Your resume is an important part of you securing your next job obviously.

The more it catches the eye of the reader and makes them want to read more, the better.

As I’ve mentioned before, recruiters and hiring managers will initially only skim your resume looking for words that stand out, that tell them to read your resume more thoroughly.

So the more your resume can motivate the reader to read it right through, the more chance you’ve got of being asked in for an interview.

So here are the ‘must haves’ for your resume so it gets the interest of anyone who skim reads it and it gets read fully by a recruiter or hiring manager.

Yes, you need your name and contact details at the top, but you also need a heading that sums you up in only a few words.

For example, if you’re applying for a marketing role, your heading could be Marketing Specialist.

That heading will catch the eye of the reader and motivate them to read your resume in more detail.

So add a short heading to the top of your resume that tells the reader what you’re a specialist at.

There are arguments for and against having a summary paragraph.

This sits under your name, contact details and heading, but above where you list your current and previous roles on your resume.

If you have a summary paragraph, keep in mind that recruiters and hiring managers don’t usually read it unless you’ve got their attention, which is exactly what your heading should do.

Your summary paragraph should list your top 8–10 key skill sets.

You can either list them or weave them into a paragraph. It’s your choice. Do what’s appropriate for the role you’re applying for.

Your resume should be uncluttered with plenty of white space.

A busy and cluttered resume is off putting for the reader and will demotivate recruiters and hiring managers to read it, so create lots of white space around your text.

If this means you need to stretch your resume to 2 or 3 pages long, then do it.

Surveys have shown that resumes that are 2–3 pages long can actually have a positive effect on whether it gets read, so if you need the extra space, then use it.

Don’t pad out your resume with waffle or useless information to stretch it to 2–3 pages long. Keep the info in it brief and to the point.

But, if you need the space, don’t be afraid to use it.

List each job under all this with your most recent position appearing first.

When you list each job, it should show-

• Job title first… in BOLD
• Then the company name
• Then in bullet points under that, your duties in that role

Then under all this put a minor heading called achievements, and under that you should list 2 or 3 bullet points that show your achievements in that role.

What you’re showing the recruiter or hiring manager with your previous jobs listed in this way is that you’ve improved with each job you’ve had.

This shows career progression.

That’s what recruiters and hiring managers want to see.

Make sure the font you choose for your resume is easy to read and the size is 11 or 12.

You want to make sure your resume is easy for a recruiter or hiring manger to read on their computer screen.

Let me know in the comments section below how you’re going with your job hunting and what help you need.

This helps me know what videos to produce for you, to help you with your job hunting.

And remember, when an employer already knows you’re a great candidate for a job, you’re 90% of the way to be offered the job.

The way to do that is to use Connectzapp to find your next job.

When you enter the details of the job you’d like into the app or website, you’re given a list of jobs that suit you, ranked in order with the best match at the top. You then swipe through each job, choose the ones that appeal to you most, then contact those employers direct.

It’s easy and quick.

So make your job hunting easy, and have employers come to you.

Get Connectzapp from the App Store or Google Play or go to Connectzapp.com.

If you’ve found this helpful, please give it a clap.

Good luck with your job hunting!