Sent out 10 CVs and no one is getting back to you? We are here to help.

Recent reports show that Singapore’s job market has entered a tricky phase making it tougher for job seekers to find that dream job. Freshening up your resume can help. In fact, every successful job interview begins with a resume. Even before a face-to-face meeting with your future employer, you first have to impress him with this all-important piece of paper.

Now here’s the tricky part: According to Forbes, recruiters spend just over six seconds on every resume. That’s shorter than the amount of time you have taken to read this far into the article.

So, you want your resume to stand out from the pile? Instead of slapping a fancy picture on top and adding glitter to the resume (please don’t), here are some pro-tips to jazz things up to secure your future:

1. Leave Objectives at the Door

Resume templates you find online often tell you to begin your resume with an objective and/or summary. Many top recruiters, however, say that objectives and summaries are just fluff. What employers really want to know is what you have done in the past and how you can contribute to the company. Impress your prospective employer with how motivated you are, what you know about the company (yes, do your research beforehand) and how you can help contribute to the company positively.

2. Let the Numbers Talk

You can wax lyrical about how you ran a successful ad campaign or led a team on a particular project — but where are the numbers? Numbers speak volumes, so use all the statistics and percentages that you can find. If followers of a company’s social media account increased by 200 percent under your watch within 12 months, use this number to your advantage.

3. The Right Style for the Right Industry

You want your resume to stand out and, if you are applying for a job in the creative industry, you definitely have more liberty with the design. However, the recruiter at a law firm is not going to be impressed by your fancy font type or that photo of you with king durians on Instagram. Err on the side of being conservative and remember that substance is more important than style.

4. Watch Your Language

Speaking of substance, Singlish — ‘My people skill is good, confirm plus chop!’ — is obviously not going to fly. Good language, on the other hand, works better. Showing off all the big words you know is not necessary here. Instead, have someone look at your resume and pick out grammatical or structural mistakes along the way. If your work experience is in tip-top condition, don’t sabotage it with bad language.

Just started working? Why not look into saving and growing your hard-earned money so you can reach all your milestones more easily?

Disclaimer:

The information in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of Prudential Assurance Company Singapore Pte. Ltd. Certain information in this article may be taken from external sources, which we consider reliable. We do not represent that this information is accurate or complete and should not be relied upon as such.

This article is for your information only and does not consider your specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs. We recommend that you seek advice from a Prudential Singapore Financial Consultant before making a commitment to purchase a policy.