About three years ago, the Parliament of Uganda sought to fill 27 vacancies in different departments. A process was initiated by placing adverts in the media- a standard practice for most public jobs.

To the shock of many people, over 3,000 candidates had applied to seek to fill up the open spots. And this is not a novel occurrence in an isolated place in the world.

Recently in the UK, a Manchester restaurant advertised a receptionist job opening. Surprisingly, a whopping 1,000 applications were received in a day.

What that trend means is that employment opportunities are in short supply compared to the job seekers.

Securing employment is now survival for the fittest. But are you among the fittest candidates likely to survive?

The way you present your resume or curriculum vitae (CV), determines whether you will be among the selected few who will be shortlisted for interview by potential employers or not.

On Tuesday 29th September, Human Capital International will host its maiden Careerfest 2020, an arena that seeks to equip job seekers with the tools to secure job interviews and to develop the relevant skills needed to sustain employment in these times of great uncertainty.

The Careerfest 2020 webinar is the place to plug in that day. Click here to register and secure your slot.

But before 29th September, we share with you in this article what makes the resume that entices employers to single you out from among the crowd. More detailed discussions on this subject and many other related areas will be dissected during the webinar. 

A brief pitch of yourself

Related article: Trendy and Marketable careers to pursue to avoid being unemployed.

Standing out of the crowd in today’s corporate world, which many people call elevator pitch, is becoming very important if one is to secure a credible job.

Your resume should, by all standards, make you stand out and give you an edge over the other applicants if you are to excite potential employers.

To pitch yourself to the employer, you must precisely answer these two critical questions: Who are you, and what do bring to the table?

That mean that you will need to summarise your educational background and work experiences, which are relevant and exciting to potential employers, particularly concerning the position applied for.

The employer is looking for a problem solver so your self-pitch must clearly show that too.

According to Bright Network, a personal profile is the best way of selling oneself in a job interview.

But employers do not have time to read ten pages of your profile. You, therefore, need to be precise, accurate, and make your resume clutter-free and organised.

Indicate the most valuable skills for the job applied.

Recommended article: Effective Techniques To Standout In A Job Interview.

Employers place adverts seeking employees because there are tasks that need to be performed in an organisation or company.

They are looking for individuals who will enhance their brand, productivity, and profitability. So, your skills, integrity, and work ethics are so essential to them.

In writing a resume, ensure you include your core skills, personal attributes, and relationships with others.

If you are digital savvy, a problem solver, or an excellent communicator, find creative ways to indicate these attributes in the resume but remember to be truthful and precise.

According to Harvard University (2020), your skills are essential aspects when making a job application. Your resume or CV, should highlight your most substantial assets and skills, and differentiate you from other candidates’ similar backgrounds seeking to fill the same position.

Past core achievements

Your resume is the biggest marketing tool that you have, and therefore you should pay a lot more attention to it in a job search.

Without a marketable CV, you will never land an interview. And it can never be marketable without listing exciting past accomplishments which may entice the potential employer to believe that you will replicate such successes if hired.

According to Yale University’s (2016) blog, a job applicant ought to know what the job requirements entail and code his or her outstanding accomplishments to suit the job being sought.

In crafting or updating your resume, follow these guidelines. They may help you stand out in an already competitive job market worsened by the COVID-19 outbreak, leading to the collapse of many businesses across the world.

You can also learn more about how to stand out in a job interview by reading Strategic Positioning, a book written by entrepreneur and trainer, Emmanuel Dei-Tumi.

It is a handbook for the exceptional Graduate in the Global Job Market.

To get yourself a copy click here.