Follow These New Rules for Resume Writing

Follow These New Rules for Resume Writing Follow These New Rules for Resume Writing 3 If you feel that way, and youve been in your job for a while, chances are you havent updated your resume for years. And that means your document likely hasnt kept up with the times. Its important to have an updated resume ready for any opportunity that may come your way, so you should take a few minutes to review it and bring it up to date. As you do so, plan to follow these new rules for resume writing- including some that may have changed since your last update- to make sure your new version is as good as it can be. Here are 10 new rules for resume writing:   Be concise. Youve probably heard in the past that a resume should never be more than one page. While some experts no longer offer that recommendation, you should still make your document as focused and concise as possible. Hiring managers dont have a lot of time, so dont waste the few seconds they spend looking at your resume by including unnecessary information. Triple-check for typos. This isnt exactly a new rule, but its one that a surprising number of people ignore. If your resume is riddled with spelling or grammatical errors, youre not putting your best foot forward. Make sure your copy is clean, not only by running a spell checker, but also by asking several trusted friends to review it. You have no excuse for anything less than perfection in this regard. Ditch the formatting. In the past, you may have spent hours coming up with a unique and fancy design for your resume. Dont waste your time on that when building a new version, unless youre looking for work in creative or design fields. Stick to basic formatting, such as using either the Times New Roman or Arial font at no smaller than 10 points. This will make it easy to read and ensure that your resume makes it though the common automated resume scanners used by many HR departments. Dont include references. Most people listed at least three references on their resumes in the past, but a CareerUp piece says you should ditch them now. You are looking for recruiters to talk to you, not your references, the article says. Speaking to references is further into the process, and when it gets to that point they will reach out to you and ask for those names. Make it easy to access. You may think all company recruiters can easily open a Word doc, but if they have different versions of the software, it could mess up even your simple formatting. That could confuse recruiters or waste their time, leading them to throw your resume into the virtual trash. Instead, offer a PDF that is simple, clean, and easy to open. Forget the objective and emphasize a summary. Objective statements are a thing of the past, according to an article from Time. Instead, include a summary, which is basically just an elevator pitch for why you’re the best person for this job, the article says. When it makes sense, change the title on your resume to match how it’s presented in the job listing. If the company is looking for a Marketing Communications Director, and you meet the qualifications, it’s in your best interest to use that title, something like Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications.' Focus on keywords. An article from Jody Michael Associates says this is also vital to getting your resume through applicant tracking systems (ATS). Now, especially, it’s critical to use keywords that showcase your knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA), making sure they align with the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed on the job posting, the article says. It not only proves to the employer you’ve got what it takes for the position, it will get your resume past tight ATS screening. Remember LinkedIn. While youre spending time updating your resume, you should also take a few minutes to make sure your LinkedIn profile is strong and accurate. In fact, you may want to include your LinkedIn address with your other contact information on your resume. Hiring managers are bound to check your online profile, and theyll appreciate it if you make that easy for them. Quantify your accomplishments. Numbers and data bring your work experience to life and help hiring managers envision the potential impact you could have in their organization, says an article from Indeed. When you can, back up your achievements with real data to boost your credibility and add informative detail to your resume. Tell a truthful story. No matter what else your resume does, it absolutely must give an accurate picture of who you are and what you can do. The Muse says this is how hiring managers will know youre the right person for the job. Ultimately, when you re-read and edit it, make sure that it tells the story of your background, the skills you gained along the way, the experiences that you’ve had, and makes it crystal clear why you’ve ended up where you are today and why the role that they are hiring for is the perfect next step for you. This is a lot to cover in just a few words, and getting it right will require time and focus. But following these new rules for resume writing should ensure that your document gets past a computer screen and into the hands of a hiring manager who will be inspired to give you a call and start the interview process. If your resume can take you that far, the rest is up to you. Know someone looking for a job? Refer a friend to with this link- you’ll get a month free service and they’ll get 30% off!