What Is the Purpose of a Resume?
Resumes are important—every single job requires one when you apply. But while you’re listing all the must-have details on that paper or hiring top resume writing services to craft your perfect job intro, did you ever wonder why it’s so important?
The purpose of a functional resume lies in how it’s used by applicants and recruiters alike. Ultimately, it’s the document that gets you to the next stage of the hiring process–the interview. Resumes don’t guarantee a job, but they can get you closer to landing the one you’re eyeing.
What Is in a Resume?
A resume contains all the details that a recruiter needs to evaluate your fit for a certain role. It must include the following:
- Contact information: Your name, phone number, and e-mail address; you may also note your LinkedIn profile URL
- Job bio: A summary of your skills and accomplishments
- Work experience: Your career history, including job titles, company names, duties, and years worked
- Education: Your school names, degrees, majors/minors, and relevant coursework
- Skills: Job-related skills, including hard skills and soft skills
You may also add other information, such as any certifications, projects, and languages, among others–but make sure that it’s not overloaded. You should also write an accompanying email when sending a resume, which will act as a brief introduction of yourself and why you’re applying for the job.
The Purpose of a Resume for Applicants
The purpose of a resume for applicants is to initiate an introduction; it’s also your opportunity to communicate why you’re the best candidate for the role.
Introduction to Employers
Employers typically first “meet” applicants with their resumes. These documents serve as formal introductions; they express your intent to apply for a job and why you believe you deserve that position. A resume provides recruiters with a summary of your qualifications, and a peek into your personality and work ethic, as well.
Demonstration of Skills
A resume lets you list and explain your skills which, when they coincide with the needed know-how for a specific role, can boost your chances of landing the job you’re applying for. It also demonstrates your ability to sell yourself, organize information, and communicate in written language.
The bulk of the resume is your job experience, which can exhibit how you’ve provided value in your previous companies and how you can potentially help your next employers in achieving their business goals.
Starting Point for Interviews
Your resume puts common ground between you and your employer so that, when it’s time for an interview, you two aren’t total strangers. You can use details from your resume as talking points during this time; you can expound on relevant details and talk about skills and experiences that you want to highlight.
The Purpose of a Resume for Recruiters
Recruiters primarily use resumes to identify candidates for a role in their company—and to weed out any unsuitable applicants. Aside from that, they provide a good look into the industry. Plus, they double as records that Human Resources (HR) can tap into for other roles without having to open a new round of applications.
Filter Job Candidates
Resumes show employers which candidates are suitable for positions—and which aren’t. Having this initial screening can save a lot of time and resources on the company’s part; it’s a real time-saver, especially for organizations that receive a lot of applications.
Identify Career Opportunities
Employers use resumes to identify candidates who have the potential to provide value to their business. Through well-made resumes, recruiters can pinpoint opportunities that they can explore, even for roles other than the ones originally being searched for.
Analyze Industry Trends
Employers see a lot of resumes and, over time, these could show the trends in the job industry they can use to leverage their application and job training processes. They can also use this information to update job descriptions and postings to fit with current standards.
In Conclusion
A resume has a dual purpose as it aids both applicants and recruiters in the job application process. Understanding these can help you craft a resume that will land you your dream job–if you need a bit of assistance, though, The Jub is here to help!
Author: Becky is a contributor for theJub. She’s a writing and talent acquisition specialist who loves to apply her skills through creative writing and editing.
