Your resume is a reflection of your professional journey. It’s a testament to your skills, experiences, and achievements, a powerful tool that can open doors to exciting new career opportunities. But, like any tool, it needs to be well-maintained and kept up-to-date. Refreshing your resume is a chance to showcase your growth, ambition, and potential. By following these tips and tricks, you can present yourself in the best possible light and inspire potential employers to take notice. Your next big career move is just around the corner, so it’s essential to make sure your resume is ready for it.
Step 1: Start with the basics
Before you dive into the content of your resume, we need to make sure your resume formatting and layout are clean, modern, and are optimized for the latest applicant tracking systems (ATS) most companies use today. Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software programs that help employers manage job applications and resumes. Many companies use ATS to streamline their hiring process, as they can quickly sort through large numbers of resumes and identify the most qualified candidates for a given role.
These systems scan your resume for keywords and phrases that match the job descriptions (more on this later) and get confused when there are images, graphics, and complex tables embedded in your resume doc. Because of this, it’s important that your resume use a clear and legible font and a design that is simple and professional. Use headings and bullet points to make the information easy to scan and digest.
Step 2: Tailor your resume to the job
One mistake many job seekers make is using the same generic resume for every application. Instead, take the time to customize your resume for each job you apply for. Remember when we mentioned ATS look for keywords and phrases from the job description you’re applying to? This means your resume should be slightly editted for each job you apply to to highlight the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position, and use language and keywords from the job description.
Step 3: Focus on achievements, not just responsibilities
Employers want to see what you’ve accomplished in your past roles, not just a laundry list of job duties so it’s important that you’re not just copying and pasting the job description from your previous roles. Instead, make sure you’re including specific examples of your achievements and successes, such as increasing sales revenue, improving customer satisfaction, or leading a successful project. Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. For example: “Increased sales revenue by 25% year over year.”
Step 4: Keep it concise
Your resume should be no longer than two pages if you’re an experienced worker with multiple jobs, and ideally just one if you’re early in your career or an experience worker with only one or two previous companies.
Hiring managers and recruiters are often inundated with a high volume of resumes, and they typically spend only a few seconds scanning each one. A concise, well-organized resume that highlights your most relevant skills and experience will grab their attention more effectively than a lengthy document filled with unnecessary details. Additionally, many ATS have limitations on the length of resumes they can process, so keeping yours to 2 pages will ensure that it is compatible with the system. This means being selective about what information you include, and using concise language to convey your qualifications. Avoid long paragraphs or unnecessary details.
Step 5: Get feedback
Before you send out your resume, ask a trusted friend, mentor, or better yet, a professional resume or career coach to review it for you. Getting help from a professional resume writer can be a game-changer for your job search. Not only can they help you avoid common errors and ensure your resume is properly formatted, but they can also offer valuable insights on what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for. By tailoring your resume to meet those expectations, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition. Plus, a skilled writer can help you showcase your unique skills and experiences in a way that truly highlights your strengths. With their help, you’ll feel confident and ready to take on the job market.
By applying these tips and tricks, you can refresh your resume and position yourself as a strong candidate for your next job opportunity. Your resume is an essential tool for showcasing your growth, ambition, and potential. Take the time to invest in it, and you’ll reap the rewards in your career. Good luck!