The resume is evolving, is yours?
While there’s no lack of advice or suggestions available when it comes to crafting an effective resume, it can be challenging to make sense of the mountains of information out there and then apply what you learn to determine what will work best for you. Although advice and guidelines vary to some degree based on personal and professional preferences, there are some important overall concepts that shine through. As a former recruiter and current career advisor, I believe that in order for a resume to be effective in today’s job market, it should be customized for a target position and/or industry, focused on impactful achievements, and formatted in a way that is clear and concise. Read on to discover why these elements are so important.
It is essential to customize your resume for the targeted opportunity to which you are applying. Gone are the days of a one-size fits all resume, because the job market is more competitive than ever and hiring managers have grown very savvy when it comes to identifying candidates who will make a positive impact. You need to highlight your skills, qualifications, and experience in a way that is relevant to the job to which you are applying. Find clues in the job description and via research that you do about the company and industry. Talk the same language, as in skills, experience, and keywords. This will help show relevance to a hiring manger, as well as the Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) that may be reviewing your resume upon initial submission. A great place to do this is in your professional summary, a section at the top of your resume that highlights what you have to offer in a way that directly connects to the position, company, and industry. You can also customize content in your experience and education sections, as well as sections that include information about specialized training, projects, publications, honors, awards, and interests.
When I was a recruiter and hiring manager, I looked for clues in a resume to illustrate how a candidate performed. It’s not just about what the candidate did in previous positions, but how she did it and what it meant to the company. That’s why it’s important to go beyond just stating responsibilities in your experience section; you need to integrate achievements. What impact did you make? For example, which sales representative would you hire in this scenario? Candidate number one stated he engaged clients, processed sales, facilitated product demonstrations, and delivered exceptional customer service. Candidate number two stated he engaged over 50 clients per day, converted 65% of product demonstrations into sales, received a 98% positive customer service rating, and exceeded his monthly sales goals by an average of 75%. Numbers show impact, so use them when you can! Past performance is an indicator of future success, so it’s wise to clearly tell your story in a way that will connect with potential employers and illustrate how you can be a positive asset to their company.
Despite the evolution of the resume, two concepts endure. A resume must be clear and concise. A resume should be easy to scan in order to identify keywords and phrases that are critical to the hiring manager. You don’t want to bury your most important content near the bottom, or make it difficult to find. Appropriate use of white space, margins, headings, titles, and font all contribute to a resume’s clarity. To be concise, section content should be logical and relevant, text should not be redundant, wording should be succinct, and buzzwords or catch phrases should be avoided.
Remember, a resume is a tool that you use to market yourself during a job search. Before clicking submit, ensure that your resume is customized for a target position, focused on impactful achievements, clear, and concise to give you a better chance of landing that great job!
