by ResumeSpice Team | Apr 21, 2019 | Resume Writing
When a hiring manager posts a job, they get inundated with dozens of resumes within hours. It’s a lot for them to go through. That’s why when you submit yours, you want to ensure they can scan it quickly and that it stands out effectively in a sea of other candidates. Where do you begin? The professional resume writers at ResumeSpice explain what to include on yours:
The right skills and experience.
It’s surprising how many times candidates without any experience or the right qualifications apply for a job opening. But this simply wastes their time, as well as the hiring managers. To ensure your resume communicates that you clearly have the necessary skills and experience, read through the job posting first to identify the key needs and requirements for the role. Then make sure your resume showcases each with specific examples of responsibilities, quantifiable accomplishments and measurable results.
A career path that makes sense.
Beyond your abilities, hiring managers also want to see an upward trend in your career in terms of progression, as well as an employment history that makes sense for the position they have open. If, however, they see a lot of gaps and jumping around, it’s going to be a red flag that you’re not the most consistent or reliable candidate.
An easy-to-read, error-free resume.
You might be the best fit for a particular role. However, if you send in a three-page resume full of dense paragraphs, tiny type, and narrow margins, it’s not going to get read. Instead, make your resume as easy as possible for a hiring manager to see that you’re a great fit for the job. To do that, format it in a way where it’s simple to scan, so they can quickly connect the dots.
Also, make sure you proofread it multiple times before submitting it. You don’t want a mindless or silly error to sabotage your chances of getting a call for an interview.
Now that you know the essentials to include, what should you leave out? Here’s a quick look:
- Skip the objective statement and include a summary of qualifications instead.
- Don’t list any hobbies or interests, unless they’re directly related to the job or the company.
- Don’t state that “references are available upon request.” Hiring managers assume this and it simply wastes valuable space.
Get more resume help today!
If you’d like help crafting a compelling resume for your search, contact the professional resume writers at ResumeSpice. We offer a process that’s easy, affordable and most of all effective, so you can find the job you want, faster. Call 832.930.7378 today to learn more or get started.
by ResumeSpice Team | Apr 16, 2019 | Resume Writing
Getting rejected for a job opening is bad enough. But at least you know where you stand. What’s worse is when you hear nothing at all. While it happens to even the most experienced candidates, if it’s happening to you time and again, it’s a sign something is wrong in your approach. To help you find out what it is and fix it, the professional resume writing service team at ResumeSpice offers some insight into why you’re not hearing back:
You’re not the right fit.
This reason tends to be the most common and the hardest to deal with. You see yourself as completely qualified and perfectly capable of doing the job. However, the hiring manager sees things differently after reviewing your resume. That’s why it’s always important to make sure you’re not applying to every job out there and instead, taking a targeted approach and submitting your resume to those positions you’re truly qualified for.
You didn’t follow the directions.
Oftentimes, an employer will put specific instructions into a job posting, such as to email your resume with a certain subject line, submit your resume as a PDF, not a Word document, or send in three samples of your work. If you fail to follow these, it reflects poorly on you and sends the message you’re not detail oriented.
You didn’t customize your resume.
If you send in one boilerplate resume for every job you apply to, potential employers can’t gain a true sense of your worth. Not only that, but your resume won’t have keywords and phrases from each job posting, which lowers the chances of making it through the applicant tracking system many companies use to screen resumes.
Your salary requirements were too much.
If the company asked you to submit a salary history and requirements – and yours are too high – they’re probably not going to consider you for the position. To avoid this, do some research so you know what’s competitive and reasonable for the types of jobs you’re applying to.
Beyond the mistakes above, there are also plenty of reasons on the employer’s end as to why you’re not hearing back. For instance, they might have filled the position with an internal employee and are no longer looking. Or perhaps you applied too late in the process and they already had several qualified candidates to consider.
While you don’t have control over whether employers contact you, you do have control over the strength of your resume. Submitting a well-crafted one will improve your odds of getting the attention of the hiring manager and getting more calls for interviews.
If you’d like help creating a resume, call the professional resume writing service experts at ResumeSpice at 832.930.7378. We can help with all aspects of your resume, whether it needs some simple editing or a total overhaul.
by ResumeSpice Team | Apr 8, 2019 | Resume Writing
When you’re looking for a new job, your resume plays a central role. But if you’re not an expert, it can be daunting to create one that’s effective and gets results. That’s where a resume writing service can help. In fact, when you choose to work with one, they can offer you a variety of key benefits, including the following three:
They know what hiring managers want to see.
When it comes to your resume, what should you include and what do you leave out? How far back into your career history do you go? And what about employment gaps – how do you deal with those? Answering these questions can be tough for many candidates. However, a professional resume writer knows what’s most important to hiring managers and how to position your background in a way that will appeal best to them.
They can help you market your strengths and accomplishments.
Your resume is more of a marketing document and less of a career biography. Many times, candidates find it hard to promote themselves and their abilities and accomplishments. If you’re one of them, a resume writing service can help by identifying which accomplishments are important to highlight and describing the value you can offer to a potential employer.
They can get you through the applicant tracking system.
Many companies today use applicant tracking systems to screen resumes using keywords and phrases. So, if it seems like your resume is falling into a black hole and you’re not hearing back about interviews, it could be because it’s not properly optimized and formatted for these systems. A professional service knows how to create a resume that makes it through the system and onto the desk of the hiring manager.
You might be one of the best in your field. But if you’re not a strong resume writer, it will impact your job search success. Instead, invest in a professional resume writing service and get the edge you need over other candidates.
Ready to learn more or get started?
Connect with ResumeSpice. As a leading resume writing service, we can help you edit your resume or write one from scratch so you will get more calls for interviews. Call us today at 832.930.7378 to learn more or get started.
by ResumeSpice Team | Mar 25, 2019 | Resume Writing
When it comes to your resume, what you say is critically important; so is how it looks. If it’s cramped, has an unusual font or doesn’t make use of boldface type or bullet points, it’s going to be tough for a hiring manager to read. Even if you’re the most qualified candidate, you won’t get called for the interview as a result.
To ensure your resume is formatted properly, here are four tips from the resume writers at ResumeSpice to implement today:
Keep the ATS in mind.
Many companies, especially larger ones, use an applicant tracking system (ATS) when screening resumes. These generally don’t like fancy graphics or non standard fonts, which can lead to you being filtered out of the process. Instead, focus on using traditional fonts and take a simple approach in terms of the aesthetics. This includes point sizes that are between 10 and 12 and fonts, such as Arial, Verdana or Times New Roman.
Make it easy for hiring managers to scan.
Hiring managers only spend a few seconds looking at each resume. Therefore, it’s important that yours is easy to read with details about your strengths quickly communicated. One way to do that is by including a Summary of Qualifications at the top. This takes the place of an Objective Statement and lists, with bullet points, what makes you uniquely qualified for the job.
Use a reverse chronological format.
Unless you’re an entry-level worker or changing career fields entirely, use a reverse chronological format when writing your resume. This simply means your most recent position is listed first and the rest of your positions are in descending order.
Be consistent.
Whatever mix of bold, italics or fonts you choose to use, make sure you’re consistent. For instance, if you bold your most recent job title, then it’s important that all subsequent titles follow that same format. Just don’t overdo it with whatever formatting you use, which can be distracting.
One exception in terms of formatting is if you’re applying to a position in a creative field, such as graphic design. A hiring manager will expect a certain aesthetic, including out-of-the-box fonts, colors and imagery.
Looking for professional help with your resume?
Connect with the resume writers at ResumeSpice. Whether you’re an entry-level employee or an executive, we can provide the feedback and assistance you need, along with services that are guaranteed. Contact us today at 832.930.7378 to learn more or get started.
by ResumeSpice Team | Mar 4, 2019 | Resume Writing
Feeling stuck in your career? Don’t love your field like you used to? Ready to make a change in a completely different direction? It can be both scary and exciting. However, one thing that’s for sure, a career coach can help to facilitate the transition, so it’s less stressful and you’re more successful. When you want to make a move, here are a few vital ways a career coach can help you.
Insight
The thought of switching careers can certainly inspire you. However, a career coach will be able to give you the insight you need to determine if it’s really the right move for you. They’ll work with you to understand your background and strengths, clarify your goals, and develop solutions and strategies so you can reach your ultimate career objectives. In the end, though, it could mean moving in a completely different direction than what you originally anticipated.
Positioning
If you do decide you’re ready for a new career, you have to position your background properly in order to get noticed by hiring managers. If you don’t have industry experience, for instance, but you do have transferable skills, then these should be front and center on your resume and in your cover letter. A career coach will be able to give you the guidance and advice you need make yourself as marketable and memorable as possible when applying in new fields.
Accountability
The job of a career coach is to help you reach your potential. Therefore, along the way, they’re going to work with you to set goals and benchmarks, and then hold you accountable to ensure you’re meeting them. This enables you to stay on the intended path and perhaps even work harder to achieve your objectives faster.
Support
It’s inevitable that when you’re making a big career change, you’re going to be hit with some hard decisions along the way. A career coach can offer you “big picture” perspective, as well as help you dig into the details of all your options. As a result, you can make more informed choices about the direction of your career based on knowledge from an expert who has your best interests in mind.
If you’re interested in pursuing a new career direction, don’t ask friends and loved ones for advice. Instead, turn to a professional career coaching expert who can guide you through this life-changing choice.
Ready to learn more about how you can benefit from a career coach?
Connect with ResumeSpice. Our experienced career coaches will work one-on-one with you to identify goals, offer objective advice and guidance, and ultimately help you find a new career direction that’s right for you. Call us today at 832.930.7378 to learn more or get started.
by ResumeSpice Team | Feb 25, 2019 | Resume Writing
For candidates at all levels, one of the most challenging aspects of the search is dealing with employment gaps. Whether they happened due to a life experience or a layoff, they’re tough to explain. More than that, they serve as a red flag for hiring managers, which can impact your job search success.
How do you overcome these and position yourself in the best possible light? Here are some tips to help you.
Be Honest
First and foremost, be honest. If, for instance, you were laid off, it’s tempting to hide the situation. Instead, you should explain it and then refocus the hiring manager’s attention on your strengths and why you’re a fit for the job.
Be Ready to Talk About the Gap
Whatever you do, don’t wing it during the interview. A resume gap is one key area a hiring manager will almost always ask about. So expect it. Otherwise, you might stutter and stammer your way through your answer, impacting your chances of getting called back for a second interview.
Be Strategic in What You Say
When you have a resume gap, it’s important to focus on what you learned during your time off. Whether you were home caring for children or an aging relative, or travelling the world because you needed a break, make sure you’re able to discuss how those activities impacted your personal and professional growth.
Be Brief and Focused
While you should communicate clearly about your gap, when you do, keep it brief. You don’t need to go into great detail or overshare information. In addition, if your gap was due to termination or layoff, then it’s likely an emotional experience. However, when discussing it, remain professional, divulging only what you need to and then moving on to why you’re a good match for the job.
Be Confident.
What you say to a hiring manager is vital. But so is how you say it. Be mindful of your body language when you’re talking about your resume gap. It’s easy to get nervous and let stress take control. Yet, if you’re upfront and prepared ahead of time, you should be able to explain your gap with confidence.
Resume gaps are common for many job seekers. It’s how you discuss them that’s important for a hiring manager. Don’t panic or get discouraged. Simply follow the tips above to successfully overcome job gap and position yourself for job search success.
Get Help From Expert Resume Writers.
At ResumeSpice, we know that putting together a strong resume can be a challenge. Our resume writers are here to help. Whether you need a quick polish or a total overhaul, we offer a variety of services at a cost you can afford. Call us today at 832.930.7378 to learn more or get started.
