Add value to your résumé

Job market has never been so intensely competitive, and as a fresh graduate you should do everything in your capacity to stand out amongst the crowd and eventually sell yourself. The first step to it is to analyze what would add value to your profile and make you different from the pool of other job seekers.


Ask any Human Resource Manager, for every job vacancy, there are at least 60 applications. And out of the 60 applicants, 40% of them will be rejected right away because their résumé and application letters don't fit the purpose of the job description. Various surveys show that an employer or a Human Resource Manager only spends about 10 seconds in the first sift and rejects most of the résumés at first go for the simple reason that they were not well presented.

Résumé is a picture of how you are and what can be expected out of you. It's your first interaction with the prospective employer—it speaks volumes about you and your profile. So it must be precise, well presented, and neatly printed.

An impressive résumé gives you're the first break in the screening process and increases the probability of you getting chosen for the second phase of the hiring process. Here are a few tips to ensure that you compose an impressive résumé.

Have a clear 'Career Objective' statement

On the top of your résumé, write a brief but impactful statement describing your career objective. Since the prospective employer forms his/her opinion about you based on this statement, it should be well thought out, and should speak of authentic goals you wish to achieve in your career.

Make it simple and comprehensive

Your résumé must look professional. Do not use fancy fonts and unnecessary colors. In the content, avoid using difficult words and complex structures. It should be simple to understand, and precise but comprehensive. Employers don't have the time to read lengthy descriptions about you.

Highlight key points on your résumé

It is important that you highlight the key points on your résumé in order for them to be easily noticed by your prospective employers. Underline or write with bold letters your achievements, qualifications or trainings that fit the job descriptions. They can impress the prospective employer.

Customize your résumé

The most common mistake job seekers make is posting a generalized résumé to every job application. It can be tedious, but it's extremely important to customize your résumé as per the specific job you're applying for. Highlight your qualifications, experience, and skills based on the job description.

Additional trainings and certificates

Especially while hiring fresh graduates, employers want to hire those who have positive attitude and willingness to learn. If you have not taken additional training or certifications, then first get value added trainings and add them to your CV, it not only enhances your capacity or skills but it also gives employer an opinion that you are someone who is keen to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills.

The author is the Chief Operating Officer at LCCI Nepal, an International Training and Certification Company. He can be reached at roshan@lccinepal.com.

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