If your resume is in need of a major overhaul, sometimes the hardest part is figuring out where to begin.
As a leading provider of career services, including resume and cover letter writing, interview prep, LinkedIn consulting, and career coaching, ResumeSpice knows how to turn your resume into every recruiter’s dream. Here are some tips that will get your resume in the spotlight.
1) Keep it relevant to the job you want
If you’ve spent the last five years as a marketing professional, but are seeking a sales position, it might be wise to showcase the relevant sales skills you have developed in your most recent position(s).
2) Leave out the objective statement
Resume best practices are constantly evolving and there was a time when including objective statements was standard. Today, with hiring managers overloaded by resumes, objective statements are seen as at best, unnecessary, and at worst, a way for resume screeners to weed out candidates whose stated objective doesn’t precisely match the position.
If you want a potential employer to know more about you and why you’re a great fit for the job, include a cover letter with your application.
3) Use reverse chronological order
Even though resume standards and practices do change, one thing that has remained constant is the order in which you should list your experience. You’ll want to begin with your most recent or current position and work backwards, which means the education section of your resume should be listed after your professional history. The only exception to this rule is for recent grads, who are better served listing their education first.
4) Keywords might be the key to unlocking an interview request
Because your resume will likely be filtered by an applicant tracking system at some point, it should contain the right keywords based on the job description. If you read the description and you’re still not sure which keywords to use, there are tools like TagCrowd that can help you decide which keywords are the most relevant.
5) Keep it simple
Focus on keeping your information organized and easy to skim over. Most recruiters are scanning your resume for specific skill sets and information, so don’t overshadow the content of your resume with wordiness, graphics, or irrelevant information.
6) Numbers are your friend
Use pieces of quantifiable information that highlight your accomplishments and track record of success. If you increase new business by 25% in the first quarter, put it on your resume. If your targeted marketing campaign generated 150,000 new leads, make sure that information makes it on to your resume.
If you aren’t currently tracking that kind of information, there’s no time like the present to begin doing so.
7) Fill in those gaps
It’s a tough time to be a job seeker. There are many people who have been unemployed for six months or longer. But just because you haven’t been employed by a company doesn’t mean you haven’t been keeping busy. If you have volunteer work or coursework you’ve been doing, list that on your resume, just above your previous position.
8) Proofread like your future depends on it
Your resume is only a snapshot of who you are as a person, but unfortunately it’s the only thing a recruiter is looking at to determine your qualifications. Stay credible with a thorough proofing (or two, or three) of your resume.
9) Keep it fresh
Every few months, take a minute to tweak and update your resume. It’s good to keep it up-to-date even if you aren’t actively job searching—you never know when you’ll need to present it for that promotion or volunteer opportunity.
10) Ask for help
Don’t be shy about asking a family member, friend, or trusted colleague to help with your resume. And if you’re seeking professional advice, don’t hesitate to contact one of the career consultants at ResumeSpice. Our team might be the resource you need to unlock your resume’s potential, contact us today.
