A resume represents an individual’s work history and accomplishments and reflects their work ethic. However, job hunting is focused on time and efficiency, disregarding older resume tips and practices. Creating a resume has been challenging as the goal is to make a great impression through text.
What are some current resume tips to follow? Continue reading to learn more.
Represent the Present
Resumes will be read by hiring managers or scanned through automated machines, focusing on relevant job history and recent accomplishments. Resumes should highlight recent and relevant work experience that represents the individual’s career. For instance, a student should highlight their academic accomplishments such as GPA or degrees completed. Whereas a five-year career should list job positions and titles to display what one has achieved.
Updating a resume can depend on an individual’s career path, but following a time limit can be motivating. National Public Radio (NPR), a non-profit media organization, interviewed Cynthia Pong from Embrace Change, a career and leadership service that supports updating resumes. She told NPR that resumes should be updated every six months. She adds that updated resumes are ready to be shared and easier to document milestones. A six-month plan can give individuals the boost needed to reach a career goal and can show an individual’s potential. Recent accomplishments, projects, or academic degrees should summarize the present with a brief overview of what an individual is capable of.
Learning Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
Online applications and digital resumes read by automated machines have become increasingly common, so a resume should be automated-friendly. Indeed, an online employment website defines this process as the “applicant tracking system (ATS) which scans and extracts information.” ATS scans for keywords, job history, and formatting which filters out candidates unfit by a company’s standards.
Digital resumes often have to cater to the ATS system, so applicants should consider creating ATS-pro resumes. Forbes, a business magazine, suggests creating resumes with “keyword optimization that mirrors the job posting language and traditional formats.” ATS detects resumes with similar language and experience that aligns with the company because that is a favorable and convenient connection. Likewise, formatting should be minimal with standard headers and sections because photographs or large tables could disrupt the ATS. Even the smallest details make the most difference.
What Else to Avoid
First impressions matter from a resume since it can be the only chance to sell one’s experience. Besides improper formatting, other details like fonts or language can sabotage an applicant’s hiring chances. Below are resume mistakes to avoid, according to CNBC and Monster:
- Spelling & grammar errors
- Passive language
- Too long & use of the first person (I, me, my, myself)
- Visually distracting
- No action verbs
- Bad summaries
Resume the Job Hunt
ATS has changed how resumes are written and formatted, making the job market even more competitive. New practices and formatting have changed how well a resume is filtered, seen, and aligned with a company’s culture. However, representing current achievements, clear summaries of past positions, and strong details can be effective in the long run.
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