Resume Writing
Updating your resume when it hasn’t been touched in a long time can be a daunting task, especially considering how important it is in landing your next job. Many professionals will stress and toil over every detail of their resume, wanting it to be perfect for prospective hiring managers. The way companies conduct their hiring processes has changed over the years, and it’s important to follow today’s best practices in order to have the highest chance at landing your next position.
Writing for digital
Writing your resume for the digital age is the first step in making sure you’re getting every opportunity to make the best impression. Many companies these days use software programs to screen potential job candidates. These programs will weed out those whose resumes don’t match specific keyword criteria and other aspects the company has deemed most important. It’s crucial that your resume includes specific keywords and is formatted to garner the most attention from the software programs.
Highlight your accomplishments
The benefit of being a seasoned professional versus a recent college grad is that you will have a wealth of real world accomplishments to incorporate into your resume. In describing your work history, don’t just list your job duties, but be specific in detailing your true impact on the companies you’ve worked for. It’s even better if you can quantify those accomplishments, for example the amount of sales dollars you brought in or the number of accounts you managed. You don’t have to be the most eloquent in describing your old jobs, just let the hiring managers know you can get the job done.
Cater to the employer
Because of the screening programs companies use for sifting through candidates, the best resumes are the ones that are written specifically for each company. It might seem tedious to change your resume each time your send it out, but a few small tweaks could go a long way in getting through to the interview stage. Do your research on the company, get a sense for their values, and read the job description over and over. Then incorporate some of the key words and phrases so that your resume lines up best with what they’re looking for.
Below you will find additional information and resources on resume writing:
Six tips for writing an effective resume
Resume buzzwords to include and avoid