2. RELEVANCE CONSISTENCY
WHAT You could be a new grad or have 30+
years of experience in the field –
A consistently-written resume
removes all need for an objective
EMPLOYERS either way, your resume should tell statement. Employers want to see a
WANT TO employers that you are current. No resume that shows progression and
SEE IN one wants to hire an employee who
might hold them back.
highlights your focus on specific
professional goals. A consistent
YOUR How to do it: Regardless if you have no resume shows what you’ll be like as an
RESUME experience or are returning to work after long-
term unemployment or leave, you can make
employee and where you’re headed.
How to do it: Think of your resume as a story.
your resume appear more relevant by including
You start at A, accomplish XYZ, then head to B.
evidence that you are keeping current in the
As you progress through your story, you develop
industry. Include classes or organizations you
focus and refine yourself as an employee. Tell
are actively part, while nixing out-of-date skills.
this story in bullet points to maintain
consistency!
INTELLIGENCE RESULTS
This one seems a bit ridiculous; after
Employers want to see your personal
all, of course you’re smart! Usually,
impact. Results on a resume tell
employers want to hire employees
prospective employers that, if hired,
who are all-around smart. Having a
you can actually get them results.
genius who lacks any social smarts is How to do it: Make a point to include at least
just as bad as a pleasant employee one quantifiable accomplishment for every
who doesn’t know how to do their job. position you include on your resume. That
How to do it: Let’s start with PROOFREADING. A means numbers.
sure-fire way to look like an idiot is to leave
typos on your resume. Additionally, leave out
any jargon employers might not understand.
3. 12 TIPS
TOGET YOU
NOTICED
1. BUZZ 2. TOOT YOUR HORN 3. HAVE IMPACT
Add industry/job specific key buzz Brag and boast about what you do Show quantifiable results. Include
words throughout your resume, and how well do you do it. Did percentages, dollar amounts, as
but make sure you can add you get promoted quicker than well as numbers wherever
relevance for the buzz word with a your colleagues? Great! Include applicable.
function. On the flipside, eliminate that. Don’t be shy about awards
buzz words if they’re not relevant and recognitions - everyone wants
for your intended audience. to hire a superstar.
4. DON’T OVERDO IT 5. TMI 6. SIZE DOES MATTER
This is a resume not an Too much information on a Unless you’re a C-Level Executive
autobiography. The reader really resume muddles the good stuff. or have been steadily progressing
has limited time and will likely Don’t include every mundane job in the work world for 20+ years,
only take a quick glance at your function and avoid repetition. Use there’s no reason why your
recent employments and proven a thesaurus if necessary! resume should exceed ONE
results before deeming you a good precise page. If necessary, max
or bad fit. DO NOT go back more out at two pages, An average of 5-
than 10 years into your career 7 bullets per employment position
history, unless absolutely and font size ranging from 10-12
necessary or relevant. should keep you well under the
maximum.
4. 12 TIPS…
CONTINUED
7. TELL THE TRUTH 8. BE BOLD 9. BEAUTIFY
Never include anything on the Don’t be afraid to bold key If you’re applying for a creative job
resume that once checked will be accomplishments and relevant – by all means, be creative! If
found to be a work of fiction. information throughout your you’re applying to a buttoned-up
Remember, you can be Google’d. resume. It just may make you corporate job and insist on adding
stand out as well! color, keep it conservative – navy
blue, grey and burgundy for the
resume border or category
headings.
10. KEEP COVERED 11. TELL YOUR STORY 12. NETWORK-IT
Some employers love cover If you’re dumping your corporate More than 75% of all newly
letters, while others breeze right gig in hopes of a non-profit job or acquired positions are attained
past. Regardless, if you’re going if there’s a 6-month employment through networking, so get on it!
to write one, make it good. It gap on your res that needs LinkedIn is a personal favorite of
should be specific to the role explaining, you’ve got a story to mine.
you’re applying to – ditch the ‘find tell. What better place to tell it
+ replace company name’ move then in your cover letter! Why
please! you’re making the career/location
move, what skills are transferable
to your new career and where you
were those 6 months are all
questions you’ll answer in your CL.
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