Create winning IT resumes with awesome-resumes. Practical tips, guidelines, and examples for software engineers, data scientists, and cybersecurity professionals and other IT fields
Even good resumes I see, have some common mistakes in themselves, so let's go over through 10 most common mistakes one by one, if your resume has even one of these big mistakes, then it means that this repository is gonna earn you many interviews!
1. Complex language: Dont use languages and words that are too hard to understand and follow
- ❌ Executed a multitude of tasks pertaining to the optimization of manifold software paradigms.
- ✅ Improved software performance by 20%
2. Buzz Words: Don't use buzzwords too much in a way that seems not appropriate and normal
- ❌ Leveraged agile methodologies in a cross-functional team to ideate scalable efficient solutions
- ✅ Leveraged Agile practices to improve team collaboration
3. Many invalid metrics and statistics: Sometimes people rate their resumes with AI tools, which results in having many invalid numbers, remember in interview day you're responsible for all numbers and percentages that are inside your resume, so don't overdo this.
- ❌ Increased code performance by 200% (without context or evidence)
- ✅ Optimized SQL queries by creating a caching layer, reducing load time by 50%, approved by A/B testing for the release candidate
4. Unrelated achievements: The person who gonna hire you doesn't care in the first place what was your personal life achievement in most scenarios, so make sure to keep your resume related to the job you're trying to apply for.
- ❌ Increase sales and turn-over with ... business strategy (whatever, you're a developer! and your resume is for developer, not a business strategist/sale)
- ✅ Designed and implemented a caching solution that improved system latency
5. Invalid technical statements: That's true! I've seen people saying they optimized their code by following clean code principles, which is not technically correct and possible, because that's just 2 different matters! So make sure that the statement and claim you have in your resume is technically correct
- ❌ Optimized code by following clean code principles
- ✅ Refactored legacy code to improve readability and maintainability
6. Be ATS Friendly: If your resume isn't ATS friendly, even if it's the best in the world, it won't even be considered. Make sure you read the ATS section and apply the recommended solutions to your resume.
- ❌ You're applying for "ReAct Frontend Position" but in your CV your title is "front-end" and React isn't mentioned.
- ✅ You know how ATS works, and you write your resume in a way to trigger ATS to be your mate, not your enemy.
7. Bad Written Skills: make sure you read the skill section, I have seen people mentioning many skills that they don't have any idea about. Writing your skill section carefully and nicely will increase the chance of getting an interview and also getting the job offer!
- For Python Backend Developer Position:
- ❌ Expert in Java, C++, Python, Machine Learning, Maria DB, PostgreSQL, MySQL, FastAPI, Django, SQL, Spring Boot, Docker
- ✅ Python, Docker, Django, FastAPI, SQL
8. About Me is not a documentary film: I've seen people overdoing in About me section, or even in some cases TOO REGULAR about me, which is more likely to be 'ABOUT ANY PYTHON DEVELOPER' rather than about being you, so make sure you read the about me section if you don't have any idea how specific and what details you should write.
9. They didn't use bullet point! that's like resume-101, if your resume doesn't have bullet point then you're gonna be 99.99% rejected! make sure to go through the repository to see what a good bullet point means
- ❌ Writing paragraphs that make it hard to quickly identify key information
10. Bad/Invalid Structure: Some people don't follow the general resume style and convention, which results in rejection. Make sure your resume is standard, just write it using a website resume creator! Some have been offered at the bottom of the repository.
Before you head over, read the Contribution Guide first. You are new to the contribution process? For more information about the steps and guides, check out the First Contribution Guide.
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- ✅ Write about 2-4 lines
- ✅ First comes the country name, second comes the city name where you live.
- ✅ from third person view perspective
- 👎 I am a developer a backend developer with 5 years experience cc
- 👍 A backend developer with 5 years experience
- ✅ Highlight your key skills and areas of expertise
- 👎 An experienced backend developer with 5 years of experience
- 👍 An experienced backend developer with years of experience using microservice and service-oriented design
- ✅ Emphasize your unique related value proposition or memberships
- 👍 Contributed to the development of several open-source Python projects, including Django Rest Framework and Pandas.
- ✅ Using an academic address is better than using a public address like Gmail
- ✅ Use hyperlinks for your contract information
- ✅ Must include LinkedIn and maybe GitHub or alternative platforms
- ✅ A good photo is better than no photo, and no photo is better than a bad photo. A good photo is considered as you wearing professional clothes, such as a suit.
- ❌ Don't Share personal information such as age, religion, political views, or exact address information
- 👎 A 22 year old experienced backend developer
- 👍 A backend developer with 5 years experience
- ❌ Don't Include irrelevant information or hobbies
- 👎 Passionate about psychology
- 👍 Passionate about open source contribution
- ❌ Don't Use unprofessional language or tone
- 👎 Really interesting helping out with open-source stuff. Like for serious, super pumped about it
- 👍 Passionate about open source contribution
- ❌ Don't put the focus on only your skills, this is general information and a quick summary of your resume not your skill lists
- ❌ Avoid mentioning any soft skills directly or indirectly; unless it's been underhood of your job title (Lead developer, CTO, Founder, etc)
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- ✅ Use bullet points
- 👎 ................
- 👍 • ................
- ✅ Write minimum 2 bullet points, maximum 6. Even Elon Musk doesn't write more than 6:/
- ✅ Start with your most recent or current position and work backward
- ✅ Make sure your jobs don't overlap with each other or other experiences, such as teaching, the only overlap that is allowed is Work Experience with Education.
- ✅ Use bullet points to list your responsibilities and achievements for each job, you can testify this by asking how and why, and if it answers then it's a good responsibility and achievements.
- 👎 • Refactored the backend's code (Why?)
- 👎 • Improved better coding readability, easier maintenance and development (How?)
- 👍 • Refactored the backend's code for better coding readability, easier maintenance and development
- ✅ Remember that the HR team will first read your bullet points, if it's too hard to follow, then it's not a good one. Make sure the achievements are understandable to HRs. For example, I provided enough information regarding why I did it (efficiency and high volumes for systematized transactions) and how I did it (PostgreSQL replication, indexing, and materialized views). The how should be enough information to satisfy a technical person, and why should be enough information to satisfy a non-technical person such as HR
- 👎 • Used replication, indexing, and materialized views
- 👍 • Constructed a systematized transaction system with PostgreSQL replication, indexing, and materialized views, for efficiency and high volumes
- ✅ Quantify your achievements with specific metrics or numbers, when possible
- ✅ Focus on your contributions to the company or team, not just your day-to-day tasks
- 👎 • Completed daily tasks and maintained project timelines
- 👍 • Contributed to the development of a new product, improving team efficiency and reducing production costs by 15%
- ✅ Highlight any promotions, leadership positions, or additional responsibilities you took on
- ✅ Tailor your bullet points to match the requirements of the job you are applying for
- Example: Applying to a frontend job
- 👎 • Refactored the backend's code for better coding readability, easier maintenance and development
- 👍 • Improved coding readability by refactoring some codes with providing proper documentation
- ❌ Don't exaggerate or embellish your accomplishments, but also don't be too modest
- 👎 • Single-handedly developed and launched a new product that generated millions in revenue
- 👍 • Collaborated with a team to develop and launch a new product that generated significant revenue
- ❌ Avoid using vague or generic language, and be specific about what you achieved
- 👎 • Managed a project to completion
- 👍 • Successfully led a cross-functional team to complete a project ahead of schedule and under budget, resulting in a 20% increase in productivity
- ❌ Don't list every job you've ever had - only include relevant experience that showcases your skills and achievements
- ✅ Use bullet points
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- ✅ List your most relevant projects, ideally those that showcase your skills and expertise
- ✅ Provide a brief description of each project, including its purpose, your role, and the technologies used
- ✅ Focus on your contributions to the project and any notable achievements, such as meeting tight deadlines or exceeding project goals
- 👍 • Optimized the database design to improve query performance, resulting in a 20% reduction in page load times
- 👎 • Worked on the frontend, designing the user interface and implementing many features (Not an achievement)
- ❌ Don't include irrelevant or outdated projects that don't showcase your current skills and expertise
- ❌ Avoid listing incomplete or ongoing projects, unless they are particularly impressive or demonstrate a unique skill set
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Hard skills are objective, quantifiable skills gained through training, school, or work experiences. Hard skills are often usually something that can be taught or learned. If you are a Software Engineer and you write code in Java, then Java is one of your hard skills.
Soft skills are interpersonal abilities that allow people to communicate, collaborate, problem-solve, and navigate social situations. They are essential for building relationships, managing conflicts, and achieving success at work. Employers value soft skills as much as hard skills.
Be very specific and careful with what you're writing in your Skills, most probably the interviewer will ask you many questions about the skills you have mentioned. Narrow your skills to your wanted Position, if the skill is unrelated, then emit it or mention it in one of your bullet points. For example, knowing PHP is not relevant for a Python AI position.
When mentioning your skill, you have to support and prove that you have that skill through your resume with your bullet points, so make sure you've covered all your skills with at least 1 supportive sentence.
Remember to never estimate your skill, unless you have a VALID certificate that proves it. A valid certificate is one that you have gone through an exam for, and it's widely accepted to be considered as a valid level, like AWS certificates.
Remember to think twice about adding a skill to your resume, a bad example would be that you just know SQL syntax but you include PostgreSQL as your skill because you have installed it once. When you mention PostgreSQL, it means you can talk for 15 minutes about it, saying what PostgreSQL is, and how it is different from other relational DBs, and AT LEAST some theory knowledge about features of PostgreSQL such as Materlized View, window functions, recursive CTE, special data types, and special Indexes. So be very specific and careful about what you mention as Skill.
- ✅ List your relevant hard skills, including programming languages, software, and tools
- 👍 Python, Django, FastAPI, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS, PostgreSQL, SQL (For example job title was Python Backend Developer)
- ✅ Include any non-technical skills that are relevant to the job/working env, not soft skills!
- 👍 Scrum, agile
- ✅ Highlight any specialized skills or certifications to back-up your skills
- 👍 AWS (Certified Solutions Architect) - Scrum Master (Associate, Certified Scrum Master), Six Sigma Green Belt
- ❌ Avoid listing too many skills or including irrelevant ones
- 👎 Microsoft Word, Customer Service, Cooking, Guitar Playing, React (Job title was Python Backend Developer)
- ❌ Avoid listing skills you don't have, but you just installed and worked with it
- 👎 You know SQL, but you mention PostgreSQL.
- ❌ Don't exaggerate or claim to have skills you don't actually possess
- ❌ Avoid giving ratings to your skills in terms of stars or anything, you may only backup your skill with valid certificates
- 👎 AWS Expert
- 👎 Familiar with AWS
- 👍 AWS (Certified Solutions Architect)
- ❌ Don't list your soft skills, you have to actually indirectly mention them through the work experience
- 👎 Adoptable, Leadership
- ✅ List your relevant hard skills, including programming languages, software, and tools
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- ✅ List your most recent degree or certification first
- ✅ Include the name of the institution, degree/certification, major/field of study, and graduation date
- ✅ If you have a strong academic record, include your GPA
- ❌ Avoid mentioning high school education unless it's your highest level of education
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- ✅ List any relevant certificates or licenses you have obtained
- ✅ Include the name of the certificate or license, the institution or organization that issued it, and the date it was obtained
- ✅ Hyperlink if it's a digital certificate
- ❌ Don't include irrelevant or outdated certificates that are not relevant to the job you are applying for
- ❌ Don't make up or exaggerate certificates or licenses that you do not actually have
- ❌ Don't provide incomplete or inaccurate information about your certificates or licenses, as this can be easily verified and can harm your credibility as a candidate
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- ✅ List any relevant awards or honors you have received, especially those that are related to your field
- ✅ Include the name of the award, the organization that gave it, and the date you received it
- ✅ Include only official awards accepted worldwide
- ❌ Don't include awards or honors that are not relevant or significant to your field
- ❌ Don't list awards or honors that you received a long time ago, unless they are particularly impressive or relevant to your current work
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- ✅ Include any relevant publications, such as research papers, articles or books
- ✅ List the title of the publication, the publication name, date of publication, and your role in the publication
- 👍 Title: "Machine Learning Techniques for Sentiment Analysis"
- 👍 Publication: Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research
- 👍 Date: January 2021
- 👍 Role: Co-author
- ✅ Include any relevant links or citations to verify your publication validity
- ❌ Don't include irrelevant publications, such as personal blog posts or unrelated articles
- ❌ Don't include publications that have not been finalized yet
- ❌ Don't include publications that are outdated or no longer relevant to your current field
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- ✅ List any relevant volunteer experience
- ✅ Provide a brief description of each experience, including the organization and your role
- ✅ Focus on your contributions and any notable achievements, such as leading a successful campaign, increasing donations or free content creating
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- ✅ List any relevant professional organizations or associations you are a member of, and include any leadership positions you have held within them.
- ✅ Highlight any specific skills or knowledge you have gained through these memberships if needed.
- 👍 Member, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- 👍 Served as Vice President of the local chapter, organizing monthly meetings and events that brought together members of the local tech community.
- 👍 Participated in several workshops and seminars on topics such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, deepening my understanding of these fields and expanding my skill set.
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- ✅ Label your language skill as one of these:
- Elementary proficiency
- Limited working proficiency
- Professional working proficiency
- Full professional proficiency
- Native or bilingual proficiency
- ✅ List languages you are proficient in or may be related to the job, and indicate your level of proficiency
- ✅ Backup your language level by providing a hyperlink to certification like TOEFL's grade
- ❌ Don't list languages that you are not proficient in or that are not relevant to the job you are applying for, unless it's your native language.
- ✅ Label your language skill as one of these:
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- ✅ First comes your name, then your job title on top of your resume, with big fonts
- ✅ Use correct grammar and professional language, use Grammarly to find grammar mistakes
- ✅ Use black color for your fonts only, titles can be in another color but the main's context must be in black.
- ✅ Save your resume with your name, alongside the day you generated it, this can help the recruiter understand that you have customized your resume for the job. For example, you may write ManiMozaffar_2022-07-25
- ✅ One or two lines per bullet point is enough, no more
- ✅ First comes the position, second comes the company's name. Make sure to follow that order. Same goes for university, first degree's subject's name, second university's name
- ✅ Date is better to be written as MM/YYYY all around your resume, like 02/2020
- ✅ You have to use past tense and passive voice for all your sentences except for summary/about me
- ✅ Use third person view when writing your resume
- 👎 I am a developer a backend developer with 5 years experience
- 👍 A backend developer with 5 years experience
- ✅ Use proper spacing, so that it'd be friendly to the eye when reading
- ✅ Use a vertical template, having one column per page section is a good practice
- ✅ Use between 475 to 600 words in your resume
- ✅ Write your resume in 1 page if you have less than 10 years experience, otherwise write 2 pages
- ✅ Best resume font sizes are: 11-12pt for normal text, 14-16pt for section titles and headers
- ✅ Generally write your texts in bullet points except for about me
- ✅ Try using resumeworded or similiar website to improve your context, +70 grade in resumeworded is ideal, don't necessarily aim to get 100 because it's AI validated, not a very accurate indicator
- ✅ Use proper action verbs while avoiding weak verbs such as
did- 👎 Created a new software system that increased productivity by 20%
- 👍 Implemented a new software system that increased productivity by 20%
- ✅ Quantify your achievements. Use numbers and percentages to highlight your achievements and show the impact of your work
- ✅ Include a summary or objective statement at the top of your resume. This can help the hiring manager quickly understand what you have to offer and why you are a good fit for the job.
- ✅ Include relevant experience, even if it is not paid work
- ✅ Include a call to action. At the end of your resume, include a call to action such as "Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule an interview."
- ❌ Do not use vague or unclear language. Your resume should be written in clear and concise language that accurately conveys your skills and experience. Avoid using overly technical terms or jargon that may not be familiar to the reader.
- ❌ Avoid using emoji or too colorful designs as it decreases the 6 second impression, keep your resume simple
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The "Six Second Impression" is a concept in the recruiting industry that suggests that employers spend an average of six seconds scanning a candidate's resume before deciding whether to move forward with the application or reject it. This means that your resume needs to make a strong first impression and quickly communicate your qualifications and suitability for the job.
To make the most of those six seconds, it's important to format your resume clearly and concisely, using bullet points and action verbs to highlight your achievements and skills. Use a readable font and keep the layout simple and easy to follow. Additionally, tailor your resume to the job you are applying for, highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position.
It's also important to remember that the six-second rule is not a hard and fast rule. While some employers may only glance at a resume for a few seconds before making a decision, others may take more time to carefully review each application. However, keeping the "Six Second Impression" in mind can help you create a resume that makes a strong initial impact and encourages employers to take a closer look at your qualifications.
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The purpose of a resume is to showcase your skills, experience, and qualifications to potential employers, with the goal of securing an interview and ultimately landing a job. A well-written resume should provide a clear and concise summary of your background and highlight your most relevant accomplishments and skills. It should also demonstrate how you can contribute to the company and solve its problems.
In order to achieve this purpose, it's important to avoid using a generic or one-size-fits-all approach to writing your resume. Every job and every employer is different, so your resume should be customized to the specific job you are applying for. This means tailoring your resume to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job and using specific examples and achievements to demonstrate your qualifications.
Using a generic or one-size-fits-all approach can make your resume appear unfocused and unprofessional, and may not effectively communicate your qualifications to potential employers. By taking the time to customize your resume for each job application, you can increase your chances of standing out from other candidates and securing an interview.
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When writing a resume, it's important to keep in mind what recruiters are looking for. Recruiters are typically tasked with reviewing resumes and identifying candidates who have the skills and qualifications required for the job. They may also look for candidates who are a good cultural fit for the company and have a track record of success in similar roles.
To meet these requirements, it's important to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for, highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. You should also include keywords and phrases from the job description in your resume, as many companies use automated screening systems that look for these keywords.
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ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System, which is a software tool used by many companies to manage the recruitment process. The purpose of an ATS is to help recruiters and hiring managers organize and sort through large volumes of resumes quickly and efficiently.
When you submit your resume to a company through an online application system, it is typically first reviewed by an ATS. The system scans your resume for specific keywords and phrases that match the requirements of the job and ranks your resume based on how well it matches these criteria.
To optimize your resume for ATS, it's important to use keywords and phrases that are relevant to the job you are applying for. These keywords should be included in your resume's summary, work experience, and skills sections. It's also important to use standard resume formatting, such as bullet points and clear section headings, as ATS systems may have difficulty reading unconventional formats.
You should write your resume in a way that is friendly to ATS, not an enemy, Some tips for that
- ATS system may be case sensitive and stupid, so if the job title is "frontend", then write "frontend", not "front-end" or "FrontEnd" or "front end".
- There are keywords and structure that you MUST have in your resume, like bullet points and clear section headings, etc. Make sure you have them all.
- You've to match your resume versus the description, make sure the exact words in the description are also matched in your resume. You can even consider writing a script yourself to see how many % it matches. Just don't overdo it in a way to copy-paste the advertisement into your resume haha
- The resume has written "React.js", but you have written "Re-act", which simply may result in your rejection. Remember to consider ATS as a very dumb person.
- Make sure your sections and documents can be recognized by ATS, you can try uploading your resume to a few websites ATS to see if they can detect the text inside your resume or not. They may not be in conditions such as weird font, bad styling, etc.
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There are several different styles of resumes, each with their strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of the most common resume styles:
- 1. Chronological This style lists your work experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. It is a traditional format that is easy to read and understand, but may not be ideal for candidates with gaps in their employment history or those who have changed careers.
- 2. Functional This style emphasizes your skills and achievements, rather than your work experience. It can be useful for candidates who are changing careers or have limited work experience, but may not be ideal for those with a strong work history.
- 3. Combination This style combines elements of the chronological and functional styles, highlighting both your skills and work experience. It can be a good choice for candidates with diverse experience or those who are looking to showcase specific achievements.
- 4. Vertical This style is becoming increasingly popular, particularly in industries such as design and technology. It features a single column of information that is organized in a clear and easy-to-read format. The vertical style can be particularly effective for candidates with strong visual skills or those who want to highlight their achievements in a clear and concise manner.
Of these styles, the vertical resume with one column is often considered the best choice. It is a modern and visually appealing format that is easy to read and understand. The single column layout keeps the information organized and allows for clear section headings, making it easy for recruiters to quickly scan the resume for relevant information.
Additionally, the vertical format is particularly effective for highlighting achievements and skills, as it allows for clear and concise bullet points. This style is also easy to customize and can be tailored to the specific requirements of the job, making it a versatile option for candidates in a range of industries.
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Defining your target role is an important step in crafting a successful resume. Your target role is the specific job or career path you are interested in pursuing. By identifying your target role, you can tailor your resume to highlight the skills, experience, and achievements that are most relevant to that position.
To identify your target role, start by researching the job market and the industry you are interested in. Read job descriptions and requirements for the roles that interest you, paying attention to the specific skills and qualifications that employers are looking for. This will give you a better understanding of the key requirements for the role and the specific responsibilities you would be expected to handle.
You can also learn more about the latest technology and trends in your target industry by reading industry publications and blogs, attending industry events and conferences, and networking with professionals in your field.
When crafting your resume for your target role, be sure to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the position. For example, if the job requires experience with a particular technology or software stack, make sure to include that in your resume. Be specific about your achievements and use quantifiable results wherever possible to demonstrate your impact and effectiveness.
Finally, make sure to tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for, rather than using a generic or one-size-fits-all approach. By customizing your resume to highlight the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job, you can increase your chances of catching the attention of recruiters and securing an interview.
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Snipe advertising is a targeted approach to job hunting that involves identifying a specific job advertisement and company that you are interested in and then tailoring your application to match their needs. This involves researching the company and understanding their products, services, and technology stacks, as well as the requirements of the job.
By sniping advertisements, you can focus your job search on companies that you are particularly interested in and that align with your career goals. This can also help you to stand out from other applicants, as you are able to tailor your application to the specific needs and requirements of the job.
To snipe an advertisement effectively, it's important to take the time to study the company and their products, services, and technology stacks. This will help you to understand their business and the specific skills and experience they are looking for in a candidate. You can also customize your resume and cover letter to highlight your skills and experience in a way that is relevant to the job and the company. While sniping advertisements can be a time-consuming process, it can be an effective way to increase your chances of landing a job with your favorite company. By taking the time to understand the company's needs and customizing your application accordingly, you can demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and your suitability as a candidate.
If you have customized your resume and there's gap between your jobs, it's absolutely fine as the jobs are really related to the advertisement, and the HR still will check your linkedin if gap between jobs matters for them.
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Reach back is a proactive approach to job searching that involves following up with recruiters or hiring managers after submitting an application. This can be especially useful if you have applied for a job and not heard back, or if you feel that your application may not have been considered due to factors such as ATS screening.
By reaching back to the recruiter, you can demonstrate your interest in the job and your willingness to go the extra mile to secure the position. This can help you to stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of being considered for the job.
When reaching back to a recruiter, it's important to be professional and courteous. You can start by thanking them for considering your application and expressing your enthusiasm for the job. You can also highlight any relevant skills or experience that you may not have included in your initial application.
If your application has been rejected, you can also use reach back as an opportunity to ask for feedback and advice on how to improve your application for future job opportunities. This can help you to identify areas where you may need to focus on in order to strengthen your resume or cover letter. Overall, reach back can be a powerful tool for job seekers looking to stand out from the competition and increase their chances of landing a job. By being proactive and engaging with recruiters, you can demonstrate your interest and enthusiasm for the job and increase your chances of being considered for the position.
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A thank you letter is a way of expressing gratitude towards someone for their help or support. It is a simple yet effective way of showing appreciation and acknowledging the efforts of others. Whether it is for a job interview, a recommendation, or any other situation, a well-written thank you letter can leave a lasting positive impression on the recipient.
In the first paragraph of the letter, it is important to thank the person for their help or support and to express how much it means to you. In the second paragraph, you can elaborate on the impact their assistance has had on you and how it has made a difference. Finally, it is important to end the letter by expressing your gratitude once again and letting them know that their help will not be forgotten.