It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning! Love it or hate it, this is a fantastic time to get our lives in a more organised state. We spring clean our homes, but what about our resumes? If you are considering applying to a new job, or just want to be prepared when you are, take some time to refresh your resume.
A resume should be regularly updated to keep it fresh. If you haven’t looked at it in a while, it is likely in need of some changes to reflect your recent achievements. The great news is we have put together some ways to upgrade your current resume and get noticed.
Format
When was the last time you updated your resume format? Using a template you have used for the past five years is likely going to look boring and dated and will be less competitive in the market. Current styles focus on easy to read resumes that highlight important information.
Maximise the impact of the top 30% of your first page. Often readers won’t read your entire resume but instead will scan for keywords. This modern format accounts for that short scan and aids in putting that information in a way that is easy to read. CareerOne offers some great achievement based templates you can download and use for free.
Revise Experience Section
Sometimes we fall short in showcasing our value by using the experience section as a list of job duties. While you want to let potential employers know what you did in your role, flip it to highlight your achievements. The CAR model (challenge, action, results) can help you to construct your bullet point achievements.
Managers want to see the tangible assets you bring to the table. Think about ways you have improved processes or saved the company money. If you are in a revenue generating role, let them know your impact on the bottom line. Anytime you can quantify how you improved the company, the easier it will be for the manager to see what you can potentially do for them.
Optimise Keywords
When you apply for a job there is an increasing chance that it will go into an applicant tracking system (ATS). This is an online recruiting system to help recruiters and hiring managers find the best candidates for their openings. Most ATS’s have software that matches resumes to the posted job description and recommend a match.
In addition, recruiters search places like LinkedIn for candidates with keywords from the job description. To make sure your resume is compatible, research the words that frequently show up in the roles you are interested in.
Revamping your resume is the first step in starting your job search. Get your chance to wow the hiring manager during the interview process and land your dream job! For more help with career guidance, including interview preparation consider hiring a career coach. Donna can help prepare you for your interview and help you feel confident in your answers, giving you the best chance of an offer.