When you’re preparing your resume, it sometimes feels like you’re juggling a lot of moving parts. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, which can make small things get lost. That’s why this list of 5 things to check before you send your resume will help you keep track of those last minute resume details!
Let’s dive into the 5 things you should always check before you send your resume!
1. Proofread
This one is sort of obvious, but it’s so important I had to put it on here anyway. You always, always, always need to proofread your resume.
Like I said before, your resume has a lot of pieces to it. You never know where a stray letter or small typo could’ve snuck in.
So, before you send your resume, sit at your computer and read it top to bottom. I know, it feels like you’ve read it a million times already, but I’m asking you to do it just one more time.
You spent all that time making it, so you don’t want a small error to ruin your hard work! Proofreading not your thing? Check out a service like Grammarly to help!
Alright, even though you’ve read it enough, you’re going to read it one more time- deal? Deal.
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2. Check the length
Resumes have strict length requirements, so before you send your resume double check how long it is.
The standard is one full page, but if you have a ton of related experiences, then two full pages is acceptable.
The most important part, really, is full pages. If your resume is less than one or two full pages, work on making it longer. If your resume hangs over on the next page by a little bit, then figure out how to make it shorter.
Here are a few things you can change to get your resume to the right length:
- Font size
- Margin size
- Bullet point length
- Name size
- Header format
Once your length is correct, you’re ready to move on to the next step!
Confused by all these resume rules? Check out the 8 Must Follow Resume Rules!
3. Look for consistency
This is HUGE in the world of resumes. I say it all the time: consistency is key. From your headings to your dates to your formatting, everything in your resume has to be consistent.
A few common inconsistencies to watch out for are unaligned dates, inconsistent headings (if you bold one, bold all of them, etc), and uneven spacing between lines.
A good trick to check for consistency is to zoom out and look at it from a distance. This gives you an overall picture of your resume, which can help you spot those small consistency mistakes.
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4. Remove pronouns
When you’re writing bullet points for your resume, there are a few rules you should follow.
One of the most important is to begin your bullet points with an action verb. So, instead of having full sentences for your bullets like “I led a team of 12 people,” you want to start the bullet with the verb “Led a team of 12 people.”
Before you send your resume, look through your bullet points and remove any stray pronouns. This will instantly make your resume more professional and modern.
Confused by writing bullet points on your resume? Check out How to Write Powerful, Professional Resume Bullet Points
5. Change your voicemail message
I know what you’re probably thinking, “What does my phone have to do with my resume?!” but hear me out!
Your phone number is at the top of your resume, the end of your cover letter, and maybe even in their online form so, chances are, you’re going to get a phone call from an employer. Especially if you’ve been applying for a lot of jobs.
Before you send your resume, not only do you want your voicemail message to be appropriate, you also want it to be personalized.
Instead of using the default, robotic voicemail message, try out using a shorter version of your elevator pitch and showing your personality, like:
“Hi you’ve reached Olivia Sod. I’m sorry I can’t come to the phone, I could be busy creating new career content for my clients or playing with my adorable pitbull! Leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!”
And, since we live in the age of robo-calls, you might never answer calls from a number you don’t know (I’ve stopped). So, it’s not a bad idea to throw in a quick message at the end like,
“…Also, because of spam calls, I don’t usually answer calls from numbers I don’t have saved. If you leave me a message, I may be able to return your call right away! Thank you and have a great day!”
Using your elevator pitch in your voicemail message will definitely make you stand out and impress any employers who hear it! And, let’s be real, how many other people are actually going to hear your voicemail message? Your friends are texting you and your grandparents are sending you messages on Facebook!
There are a few key things you should do before you send your resume. Always proofread, check for consistency and length, remove pronouns, and clean up your voicemail message. Once you’ve done these, you’re ready to send your resume!
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