These days, making a crisp optimized Resume requires dedication and perseverance. However most of the times, we end up with a thin resume that can make those efforts go in vain.
Therefore, it is important to know how to add things to a thin resume.
Most importantly, if you’re a Fresher with little to no experience, then you must know them first. On the other hand, if you’ve some Experience, then you should optimize them to impress the Recruiter or Interviewer.
With this in mind, if you’re eager to know what those things are, here are a few tips to consider first. In addition to this, it’s helpful to know the CV sections that are important for Freshers, so checkout this article below for more.
Related: Know about the 20 Important CV Sections for Freshers in 2022
Tips to make your Thin Resume look more Compact
#1: Fill up Blank Spaces with valuable Skills and Achievements
Firstly, a Resume is a blank A4 page document that you fill up with information relevant for the role or position. Subsequently, the data allows you to stake your claim with your skills, qualifications or past experiences.
Therefore, it is very important that you use the blank spaces efficiently to maximize the impact of your Resume.
Meanwhile, you can use horizontal lines to distinguish or separate your CV sections instead of using white spaces. Use those spaces to fill in details that will add weightage to your CV.
Further, here are few frequently used CV sections by which you can fill up these blank spaces:
- Educational Background
- Achievements
- Qualities (Strengths and Weakness)
- Relevant Projects (Academic or Work Projects)
- Relevant Links (LinkedIn, Portfolio or Samples)
- Skills (Technical Skills and Soft Skills)
Related: 2022's Best Tips for Freshers who want to add Value to their Resume
#2: Use Bullets and Numbering on your Resume
It is a known fact that an Interviewer takes a glance on a Resume within seven seconds before moving on to the next.
Therefore, the initial impression they have while looking at your Resume is your only chance to prove yourself.
As a result, you should arrange the data or information (according to necessary CV sections) and ensure it appears neat or clean. Another thing to follow is to never write a paragraph as no one has the patience to read boring Resumes.
Further, instead of exaggerating use specific terms and phrases relevant to your position.
For instance, the sentence: “I checked wallet balance in customer accounts and obeyed policies and regulations” can be better written as: “Prepared balance records and ensured compliance with policies and regulations“.
Here is how, they can help make everything easier to read and understand:
- Use separators like pointers and numbers that have stuck around for a long time.
Arrows, symbols or special characters can make your Resume unreadable and result in loss of valuable information. That is to say, also avoid emojis or graphics which are not parsed well by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). - Last but not the least, scale your data to fit within three to four sentences.
Not only, this will maintain the flow of information with precision but also provides scope for adding more information on the Resume.
#3: Apply a Narrow Margin or Border
A preferred way to make a Resume look more formal and succinct is to add a distinct margin or border.
Moreover, it’s benefits are many like giving your Resume a good facelift. Similarly, it also demarcates your CV sections prominently and leaves space based on it’s width.
A Margin or Border can enhance the appearance of your Resume to a great extent and give it a sleek and elegant touch.
Therefore, it’s advisable that you use a classic narrow margin or border instead of a bold or creative one. Moreover, a Resume with margins or border on all four sides looks best and makes your Resume look compact.
However for added contrast, do not use any kind of colours or filters on the margin or border except black.
Also, ensure that the contents of your CV fit together within the margin and not overlap or go beyond it.
#4: Provide the necessary Contact Information
Be careful during entering your Contact Information as it’s meant to initiate contact with the Recruiter or the Interviewer.
Not doing so will have impending consequences like your Resume dumped as trash.
Moreover, only provide required details like your personal Mobile number and professional Email address. Further, there is no need for a long or detailed address, just providing the name of your city or town will do.
That is to say, ensure that the Contact Header of your Resume isn’t cluttered or having any graphic, images and embedded fonts.
For the best results, conduct an ATS scan of your Resume using the article mentioned below:
Related: ATS Resumes: 5 Online Tools that check and make your Resume ATS worthy
Meanwhile, utilize that space to increase your shortlisting probability with a great Career Summary or Objective.
#5: Use some Metrics to Quantify your Data
A great way to make your thin resume look more compact is to define and quantify your data with some digits. Like facts on which we rely upon, Recruiters too want to see some metrics and not read word after word.
Moreover, the consciousness exists for a reason and that is to see who the better candidate is. Therefore, specify your dependability and use numbers, percentages or fractions to make it evident for the Recruiter.
These are a few areas where you can use metrics to define your data:
- Graduation Year, Percentage / CGPA.
- Project Impact, Results or Project Status
- Relevant Internships details or Work Experience
- Industrial Training Conducted or Imparted
- Job Titles/ Roles hold
- Relevant Achievements
- Honours or Awards
For maximum effect, add a few examples of what you did or achieved and how you contributed to it. In addition to this, you can include a personal Mission statement at the end to visualize how you want to lead ahead with your ambitions.
After that, see how relatable and crisp it makes you seem, make changes as needed to the data.
However, also back up your data with realistic examples to come up as a holistic individual.
In the end, try to make space for extra valuable information and polish your thin Resume as much as possible.
#6: Take Advantage of the Career Summary
A Resume Summary or Objective let’s you explain yourself with clarity than any other CV section. It is your mouthpiece but not something which you can make up or copy from the internet.
On the other hand, your Summary should be precise and not more than three to four sentences or a short paragraph.
Here are some things to keep in mind while crafting your Career Summary:
- Avoid common buzzwords and fluff to avoid creating a generic Summary. For example, the common “Hardworking diligent student seeking a position at your company.”
Consult the internet for examples (if necessary) but don’t copy and paste them on your Resume. - Create your own authentic style and way of delivery. Use an Elevator Pitch to summarize your best qualities, skills or achievements briefly.
Additionally since a Summary is like a personal brand, state a few USPs and campaign or market yourself professionally. - Place the emphasis on relevant details that are appropriate for the job or role.
For instance, “2019 Olympiad Topper with an excellent academic record over the last 5 years. Seeking a position that will challenge my skills and help me pursue my goals further.” - Tailor it to the position you’ve applied for and optimize it for maximum impact. Trim it further if it exceeds than the recommended limit of three to four sentences.
Conclusion:
To sum up, making a thin resume look more compact is a difficult task. Moreover if you’re new to creating Resumes, you may experience this problem even more. Meanwhile, make things easier for yourself by consulting cvDragon – an AI enabled Resume Builder and create your professional Resume.
Therefore, to add things to your thin resume, you can follow the tips mentioned above.
In addition to this, putting the right CV sections will help you make the most of your CV.
Certainly, in order to create a flawless attractive resume for your dream job, you don’t require prior experience.
So, get started as soon as possible and start adding things to your thin resume. Keep polishing it like a work of art and see where it leads you, we wish you all the best!
