Mirror the job tasks in the skills section.

Key Skills:

• Accurate Data entry into the accounting program
• EOM (End of month) Reports and Analysis of company accounts
• Complete Accounts Receivables and Accounts Payables (AR/AP) processing
• Independently process accounts to Trial Balance stage on timely basis
• Reporting and Analysis of Profit and Loss (PNL) statements
• Extensive experience in coordinating time sheets and processing payroll

Remember, the sequence in important as well. Just follow the sequence in the job description. Observe the positive adjectives like “Accurate, Timely, Complete, Extensive Experience, etc.). Create such a resume format that the reader HAS TO short-list you. This is not a license to cheat. Cheating and exaggeration won’t work. Be honest and only list truthfully. On the other hand, don’t be too modest and use positive adjectives with actions and tasks, as explained earlier.

Example 2 – Knowledge: Look at the specific knowledge required and highlight it (not going overboard though).

Job Advertisement:

The candidates must have at least 1 year’s experience with SAP accounting program. Some knowledge of ABC CRM and MS Excel will be ideal; but not necessary.

You can incorporate this information in your resume format in the “Computer Skills” or “Education and Training” section.

Computer Skills:

SAP – over 2 year’s hands-on experience including initial program installation and trouble-shooting

Great experience with ABC CRM including reports and scenarios

Extensive experience with MS OFFICE including EXCEL, WORD, OUTLOOK, PUBLISHER, etc.

Other programs: Sage Accounting, QuickBooks, Photoshop, etc.

Observe how the items described in the Job Description are listed in “Bold” font in the resume. Increasing their font to double the size or highlighting with a bright colour won’t be necessary. The bold text will stand out if you keep the others in regular font. The employer will have no choice but to invite you to the interview.

Follow this mirroring technique all through your resume format for a particular job. Read the job description multiple times, if required. Again, don’t go overboard with highlighting or positive adjectives.

Before you create a great resume format and apply for a job, make sure you have the required competencies. You may be desperate for a job. However for example, if the job description states that you must have 10 years of experience and you have only 2 years of experience – then I would suggest you invest your energies and time on another more relevant job. There are some industries with extreme skills shortages and others with fierce competition. These strategies and techniques will work in all situations. You just have to make sure you pick a job you are suitable for (or nearly suitable – nothing wrong with being ambitious) and invest some time to create a customised winning resume format.

Many job seekers have successfully secured interviews using these resume format techniques and strategies. Let me know if you got one too. Good luck!

By

Olivia Jana

About the author: Olivia has been a Recruiter and HR Consultant for over a decade - in USA, Europe and now in Australia. She has received, read & processed thousands of job applications during this time and continue to do so. Over the years, she has successfully helped, coached and guided hundreds of jobseekers from all over the world. She has also tried, tested and perfected many variations of Job Search tools and documents over the years. We, at Austin Recruitment, treat each single application with respect and care. Each Job Application email is carefully processed by a qualified staff. We have strict anti-discrimination and privacy policies.

You can download FREE Resume Guides from our Job Search Resources Page.