Rewritten:
In the competitive job market, standing out from the crowd is crucial. Sam Struan, a 36-year-old recruitment consultant and resume writer from Scotland, shares his expert advice on crafting a compelling resume that catches the recruiter's eye while avoiding common pitfalls.
Struan, who has been active in recruitment for over a decade and has written resumes for over 700 clients, emphasises the importance of staying away from vague, generic descriptions of achievements or qualities. Overused buzzwords or subjective claims that don’t provide measurable proof should be avoided, he advises.
Instead, Struan encourages focusing on straightforward facts, quantifiable results, and clear value statements. "Recruiters are busy people," he explains, "so it's essential to make their job easier by providing them with the information they need directly."
Struan most often advises including a company summary for each previous employer. This section should include information about the product, service, markets, employee count, and revenue. For example, if you worked for a tech startup that developed a popular app, mentioning the number of downloads or the revenue generated can make your resume stand out.
Struan also recommends including one to two sentences at the beginning of a resume about one's value, experience, and type of companies worked for. This gives the hiring manager more context and allows one to show their specific experience.
Applicants should list their work experience on the first page of the resume. A hiring manager should not be deterred by a longer resume, especially for roles in government, medical, or scientific fields that require certifications, publications, or other important credentials.
Struan advises adding a statement about one's value to each job listed in a resume. For example, instead of saying "I was responsible for sales," you could say "Increased sales by 20% by implementing a new marketing strategy."
Soft skills like "good communication" or "results-driven" without context or evidence can be meaningless. Struan advises against including vague and cliché statements in a resume. Instead, he recommends presenting clear, factual information with no room for interpretation.
The resume should be written in clear font, black ink, and kept simple and easy to read. The resume should be simple, with no excessive design elements like pictures or logos that can potentially interfere with applicant tracking systems.
Finally, Struan recommends including contact information such as email address and phone number. A one-page resume is typically appropriate for recent graduates or those with a few years of experience, while more experienced individuals may need a longer resume.
By following these tips, job seekers can create a resume that showcases their unique skills and experiences in a clear and concise manner, increasing their chances of landing the job they want.
[1] Struan, S. (2021). The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Winning Resume. [Online]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ultimate-guide-writing-winning-resume-sam-struan/
[2] Struan, S. (2020). 10 Common Resume Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. [Online]. Available: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/10-common-resume-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them-2061034
- What is crucial in the competitive job market, as advised by Sam Struan, a recruitment consultant and resume writer, is to avoid vagueness and generic descriptions in resumes, focusing instead on straightforward facts, quantifiable results, and clear value statements.
- To make a resume stand out, Struan suggests including a company summary for each previous employer, detailing the product, service, markets, employee count, and revenue, as well as a statement about one's value for each job listed, such as specific achievements or improvements made.
- Online education platforms, career development, and self-development can enhance one's qualifications and increase their chances in job-search by offering certifications, skills training, and professional development courses.
