I remember when I first entered the workforce, I had no idea how to write a resume. I was so
clueless on where to start, what to say, how to say it and how I could make my jobs as a server throughout college relevant to any position I was applying for.
I’ve seen resumes adapt and change over the last 10 years. Not just with work experience or wording but the entire resume itself. I’ve noticed I tend to be drawn to some resumes more than others and with everything going on in the world these days, it’s best you reconsider how your resume looks to ensure you’re able to stand out from your peers.
THOUGHT
There are some resumes that have a lot more detail than others. It used to be standard that you could do a few bullet points in a Word doc and have a somewhat fancy header and footer but truly, you need more *pizzazz*.
Now, it's absolutely crucial to have a Word doc resume, but don't be afraid to be different. Putting genuine thought into your resume subconsciously tells the recruiter you take great pride in all that you do.
I’ve noticed I tend to be more drawn to resumes with a little color, resumes with noticeable organization, resumes that look like it took some thought and effort to create rather than slapping on your experience, clicking save and print and moving on. I like that someone takes pride in how they appear on paper because it tells me they take pride in their work and themselves.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Some people think that writing “negotiated deals with clients”, “top sales rep at company”, “was promoted three times”, “handled all of the HR and accounting daily” is enough for me as the recruiter to say “Wow, look at all of that experience...”
Sadly...it isn't. But, here's what WILL catch a recruiter's attention:
What you want to write: “Top sales rep at my company.”
What you should write: “Top sales rep at my company 3 years in a row out of 20 highly competitive sales reps.”
What you want to write: “Was promoted three times.”
What you should write: “Was promoted three times in less than two years due to hard work and dedication. Was promoted the fastest out of anyone in the company’s history.”
What you want to write: “Handled all the daily HR functions.”
What you should write: “Hired and trained a team of 5+ human resource professionals. Researched, created, and implemented a new HRIS within the first 12 months resulting in a 25% increase in overall production."
Going into detail is so much better than just assuming I can read your mind. The more detail that’s in your resume, the more likely I’m going to reach out as a recruiter.
RELEVANCE
Nothing makes my eyes roll more than when I’m looking for a tenured CEO and someone applies that just graduated college with zero work experience.
I am a full supporter of getting your foot in the door, but why would you want to waste YOUR time applying for something you know you won’t be considered for? (Or maybe won't even like.)
Your resume needs to be relevant to the position you’re applying for in order to have a better chance of receiving that initial call.
COVER LETTER
I’ll be the first to admit I hardly ever pay attention to a cover letter unless I have to. The only times where cover letters have really come in handy for me was when I’m looking at someone’s resume and it looks like they’ve done some job hopping.
We’re definitely in a millennial era where “job hopping” is more prevalent on someone’s resume than it used to be but is it really job hopping or something else?
Sometimes people will include something like:
“ABC Company- Manager 2010-2012 (Laid off due to company closing)
It if doesn’t look too cluttered, I like seeing that. It helps me understand why you’re no longer at a position anymore without me wondering if you were let go for performance or attitude reasons. This is where a cover letter can come in handy. You can quickly describe your previous experience in some detail or you can just use it to describe your best qualities and why you feel you’re a perfect fit for the position they’re looking to hire.
If you do the latter, it shows me that you’ve actually researched my position, researched the company and didn’t apply just to apply (which again, is annoying).
BONUS: How to Beat the Applicant Tracking System, Tip #1
Look for buzzwords in the job description such as "self-motivated", "task-oriented", "10+ years experience building large, cohesive sales teams"," and then add those exact words to your resume.
The more your resume has the same verbiage as the job description for the role you're applying for, the better chance your resume has at jumping to the top!
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