A resume serves as a window into your professional career, giving a search committee a glimpse into your qualifications and suitability for a leadership role. It should convey that you are a serious candidate without detailing everything. Here are ten key tips to write a job winning resume and increase your chances of landing an interview.
1. Market Your Experience
- Think of your resume as a marketing tool, not an autobiography.
- Show that you’ve thoroughly read the job description and tailor your resume to match the job opening.
- Avoid sending out the same generic resume for multiple positions.
- Beware of ATS. Its safe to assume that your resume will pass through ATS at some point during job search. So understanding how it works will make your job hunt more efficient.
2. Differentiate Your Resume
- If transitioning from academic to a leadership role, reframe your professional background.
- Streamline your experience and present your publications, grants, and teaching and research as accomplishments.
- Highlight what you can offer the institution. Aim for a concise resume, preferably one page, but no more than two.
3. Presentation Over Format
- Whether you choose a chronological or functional format, prioritize presentation.
- Ensure your resume is visually appealing, easy to read, and free from errors.
- Always send your resume as a PDF to avoid formatting issues.
4. Emphasize Relevant Skills
- List skills in a dedicated section.
- Prioritize skills relevant to the job.
- Include both hard skills (technical) and soft skills (interpersonal).
5. Be Accurate and Use Action Verbs
- Be truthful when writing a resume, don’t add something you haven’t done.
- Start bullet points with strong action verbs (e.g., “led,” “developed”).
- Create a dynamic narrative of your work history.
6. Avoid Exaggeration
- Phantom experience and exaggerations are easily detected.
- Ditch the objective statement.
- Provide precise employment dates, acknowledge team contributions, and avoid overusing superlatives.
7. Match Your Skills with the Job Description
- Highlight skills that are directly relevant to the position.
- Use keywords and phrases from the job description and quantify your key accomplishments.
- Consider having a colleague review your resume for objectivity.
8. Tailor Your Resume for Specific Jobs
- Keep several versions of your resume, each highlighting different skill sets.
- Some positions require a broad range of leadership skills, while others may focus on operational abilities.
- Adapt your resume accordingly.
9. Keep Your Resume Updated
- View your resume as a dynamic document that needs regular updates.
- Continuously seek new skills, credentials, and certifications to enhance your resume.
- Reflect these changes and ambitions, promoting yourself as a candidate worth meeting.
10. Promote Continuous Improvement
- Ensure your resume reflects your professional growth and ambitions.
- Display new skills and credentials as you acquire them, and continuously refine your resume to position yourself as an attractive candidate for search committees.
By following these tips, you can create a compelling resume that effectively markets your experience and qualifications, increasing your chances of securing an interview and advancing your career.
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