What to include in a resume
Confidence can take a dip when you work in a toxic environment, fail a test, fall out with a loved one or experience a setback at work. Everyone experiences low confidence levels in various degrees. How confident you feel comes from life experiences related to culture, trauma, childhood bullying, parenting style, race, gender and sexual orientation - even the most highly driven individuals can experience the classic symptoms of impostor syndrome.
Understanding women's confidence levels globally
The Women's Confidence report, published in March 2021, found that globally, women's sense of confidence is moderate. Commissioned by an American cosmetics company, IT Cosmetics, and conducted by consulting firm Eranos, this global women's confidence report was conducted over three years in 11 countries and with 11,176 women between ages 18 to 69.
>Use the template, then add your touch
Use these templates as a starting point for your resume, but then don’t hold back on customising and personalising the template to suit the role, your experience and personality. A well-organised resume is the first step in getting noticed in the pile, the second step is to let your experience and achievements shine, and the final step is to let a bit of personality show through.
What skills should you highlight?
In 2020, there are two types of skills that employers are really looking for - transferable skills and soft skills. Transferable skills are especially important if you’re looking to switch to a new industry, or a new type of role, and have experience that isn’t directly related, but that can transfer. Examples of transferable skills are communication, team work, project management and technology or software knowledge.
Soft skills are important because in a competitive job market, these are the skills that will differentiate between candidates with similar or equal technical competencies and experience. Soft skills influence how you will fit into the company culture, how you work with others and how you will lead a team.
Take the opportunity to highlight both of these types of skills within your resume.
The next steps
When your updated resume leads to an interview, start preparing for it by practicing your answers to common interview questions, along with coming up with your own to ask the potential employers. Starting reading up on questions to ask in a job interview to prepare for the next step. Being well prepared will help you stand out from the other interviewees, all vying for the same job.