If getting a new job is one of your new year’s resolutions then it’s time to revamp that resume! Your resume is your first impression, so make sure it’s a good one with these tips!
There is a lot of noise out there on what the “perfect” resume looks like, but every profession has a different set of qualities that they look for. Ideally, when creating your resume, you’ll want to direct it to the industry that you are applying to. As you might expect, a resume for a graphic designer is going to look very different from a paralegal’s. Make sure that you craft your resume to fit the job you are applying to. Sometimes you might even want to edit your resume to a specific job and not the overall industry. No matter the job that you are applying for, you can use some standard practices to create a new resume.
Get Personal
It’s becoming more common for personal attributes to be shared on resumes. Employers are not only looking for someone with the skill set but sometimes, more importantly, someone that fits their company’s culture. Share your best traits by including a section in your resume that highlights qualities like honesty, accountability, team player, loyal, punctuality, etc. This will give the employer an insight into what it will be like to work with you as a person and not just what work skills you possess. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can even add your professional headshot to put a face to the name. This will make your resume more memorable and the employer will recognize you when it’s time for an interview.
Flaunt Your Education & Experience
Everyone knows that education and experience are the two key components of a resume. However, it’s important to make these sections as loud and proud as you are. Call out the highlights of your education, not just the degree title and graduation date. Include the things you were involved in while getting your degree. Whether that be organizations, honors programs, or simply what main courses you took. If you don’t have a degree, not a problem. Share the things you do outside of work that support the experiences that you are going to add, for example, volunteering, donating, clubs or hobbies.
Experience is the main section of your resume. Focus on how you achieved your experiences and not just what they were. You’ll obviously include the job titles, years in the position, any promotions, etc. Also, make sure to mention the differences you made while in the previous positions. Using improvement numbers is a great way to catch the employer’s attention. For example, add in the percentage of closed deals or the money saved by different cost-cutting practices. This will prove that you made a tangible difference and shows what you are capable of.
Showcase Your Skills
Use the skills section of your resume to your advantage. A lot of companies will use systems that check for certain keywords and phrases. If you hit on those top keywords your resume is more likely to get looked at. The skills you bring to the table are a great way to hit on these keywords and make sure you don’t get lost in the stack. The main words to use will most of the time be found within the job description. Look out for certain programs to be proficient in like Microsoft Office or Adobe Suite. Other skills like customer service, creativity, coding, or detail-oriented might be listed in the description. It all depends on the job you are applying to so get specific on your resume wording and make edits to your skills depending on the specific job!
Social Presence
Sharing your social media accounts might be a bit too personal for some people or employers. But it is a crucial element to add to your resume for some positions. A common social media to add is Linkedin. This gives the employer a quick look into your professional past, who you know, and confirms that your resume is honest. You can add other social media accounts to your resume if they are applicable to the position you are applying for. Be careful though, you don’t want to add links to socials if they don’t convey a professional profile.
Create A Sleek Design
The overall look of your resume can make you stand out to employers. Having an easy-to-read creative resume will immediately have yours near the top of the stack. Use a layout that is both structured and fluent, it should read like a story. Format your resume to start with your personal details, education, experience, and skills. This will convey a timeline-like look at your professional history. If the industry or job you are applying for is more creative, don’t be afraid to add color and tasteful design elements. On the other hand, if it is more of a standard professional position, keep the design clear and polished.
Resume Tools
There are a variety of free tools online to help you build a top-tier resume. From what wording to use, designing and formatting, or posting your resume for the right employers to see. Here’s a list of great tools that we recommend using:
1. Canva – Design your resume from scratch or use a premade template. Canva is free and easy to use!
2. Adobe Express – Plug & play with amazing templates. Export and share your resume in a variety of formats.
3. Resume.io – Effortless resume creation with pre-generated text, provide your details and let resume.io do the rest.
4. LinkedIn – Post your resume on LinkedIn so that job posters will see it once they post the open position
5. Indeed – Get matched with potential employers by posting your resume to Indeed!
New Year New Career
Now that you have your resume in tip-top shape, get out there and start applying! If you are on the other end of the hiring process, check out Zoho Recruit to enhance your applicant tracking. And check out our other business and Zoho-related blogs over at Zenatta.com/zohoblog/.
