It’s a New Year. Are you ready for a new career? If the answer is yes, then you need to start with your resume.
The look and feel of a resume have changed significantly in the past five years. Our world has turned digital, and so has your resume. The creativity, layout, and content are very important. Your resume is your story, not just your list of jobs. Companies seek to understand your transferrable skills and competencies. They want to know your personality.
The biggest question – how do you stand out in two pages or less?
Pages, fonts, and layouts—so many choices! But here’s the inside scoop: simpler is always better. In a mere 3 seconds, you’ve got to grab someone’s attention, and lengthy paragraphs won’t do the trick. Let’s be real—nobody’s got time for a life story. It’s all about honing in on your unique experiences, skills, and strengths.
SEO OPTIMITIMIZATION – many companies and recruitment wizards use fancy tools like applicant tracking systems (ATS). If you flood your resume with too many skills, it might just get lost in the digital jungle. Emphasize those titles, skills, and education to make sure your resume takes the spotlight it deserves. You can’t be everything to everyone. So, spotlight who you are and what makes you a gem for any organization.
Let’s talk about LENGTH. The golden rule is to keep your resume short and sweet, ideally to one or two pages. Now, you might wonder, “How on earth do I condense years of experience into two pages?” Well, the secret is that hiring managers are all about relevance. They want to know what directly relates to the role, whether it’s direct experience or skills you can transfer seamlessly.
You don’t need to lay out every role you’ve ever had. If there’s something crucial from your past that you can’t resist mentioning, slide it into a “career note” section at the end of your experience. Just a brief blurb about the company, position, or a standout accomplishment will do the trick. Keep it concise and keep it relevant.
DESIGN– This is where we showcase your personality but there needs to be a balance of creativity and simplicity. Companies want to know who you are. Layouts, colors, and your picture are great ways to stand out. But remember, your resume must be easy to read, so make sure your font is clean and easy to read, and the size is between 10 and 12 points. There should be clean lines and white space. Your resume might be the one document where you don’t need to write in full, complete sentences. Bullet points stand out and are easy to read.
2. Resume Layout
Start with a Professional Summary
Welcome to your introduction! This is where you shine and showcase what makes you the perfect fit for the role. Kick things off with a succinct summary section highlighting your top-notch skills, experiences, or achievements—whether in 3-6 lines or through 4-5 crystal-clear bullet points. Keep it real, though—no need to exaggerate with a laundry list of skills or drown in jargon. Just be direct, honest, and totally transparent. Your future employer will thank you for it!
Outline your Skills and Achievements
This is the next section of your story. Resumes these days are all about showcasing your most valuable skills and brag-worthy achievements! In 2024, it’s not just about listing your old job duties; it’s about shouting from the rooftops what you can do and how amazingly you’ve done it. It’s like the cool new trend in hiring – everyone’s all about snagging those skillful superstars!
Career History
Ever thought about shifting gears from summarizing duties to highlighting your achievements? It’s a game-changer. Ask yourself: What were your successes based on your actions in your past roles? What made you stand out in a crowd of similar job titles?
The key lies in articulating your value through a results-by-action format. Pick your top five to seven successes in the role —a result that resonates with substantial value. Integrate numeric results if you can. While recognizing that not every role readily lends itself to quantifiable metrics, embrace the opportunity to showcase your achievements in a manner befitting the accomplished professional that you are.
Other Very Important Sections
Of course, highlight your education and training – it’s a chapter of your story. And don’t forget those mini-credits, seminars, or courses that add extra value. You are showcasing your interest in continuing professional development and staying on top of best practices and trends.
Ensure we highlight your interests, volunteer activity, and community involvement. We’re not just interested in your career; we want to know you. Highlighting your life experiences is a great way to say, “Look, I’m a pretty awesome human too!”
3. Questions?
I hope these tips were helpful, but feel free to reach out if you still have unanswered questions!
We’d also love to get your feedback on this topic. Do you agree/disagree with our suggestions? Do you have some ideas of your own that you would like to share?
Tracy Arno, CEO/Founder Essence Recruitment Inc.
