Takeaways
- A Resume is a formal document that applicants submit to new job opportunities.
- Resumes are usually sent via email or through online job application portals.
- Resumes tailored to specific job descriptions have a high probability of success.
- Hiring experts recommend writing a resume one or two pages long.
- Resumes should highlight your relevant experience, certifications, education, and contact information.
If you are applying for a new job, you are probably gearing up for how to write a resume that packs a punch. You need to stand out from the crowd of applicants and make sure it catches the recruiters' attention.
What Is a Resume?
A resume is a formal document that job applicants write that itemizes their experience and qualifications for a new position. If you are applying for highly compensated positions, you must write a concise resume that grabs the hiring manager's attention. You should submit your resume with a cover letter, outlining your interest in the position and the company.
Job placement experts recommend having a one- to two-page resume. Your resume should be highly tailored to the job you are applying for and can incorporate similar language to the job description.
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7 Steps to Write the Perfect Resume
Writing the best resume for a job can help you prepare for the job interview and elevate you in highly competitive positions, especially ones paying $100,000 or more. Here’s how to write a resume for high-paying jobs:
1. Start From the Beginning
Your resume should list all of your relevant experience from previous positions. To do this, you need to consider how your prior positions relate to the job you are applying for. Once you create an inventory of positions, you must list them in reverse chronological order, with your most recent experience at the top of your resume.
List the company's name, your position, and the dates you were employed. From there, you can begin listing your accomplishments at each position. You can boost your resume's performance by matching keywords in the job description to your position descriptions. For example, if the company is looking for someone who has managed a small team, include any management experience you have.
Read More: How to Advance Your Career in 9 Steps
2. Include Contact Information
Regardless of your resume style, your contact information should be clearly displayed. This includes your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. You can also include your LinkedIn profile link or professional certification numbers.
Depending on the type of resume you use, your contact information might be prominently displayed in different areas, but the most common is at the heading of your resume.
Smart Tip:
Your name and contact information will be the first data the recruiter will use to search your professional history. These searches could include a Google deep dive or other search engines, so make sure you optimize your search results ahead of time.
3. Highlight Your Achievements
Don't shy away from highlighting your significant accomplishments. Some applicants feel uncomfortable talking about themselves, but your resume is the first official document recruiters use to get a sense of who you are and what you are capable of.
When applying for positions earning over $100K, you must find a way to stand out. You need to find a way to make your experiences shine. As a result, don't be bashful about highlighting promotions, career achievements, awards, certifications, and unique skillsets.
Read Also: How to Finally Start Making More than $100K
4. Make it Personal
Your resume should be unique. It houses your career journey in one or two pages, and while there might be hundreds of other applicants, you can differentiate yourself by being authentic.
Make your resume personal and tailor it to the specific position you are applying for. Customizing your resume might mean that you need to create numerous resumes for multiple positions. Recruiters and hiring managers can tell the difference between generic and position-specific resumes. You want to be in the latter group.
5. Optimize for Recruiters
Your resume should be unique. It houses your career journey in one or two pages, and while there might be hundreds of other applicants, you can differentiate yourself by being authentic.
Make your resume personal and tailor it to the specific position you are applying for. Customizing your resume might mean that you need to create numerous resumes for multiple positions. Recruiters and hiring managers can tell the difference between generic and position-specific resumes. You want to be in the latter group.
5. Optimize for Recruiters
One of the best ways to get through the initial selection process is to optimize your resume for ATS screening. ATS, or automated screening for resumes, is software used by recruiters and hiring managers to sort through high-impact resumes. They sift through your resume to identify key phrases and words related to the job description.
When recruiters are sorting through hundreds or thousands of resumes, they lean on this type of software as a sort of sieve, leaving only top applicants. You want to land in this cohort, so you must tailor your resume to the job description.
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6. Tailor for the Job
Recruiters see thousands of resumes a day for competitive positions. The worst thing you can do is seem generic.
You need to tailor your resume specifically to the position and company you are applying to. To accomplish this effectively, you should research the company, which you can do by visiting their website, reading their latest press releases, and reviewing public presentations. You should also study their current employees' public resumes, like on LinkedIn, to understand their experience.
With this information in hand, you can start using company buzzwords, industry-specific language, and other keywords on your resume. Aligning your resume with the company, position, and industry will make it stand out.
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7. Incorporate Feedback
Feedback on your resume from recruiters is a gift. You might learn that you are perceived as under- or overqualified for a position. Take that information and use it to your advantage.
If you are underqualified, determine precisely what would fill the gap between your current resume and what they are looking for in this position. If you are overqualified, learn what jobs would fit your resume in the future.
Gather feedback and use it to improve your next job application. It might take multiple rounds of applying for new high-paying positions to land your dream job.
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Are Resumes Required for $100K+ Jobs?
Almost all job positions require resumes. Most resumes are delivered via email or in job application portals. Consider how you name and save these files because they will be sent to recruiters or uploaded on job portals as attachments. Your resume file name should include your full name and the position you are applying for.
If you make it to the interview phase, you should also bring several printed-out copies of your resume to hand to prospective interviewers. You can use resume writing and review services with companies like Ladders to write the perfect resume.
Read Also: Employee Compensation: 7 Non-Cash Ways to Get Rewarded
Do You Need Multiple Resumes?
If you are applying to multiple jobs that pay over $100,000, you might be spanning industries or job titles. Writing multiple resumes might be required to put your best foot forward.
For example, you could apply for a manager position for an established unicorn technology company and another for a startup real estate company. Create a resume, customizing it to highlight any technology experience or conferences you have attended. Additionally, create a second resume to elucidate your startup experiences and real estate experience.
Resume Mistakes to Avoid
High-paying positions demand attention to detail; your resume should do the same. You want to avoid simple mistakes like misspelling, grammatical errors, or incorrect punctuation.
Your resume will serve as the basis for interview questions. Don't overembellish your accomplishments because you must discuss them with recruiters.
It's also important to avoid vague examples. Instead, you should use specific events, numbers, and examples.
Here’s an example:
- Vague: Managed our March events during my manager’s temporary leave of absence.
- Detailed: Successfully managed two client events, running a team of 30 employees, each grossing $3 million in revenue.
Smart Summary
Learning how to write a resume that lands you a job paying $100,000 is a learned skillset. You must inventory your career accomplishments, align your experience with the job description, and stand out. Using resume services, like those offered by Ladders, can give you the insights you need to get to the interview phase and get your dream job. Securing a high-income job can give you the much-needed discretionary income to reach your financial goals quickly.
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