We've all been there. That dreaded day when the hatred for your current job makes you want to drag out the ol' resume and blast it off into the Indeed.com vortex. Depending on how long you've been out of the job hunt, that thing might have quite a bit of dust on it.
Whether you're out of work, searching for a new job, or coming up with a secret plot in case things at the office head south, it's never a bad idea to Make Your Resume Great Again. Keeping up with the resume Joneses ain't always easy, but we have a few ideas that’ll get the juices flowing.
If you're about to dive into a resume revamp, check out these five fast facts before you start.
Why? Because you are smart. That's why everyone and their mother should want to hire you right? Well, if you don’t just want to be a Cougar’s poolboy, then you better trade those penny words for 25 cent words! This advice applies big time when it comes to writing a stellar resume. Remember, your resume is just a summary of your greatness, so the more words you use that can pack a punch, the more you'll shine.
Action words like "achieved", "improved", and "created" go a long way when paired with a super smart accomplishment. Beef up those bullet points with numbers, too. Employers want to know how many hogs you've tied, or how much you saved your company in hot dog money by switching to a more economical bun! 25% of recruiters only spend 30 seconds or less reading your calling card, so make it special.
Oh and P.S. - while you're working on sounding smart, make sure you're LOOKING smart on social media. Many recruiters like to troll personal social media accounts. If you don't want your future boss to see your face melting off at last week's music festival, make your profiles private or hide any incriminating evidence!
Formatting matters, bro. Trying to read a resume that has multiple font styles and uneven bullet points is the worst. It's also a surefire way to get your resume immediately thrown in the "no thanks" bin. In fact, around 77% of hiring professionals put resumes in the reject pile if they have typos or grammatical mistakes.
It takes just a few extra minutes to make sure everything's visually pleasing and matchy-matchy, and it's so worth it. If your eyes are going crossed and you can't bear to look at your resume for one more minute, have a trusted friend give it a once-over to catch any mistakes.
Remember, a resume isn't the Gettysburg Address. It's literally just a summary of how awesome you are. It's your calling card to get invited to an interview. It's like showing a little leg in the hopes your employer will want to see the entire package! Too forward?
Your resume ideally should be no more than two pages, so try to keep your bullet points short and to the point. Recruiters prefer two-page resumes and are almost three times more likely to pick a candidate that sticks to that rule. Plop your address and contact information in the header section of the document to save some room.
Shorten things even more by taking out common skills and over played resume buzzwords. Studies show that 51% of resumes have these not-so-buzzy buzzwords in them, so set yourself apart! Take out phrases like "people person" or "go-getter" because they're way overplayed. We already know you're a self-starter, Karen.
The "spray and pray" approach of sending your resume out to any employer with a website and a pulse might work for some people. On some level, job hunting is a numbers game. However, it's much better to use a little *strategery* when it comes to resumes. An estimated 54% of job applicants don't customize their resumes, which is a may-jah red flag to recruiters.
Tailoring your resume to the job you're applying for doesn't take as long as you might think, and a little customization can go a long way. Take a look at the job description and see if you can sneak some keywords into your resume. Consider adding an objective or summary statement at the top of your resume and customize it to what the potential company is looking for in their next employee. If an application calls for a cover letter, it should be customized AF. Think of it as a love note to your next paycheck provider. xoxo!
OK, maybe you think this should go without saying, but...we're gonna say it anyway. Even though around 10% of applicants say they've fibbed in the past, don't lie about your skills or background on your resume. It might get the attention of a recruiter or hiring manager, but it could also get you into deep doo-doo. Depending on the lie, an employer might catch it on your background check, and it could cost you your new job.
If you feel like your resume is looking a bit dull, see if you can jazz it up by adding more interesting words, choosing a stylish (yet professional) font or format, or have a mentor give you feedback on how to improve. There are so many *legal* ways to make your resume pop without lying.
Guess what? The President isn't going to write your resume for you...and honestly, neither will your local & state government reps. But, if you want lots of great job opportunities in your local area, you'll vote in job creation-promoting representatives! Here’s three small things you can do that make a BIG impact:
