Looking to write your own resume? Here are some tips to Ensure you are on the right track.
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THE PRIMARY GOAL OF YOUR RESUME
Your resume is the introduction to your candidacy and sets the first impression. Its goal is to impress decision makers, whether they are recruiters, HR managers, or hiring managers, enough to be invited to interview.
PASS THE INITIAL REVIEW
When reviewing a resume, most hiring authorities decide whether or not they want to learn more about your background in the first five seconds. It doesn’t take much more than a first glance to see whether or not you meet the minimum requirements for a specific job opening and are presenting yourself in a professional way. The longer your resume is being reviewed, the better. Once you pass the initial five-second review, the reviewer will then spend, on average, around 30 seconds diving deeper into your job duties, achievements, and any other pertinent skills. How do you turn this into action? Make sure that your resume is clear, concise, and sells your value in 30 seconds.
REMOVE ALL RED FLAGS
Do not leave any room for interpretation of your resume. A “red flag” refers to any information, either on the resume or missing from the resume that causes the reviewer to start to question your candidacy. By following the tips listed here, you will have an insider’s perspective of how hiring managers interpret content and formatting, allowing you the ability to spot and remove potential red flags.
UPDATE YOUR RESUME AT LEAST TWICE PER YEAR
No one likes to spend time updating their resume, especially when a job search is nowhere on the horizon. Unfortunately, life has a way of throwing curve-balls and it is important to be prepared for the best and for the worst. If your dream job presented itself this moment, could you apply right now? If you were laid off without notice, could you start applying to new positions immediately? If the answer is “no” then you are not properly prepared.
In addition, the longer it has been since you last updated your resume, the harder it becomes to accurately summarize your duties and accomplishments. It may also be beneficial to keep a note or Word document whenever you are given new duties.
Lastly, make sure you update your resume during every job change, even it is an internal promotion.
In addition, the longer it has been since you last updated your resume, the harder it becomes to accurately summarize your duties and accomplishments. It may also be beneficial to keep a note or Word document whenever you are given new duties.
Lastly, make sure you update your resume during every job change, even it is an internal promotion.
ONLY HAVE ONE "MAIN" RESUME
Having multiple resumes that summarize your experience in completely different ways is a huge red flag to employers. Instead, keep one main resume. It is okay to play around with formatting, update your objectives, and talk about different key achievements, but your job titles and major responsibilities should be consistent. Only use your actual job titles (those which can be verified via a professional background check service) rather than altering your title to more closely align with the opportunity you are applying to. In other words, tailoring your resume for a specific job application is acceptable (and sometimes necessary); however, there is a difference between highlighting your strong suits and misrepresenting your previous experience.
This becomes increasingly important when reapplying to a company that you have applied to in the past. Most companies will keep your resume on file for at least for a year, if not indefinitely. If an employer receives a copy of your resume that is clearly different than the copy they have on file (i.e. - misaligned employment dates or mismatched job titles) your chances of getting a call back will nearly be extinct.
This becomes increasingly important when reapplying to a company that you have applied to in the past. Most companies will keep your resume on file for at least for a year, if not indefinitely. If an employer receives a copy of your resume that is clearly different than the copy they have on file (i.e. - misaligned employment dates or mismatched job titles) your chances of getting a call back will nearly be extinct.
CONTACT INFORMATION TO INCLUDE
Missing contact information implies that you are trying to hide something. Taking off an address implies you are not local and will need special assistance. Leaving out your contact information means there is no way for the company to contact you to set up an interview. Follow these best practices to make sure your contact information isn’t the reason why you aren’t getting called for an interview.
- Name: Use your legal name that you plan to use during the background check. You can also add any certifications after your name that might help you stand out, for example, RN (Registered Nurse), JD (Juris Doctor), or CPA (Certified Public Accountant).
- Home Address: Using your full home address is best. A missing address is another red flag mainly because employers don’t like hidden surprises, such as finding out late in the game that you are not commutable to the office. Since most employers require their employees to work in the office, employers who are looking for local candidates will generally check the distance between your home and their office before setting up an initial interview. If you are open to relocation, note it on your resume. Plenty of people move for new jobs and a lot of companies will even help pay for relocation costs. By leaving your address off your resume they have no idea what your story is, and most likely, are not curious enough to ask.
- Phone Number(s): Make sure you provide the phone number that is the easiest for a potential employer to contact you. These days, the cell number is usually the best bet, but adding a home or private office line is usually a solid backup.
- Email: Make sure it is an email that you check regularly. Some people will make up an email address just for their job search. This is fine, but don’t forget to check it. If someone reaches out to set up an interview and you don’t respond within 24-48 hours you are at risk of the company moving onto other candidates.
- LinkedIn (Optional): Linked is a great tool as it adds a professional and human touch to your candidacy.
EDUCATION IS NOT A QUESTION
If you have a minimum of a four-year degree, your education should have its own section on your resume. Include the name of the college or university, the field of study, degree obtained, and date of completion. If you have obtained higher level degrees, list all degrees in reverse chronological order. Be sure to add any industry-specific certifications as well.
No one should have any questions regarding your education after reviewing your resume. For example, a degree listed without a completion date implies the degree was never completed.
If you are currently enrolled in a program, simply add verbiage to reflect your status. It shows that you are investing your time and money in bettering yourself. You can put “expected graduation date” or “currently enrolled” to clarify. The same is true with certifications. They should be listed as: “Currently Enrolled” or “Completed” to eliminate confusion. If a certification has expired, either remove it completely or note that it is “Inactive.”
Some may argue adding the degree completion date may lead to age discrimination. Although companies may say they are EOE compliant, managers may still not give “experienced” candidates the same shot as their greener counterparts. If you feel this is a concern, replace the date of your degree with “Completed.”
If you do not have a degree DO NOT MISLEAD ANYONE INTO BELIEVING THAT YOU DO. If you completed three years of schooling make sure your resume reflects the same. Background checks will flag misrepresented degrees every time. Misleading employers will lead to having your offer rescinded, even if a degree is not required for the position. Lying about a degree puts your character in question.
No one should have any questions regarding your education after reviewing your resume. For example, a degree listed without a completion date implies the degree was never completed.
If you are currently enrolled in a program, simply add verbiage to reflect your status. It shows that you are investing your time and money in bettering yourself. You can put “expected graduation date” or “currently enrolled” to clarify. The same is true with certifications. They should be listed as: “Currently Enrolled” or “Completed” to eliminate confusion. If a certification has expired, either remove it completely or note that it is “Inactive.”
Some may argue adding the degree completion date may lead to age discrimination. Although companies may say they are EOE compliant, managers may still not give “experienced” candidates the same shot as their greener counterparts. If you feel this is a concern, replace the date of your degree with “Completed.”
If you do not have a degree DO NOT MISLEAD ANYONE INTO BELIEVING THAT YOU DO. If you completed three years of schooling make sure your resume reflects the same. Background checks will flag misrepresented degrees every time. Misleading employers will lead to having your offer rescinded, even if a degree is not required for the position. Lying about a degree puts your character in question.
FORMAT USING REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
Employment history should always be written in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent position should be listed first, working your way backward in time. When updating your resume, simply add your new position above your previous.
YOUR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Include:
- Position Title: Your title should match company records for background check confirmation.
- Employer Name: Again, make sure the company name matches what a background check company is able to confirm. If a previous company was acquired, mention both names for clarification, such as, “New Company, formerly Old Company.” If you are self-employed use your company name or “Independent Consultant”.
- Dates of Employment: Each position should have a start and end date consisting of at least month and year. If you are still employed in your current position the end date should be noted as “Present” (for example, 1/18 – Present). MAKE SURE YOUR DATES ARE CORRECT or an offer may be rescinded. Be consistent with how you format the dates. You can pick whatever formatting you prefer, for example, January 2018, Jan 18, or 1/18 are all acceptable for the month. The type of formatting is not important, but consistency is another key we will be covering shortly.
- Location: It is recommending to use City and State. If you are a remote employee use the location of the office that you report to or your home City and State with a note that you are a remote employee.
AVOID COPYING AND PASTING JOB DESCRIPTIONS
The place for you to really shine against your competition is in the meat and potatoes of your resume: your job responsibilities and accomplishments. DO NOT, under any circumstance, copy and paste your company’s vanilla job description. This is a not a reflection on what you do and it puts you on par with the bare minimum of what is required in your position. Instead, list your actual job duties along with and your accomplishments that are sure to impress.
FOCUS ON WHAT MAKES YOU BETTER, DIFFERENT, OR MORE EXCITING
If all of your competition has the same required skills, what makes you different? Detailing achievements is a great way to set yourself apart. You can detail a time where you hit a nearly impossible timeline, your leadership/mentoring experience, or special projects that you managed. Since the initial review process only takes a few seconds, make sure these accomplishments stick out and are near the top of your responsibilities and duties. Remember, your goal is to stand out from your competition.
Focusing on achievement is also helpful if you have multiple positions with similar descriptions. Rather than stating the same job description over and over, focusing on your accomplishments (in addition to a concise summary of your job duties) will make the most of the reviewer’s initial 30-second review. In other words, if someone is going to spend 30 seconds reading your resume, what information do you want them to pull out? Focus on what makes you better, different, or more exciting.
Focusing on achievement is also helpful if you have multiple positions with similar descriptions. Rather than stating the same job description over and over, focusing on your accomplishments (in addition to a concise summary of your job duties) will make the most of the reviewer’s initial 30-second review. In other words, if someone is going to spend 30 seconds reading your resume, what information do you want them to pull out? Focus on what makes you better, different, or more exciting.
ADDRESSING CONTRACT AND TEMPORARY POSITIONS
When it comes to a contract or temporary position, it is best to classify the position as such. The simplest way is to literally put “(contract)” next to your job title. Contracts, by nature, are shorter term. A successfully completed three-month contract assignment is perceived more positively than being in a permanent position for only three months. On the flip side, if you like contracting, it shows that you have a lot of experience as a contractor, making you more attractive to employers looking to hire consultants.
For contract positions, make sure you list both the company that you completed the work for along with the company that paid you, if different. For example, if you were paid through a staffing agency, make sure the staffing agency is listed. You can add “on assignment with” or another similar verbiage. Background check companies will verify your employment with the agency, as they are technically the employer.
For contract positions, make sure you list both the company that you completed the work for along with the company that paid you, if different. For example, if you were paid through a staffing agency, make sure the staffing agency is listed. You can add “on assignment with” or another similar verbiage. Background check companies will verify your employment with the agency, as they are technically the employer.
CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY, CONCISTENCY
Consistency shows attention to detail, an attribute that every employer has on their wish list. Your resume should have consistent formatting from start to finish. Consistency creates a better flow that is easier to read. Font size, font type, spacing, and order of duties/accomplishments should all be consistent.
Where do most formatting inconsistencies come from? Most of the time they come about when updating an old resume. Accidentally, people have multiple fonts, different indentation of bullet points (or different shaped bullets), some things are bolded, underlined, or italicized but others in the same category are not. For example, if you choose to bold your titles, employers, and dates of employment, make sure all are formatted accordingly.
Where do most formatting inconsistencies come from? Most of the time they come about when updating an old resume. Accidentally, people have multiple fonts, different indentation of bullet points (or different shaped bullets), some things are bolded, underlined, or italicized but others in the same category are not. For example, if you choose to bold your titles, employers, and dates of employment, make sure all are formatted accordingly.
SAVING YOUR RESUME
When you save your resume there are two widely accepted formats, Word documents (.doc) or PDFs (.pdf). Some professions prefer one over the other, but since nearly all applications are completed online, make sure you have a digital copy of your resume to distribute.
When possible, we suggest using a Word document (.doc) since most corporations use one form or another of an applicant tracking system. These systems automatically create a user profile once your resume is uploaded. Unfortunately, these systems have a hard time decoding PDFs which means the information that is parsed is usually incomplete or incorrect. Using a Word document means that your profile will be more accurate, plus you will get to spend less time completing online applications as more of your data will already be in the system.
When possible, we suggest using a Word document (.doc) since most corporations use one form or another of an applicant tracking system. These systems automatically create a user profile once your resume is uploaded. Unfortunately, these systems have a hard time decoding PDFs which means the information that is parsed is usually incomplete or incorrect. Using a Word document means that your profile will be more accurate, plus you will get to spend less time completing online applications as more of your data will already be in the system.
FINISHING TOUCHES
- Always run spelling and grammar checks.
- After you draft or update your resume, print a copy and review it with a fresh set of eyes, meaning, review the following day after you had time to clear your mind from the writing process.
- Get a third party (or two) to review your resume. Having someone that knows your industry is always preferred, a hiring manager is even better. Ask them to pretend you are applying to a position within their department and see what questions or suggestions they have.
- When you are printing your resume to bring to an interview, make sure to use high-quality resume paper. This will help you stand out (and only costs a few dollars).
- If your resume isn’t leading to interviews, it is a sign that you are either are applying to jobs you are not qualified for or you need to rewrite your resume. If the latter, there is no shame in a little trial and error. When in doubt, sell yourself more and eliminate redundancies.