Online Job Applications: Tips to Optimise Your Resume and Stand Out - MyCareersFuture (2023)

FAQs

How do you stand out in online job applications? ›

Use simple formatting. Avoid headers, footers, tables, templates, borders, lines, symbols (bullet points are fine), shading, fancy fonts, font colors other than black, tables, columns and boxes. Write out months and years so it's readable by ATS systems.

These can be professional skills, areas of expertise, personal qualities, or any relevant experience. Also, consider any impressive accomplishments from your past or career goals that speak to your commitment to the field. Think of ways to out-do the other candidates.

The chronological resume (also known as the reverse-chronological format) is the most popular format and the best resume format for experienced candidates. The chronological resume emphasizes your work history section, where you list information about current and past jobs with the most recent job first.

How to get your resume noticed and stand out from the competition? ›

Be clean and concise

Schweikert suggests sticking to clean and simple resumes, since they are legible across all platforms. Hyperlinking to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile instead of including that information elsewhere on your resume is also an easy way to preserve space, she says.

What are ATS keywords? ATS keywords are specific words or phrases employers identify as requirements for a specific position, and therefore you should use them on your resume to help you get noticed by employers.

So above 80% ATS score is always good to get a dream job.

ATS's accept PDF formats all the time without any loading issues. A PDF (the printable format) holds together much better than the Word (the editable format) does. Only unless it specifically states it will only accept Word, then you must.

What is the golden rule of netiquette? "Do not do or say online what you would not do or say offline."7 Before posting a comment or publishing a status update, ask yourself if you would feel comfortable saying the same thing face-to-face to everyone who will see it. If not, don't post it.

Use the right keywords. One of the best ways you can make your application stand out is to make it more findable. This involves using specific keywords for skills that recruiters or hiring managers might be looking for in your resume and cover letter.

Commonly suggested parts are your contact information, resume profile or summary, experience, education and skills.

What makes a strong resume? ›

Include up-to-date, relevant information, experience, skills, and examples in all of your resume sections. Attach a meaningful cover letter that will sweep the recruiter off their feet. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Stick to the truth.

There's no need to include personal information on a resume such as your social security number, marital status, nationality, sexual orientation, or spiritual beliefs. In fact, it is illegal for employers to ask for these personal details.

Black and white create the highest contrast possible, so it is considered one of the best color schemes to use on a resume. You can choose a pale background and intensive dark lettering. Just keep in mind that your resume may be printed in black and white, so don't use pale on pale.

In most cases, the reverse-chronological resume is the best choice. It is the format that is most widely used, therefore it is the most familiar to recruiters and Human Resources representatives, and it fares well with those pesky applicant tracking systems.

What are the 3 keywords in job specification? ›

What Is A Keyword In A Job Description? Keywords might sound like a technical term, but it's really just a way to describe the words that are most important within a job description. Keywords usually take the form of skills, qualities, credentials, or job titles.

Remove images, columns, tables, fields, text boxes and graphics so the ATS can quickly scan your text for keywords and phrases. The ATS may not be able to read data placed in images, tables, and text boxes, so it's best to avoid them altogether.

Word documents are the preferred resume file type for applicant tracking systems (ATSs) because they are easier to parse than a PDF, so if you are applying for a job through an ATS, make your resume a . docx (or . doc).

Keywords are words or short phrases that relate to requirements for a specific job. Hiring managers use keywords to sort through resumes so they can focus on applicants with the skills and experience they're looking for. Many companies also use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to find the most relevant applicants.

The best format for your resume at the moment is a PDF. A PDF resume is readable by ATS and also keeps your formatting and illustrations in place. You can use an online resume builder like Enhancv which downloads your resume as a PDF.

Are these resume templates ATS-friendly? Google Docs resume templates are ATS-compliant, so the formatting, fonts, and margins are easy for the systems to view.

If you say you love their brand, say why. If you say you are highly motivated, talk about why this is and what got you to where you are today. What is valuable to you – It's important to highlight skills that you think are valuable to the employer but talk about skills that you value in yourself as well.

How do I submit a strong job application? ›

Standing by your word shows honesty, integrity, and dependability, all of which are intangible skills that can set you apart from other candidates.

Your skills and qualifications. If you can prove that you've got all the skills that the company is looking for in a candidate, you'll have effectively answered the question. Your passion and motivation. You can highlight how good of a company fit you'd be and how much you love working in your field or industry.