Nowadays is very hard to get noticed is the first step towards a successful employment, especially when you send your resume through the job boards or a company website. You need to create a resume that brings out the best of what you possess, and do it in such a way that it looks appealing enough to get their attention.

Here are five techniques to get your resume noticed:

Use the right job boards

The four mains job boards that I recommend you to check out when you are looking for jobs are: Indeed.com, LinkedIn, S1jobs if you are in Scotland like us and employmentwebsites.org, which is from the International Association of Employment Websites.

Upload your Cv in the correct file version

Although some sites are now taking Word files, you might need an electronic (or ASCII) version of your resume. I do not recommend sending your resume in .pdf format as a lot of Applicant Tracking Systems cannot read them.

Target your resume specifically to the position

Employers search quickly and skim to see you can do a certain job – and they will bin any CV that isn’t geared to that position. (Tip: You may need to have more than one resume if you target different positions – one for when you apply to be project manager, another for your application as systems analyst.)

Use key words

Make a list of the “buzz words” connected to perform your type of job. Look through job ads to uncover the major ones. Incorporate these keywords into the sentences describing your previous work experience.

Give them a call

Call the employer no later than three days after your resume has arrived. This is critical as most people don’t do this.

Try as much as possible to build a rapport with the person you’re speaking with, as employers hire people they like. Key tip: watch your energy level and intonation as they are the most important factors that define how you will come across. Be friendly, professional and conversational.