Follow these tips to create an effective resume
When professionals are ready to take a new step in their careers, it’s wise to revisit their old resumes and see what can be done to update them for the current day and age. This is especially true for people who may have been out of the job-seeking arena for some time.
Writing a resume can be complicated. The rules for finding a new job are continually evolving, and resumes remain a vital component of that process.
The following are some current resume trends that will help professionals stand out from the masses.
CONSIDER DESIGN
Design your resume so it will look good whether it’s viewed on a computer screen, on a mobile phone or printed on paper.
Classic serif-style fonts can make a resume seem dated, so select modern fonts that look clean and crisp. The idea is for the resume to look balanced and clear, without being overloaded with modifications such as italics and bold lettering.
However, keep in mind that a spot of color could draw much-needed attention to certain points.
BE BRIEF YET EFFECTIVE
A concise design is key to an effective resume. Many recruiters spend little to no time reviewing the hordes of resumes they receive. In fact, automated resume bots may initially screen the documents.
According to data from the 12th annual Mystery Job Candidate survey by CareerXRoads, the average recruiter spends only six seconds looking at a resume, so if your resume doesn’t attract attention it will likely be ignored.
PUT THE BEST INFO AT THE TOP
Format your resume so the most pertinent information is clearly visible in the top one-third of the document.
Beef up a summary statement that outlines your qualifications and expertise, and use it in lieu of an outdated, selfserving objective statement. Make sure this summary includes keywords that promote your skills and experience to potentially lure the recruiter into reading more.
TWEAK JOB TITLES
Mimic phrasing from the job listing to beat the bots and get résumés flagged for review — but don’t exaggerate or outright lie about the positions you’ve held.
Instead, you can slightly change job-position titles so they mirror the wording used in the job posting. For example, if a recruiter is looking for a “financial account manager” and you have the experience, list your title as something like “senior manager of new financial accounts.”
GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR
Landing a new job is often about what you know, but getting a foot in the door is also largely influenced by who you know. Include any professional groups to which you belong or alumni associations. Who knows? The recruiter may have the same alma mater, and you can bond over your shared mascot.
Keywords, phrasing, formatting, and having the right skills for the job can ensure a resume is seen by a recruiter, and perhaps even lead to a new career.