By Sarah Mehlert

Whether you are applying for an entry-level position in the supply chain industry, or are looking to make the next step up in your career, your resume serves as your very first impression to hiring managers. Your resume should present your qualifications and experience as they directly relate to the supply chain industry and the position you are applying for in an organized and captivating way. In order to stand out from the endless sea of resumes that the hiring managers are likely receiving, and to illustrate what makes you the best person for the job, there are some essential tips to follow that will help you land an interview and get on your way to a rewarding career in the supply chain industry.

After listing your contact information, include an objective statement that will give employers an immediate understanding of your supply chain skill set. The objective should not be broad, but specific and tailored to the position you are applying for. Include what position you are applying for, your expertise as it relates to the position and your overall career goals. It should be concise and straight-forward, immediately communicating your value and ultimate objectives. While this section is often times left out, it's an important tool to articulate your career aspirations and why they are a good fit for the company and for the position.

Follow up your objective statement with a professional summary. This should be a brief paragraph or bullet points that is easy to read and outlines your experience in supply chain. Note your key responsibilities in past and current roles, keeping the job you are applying top of mind and including the most relevant details. If you have a degree or any certifications in a relevant field, you can also mention these in the summary section and expand on them later. This section should give the reader a quick sense of your core skills that you have gained from past roles and how they are applicable to the position you are applying for.

Often times, recruiters and employers use resume scanning technology to identify keywords relevant to what they are looking for in a candidate, and will only look at resumes that contain those keywords. Because of this, including the right supply chain keywords on your resume is crucial. Even if the hiring manager isn't using any scanning technology, key words make it easy for them to quickly skim your resume and see if you have the experience they are looking for. Include plenty of keywords relevant to the industry and to the specific position you are applying for wherever you can, only as they pertain to your experience. Some examples include "compliance," "supply chain," "procurement," "logistics," "inventory control," etc. The summary is a great place to sprinkle in some of these key words. Pay attention to the job description and what keywords are used in order to make sure your resume aligns.

When listing your past and present work experience, make sure to use the exact job titles you held in your previous positions so there is no discrepancy if a hiring manager calls your references. This is where you can expand on your experience and detail your past accomplishments. You should never assume that an employer knows what a certain job title entails or the level of responsibility that you held as every job and company are different. Instead of just listing your job duties, make the reader clearly see what value you brought to the roles and to the companies. For each job, include the employer's name, city and state, employment dates and a bulleted list of accomplishments. Employers like to see quantified results when possible, such as the number of direct reports you supervised, the fleet size that you managed, or any monetary gains as a result of your achievements. Your work experience should be listed in reverse chronological order with your most current role listed first. Include work history as far back as makes sense for the position you are applying for. Don't lengthen your resume unnecessarily; you want to make sure you are giving an accurate and complete history of your work experience in supply chain concisely. Provide just enough detail to "wow" the hiring manager and be called in for an interview, but not so much information that it becomes overwhelming to read.

The presentation of your resume is just as important as its content. Keep it professional and neat, and don't overcrowd the page. Leaving some white space on the page is visually appealing and allows the employer to read it with ease. Try to stick to no more than two fonts and prioritize the most important information. Using consistent headings, fonts, spacing and bullets will help to give your resume a clean look. Double, triple and quadruple check that there are no spelling or grammatical errors on your resume. Consider having a friend look over it as well, as errors can quickly deter employers from reading the rest of your resume, no matter how qualified you are. Also, remember to send your resume in an easily accessible format, such as a word document or a PDF. Formatting and presentation can go a long way in depicting you as a professional and capable candidate.

Just as you wouldn't show up to an interview unprepared or unorganized, your resume should follow the same logic. Keep it professional, organized and relevant to the supply chain job you are applying for. The main goal is not to divulge every single task you have ever completed at a job, but to impress the hiring manager enough for them to want to call you and bring you in for an interview. The supply chain industry can offer a very fulfilling career, and the first step to getting there is fine-tuning your resume. You really want to "sell" yourself to the hiring manager by highlighting your unique background and skill set. Keep these tips in mind while drafting your supply chain resume, and you will be on your way in no time!