Let’s talk resumes. Who doesn’t feel just a little bit of uneasiness at the prospect of polishing up a resume? Or authoring a resume from scratch?
You open a new document, finally ready to tackle the dreaded “R-word”. In the upper left hand corner of your blank document the cursor blinks, a mocking metronome. As it ticks at you, it seems to be reminding you that this document could be a key factor in your job hunting success.
Who wouldn’t be stressed?
Friend, I can’t write your resume for you. I can, however, share some of my best tips and guidance on building a resume that will help you get your foot in the door. Remember that your resume is designed to do just that — get your foot in the door. The rest of it will be up to you, not an 8.5x11” document.
TIP #1: Use Action Words
When writing the body of your resume, as you are outlining your responsibilities and accomplishments, each bullet should begin with a verb — an action word.
TIP #2: use data & Metrics
Numbers talk. When describing your achievements, use data to highlight and emphasize those parts of your story. Not only will numbers stand out in a resume, they quantify your accomplishments.
Example: Reduced department spending by 13% over 2 quarters.
Non-example: Department came in under budget.
Tip #3: Include Your Contact Information in the Body of Your Resume
Contact information is an important component of resume logistics. Applicant scanning softwares can overlook or mis-categorize that information. This can be avoided by placing contact information in a side bar or in the first line below your resume header.
Tip #4: Include Your LinkedIn Profile URL with Your Contact Information
Recruiters and hiring managers are likely to look at your LinkedIn profile. Along with your email address and telephone number, include your LinkedIn Profile URL. We’ll talk more about LinkedIn profiles another day, but I recommend customizing your LinkedIn URL prior to adding it to your resume (here’s how).
Tip #5: Front-Load the Important Stuff
Consider the top third of your resume your “pent house.” This is where the most important and most relevant information should live. If you have education, certifications, or experience that are directly related to the position, give that information prominent positioning within your resume.
Tip #6: Consider using a Resume Template
There are many ways that a resume can be formatted. Standard items to include are education, experience, and skills/certification. The way that your resume is organized can help your resume be more visually appealing, and can make an initial impression to the hiring manager/team. Be particular in selecting a template, as different jobs and job fields have diverse resume expectations.
Tip #7: Trim & Polish
Research has shown that hiring managers spend 6-8 seconds scanning applicant resumes. That means that your resume is not the time for fluff. With limited space on your resume, each word counts. Keep your sentence structure straight-forward and easy to understand. Use professional, but not overly wordy vocabulary. Your resume is a highlight reel of your accomplishments, not a feature-length documentary; keep the essentials and expand on them during follow-up conversations.
Tip #8: Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
You may think that once your resume is done…it is done. That isn’t entirely true. Your resume should be tailored to each job application and company. There are a few ways this can be accomplished. One approach is to look online for resumes related to that position. For example, if you are seeking a job as a Program Manager, use an online search engine to look up “Program Manager Resumes.” These can give you an example of the types of resumes that applicants in that field are creating. Another approach is to review the job description. Review action words and job responsibilities. Use similar language and phrases in your resume. This is not to say that you should misrepresent your experience, but rather can give you an idea of the type of verbiage certain jobs and job fields use.
Tip #9: Proofread Your Resume
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it is a step that is sometimes overlooked. I recommend a two-step approach. First, use grammar and spell-check programs (Grammarly, for example) to avoid spelling errors. Secondly, ask a mentor or someone you trust to proofread your resume. A computer software may be able to tell you whether or not you spelled a word correctly, but they cannot account for tone or overall impression. To avoid both spelling and impression faux-pas, let a computer and a human proofread your resume.
Tip #10: Choose an Appropriate File Name(s)
Before you send your resume off, you will need to save it. Before uploading your resume, use a naming convention that can be easily organized and retrieved for both yourself and the hiring team.
Example: Darcy_Elizabeth_Resume
Non-example: jobresume
At the end of the day, your resume is only a snapshot. It does not tell your whole story. You are a whole person, not just what can fit on a single piece of paper. And, in truth, I believe that the “perfect” resume doesn’t exist. However, we can put our best foot forward by creating a thoughtful, thorough, polished resume.