The good news? Soon you’ll graduate from college and start your career! Less than good news? First you need to write a resume that reflects your entire work experience and your personality to land your dream job. Sounds easy enough. But, let’s be honest, getting the chronology right and then trying to summarize all those jobs without putting people to sleep can feel a bit like cleaning your room did as a kid.
Once you’ve created a chronological outline with the ‘when, where and what’ work you’ve done, the fun begins with selecting the style of resume that fits your goals. Sure, the thousands of template options online can be daunting. Just keep in mind that the look of your resume often dictates the type of job you land. Try a Google search for “Best Resume Samples” or “Resumes That Get Read By Hiring Managers.” If you want a humdrum job, select a humdrum resume style. If you want a job that reflects your drive, your energy, your creativity … then choose a template that feels like the most logical “fit” for the job you want.
Stand Out from the Pack.
What you are really doing is marketing yourself. Get to the meat of what makes you hirable by showing your authentic self. Emphasize your work experience as well as the tangible skills you possess by showcasing both your hard and soft skills. Hard and soft, huh? A hiring manager looks for a well-rounded candidate within your resume. Hard skills would be defined by your knowledge or training, either on-the-job or at school, i.e. Data Analysis, Project Management, Web Development. Your soft skills are the people skills you developed as you grew up, i.e. Problem-solving, Creativity, Teamwork. Be careful not to use fluff words.
Position Yourself With Compelling Stories.
Customize your resume by demonstrating your strengths by backing them up with facts and data. You must “show, don’t tell.” Demonstrate to a potential hiring manager that you achieved something in particular by providing metrics, that is, actual numbers that provide a measurable outcome or impact. [i.e. reduced department spending by 10% or achieved 120% of annual sales goal.”] See? No buzzwords or jargon. Use real examples and frame your accomplishment, award and/or accolade with descriptive words like: achieved, improved, created, resolved, negotiated, launched, increased/decreased, etc.
Format So the Bots Can Scan.
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) may scan your resume and funky formatting can trip it up. For example, robots don’t easily read separate text boxes, columns, headers and footers, and unusual fonts. [Write Coach Tip #1] Stick to universal fonts- not fonts you have to download.
Write Coach steers students towards “bullet points” when setting up their resumes. Why?
- Bullets are easier to read
- Bullets are simpler to peruse, especially by a busy hiring manager
- Bullets make formatting all your information more consistent
- Bullets prevent overcrowding- less wall-to-wall type and more white space
In other words, do not clog your resume. A resume should be between 475 and 600 words. Avoid adding every single job or accolade you have ever had. Likewise, if you are going for the English teaching job, then, yes, by all means, find a spot to boast about the Creative Writing award you won in college, but ditch the part about being voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school- it’s just too braggadocios.
Make Your Value Crystal Clear.
Highlight the skills and attributes that qualify you for the specific job you are trying to land. Be sure to incorporate some of your prospective employer’s language (or keywords) from the job description. Your resume will be tweaked (ever so slightly) for every job you pursue. A typical job search includes over 20 posts, which may mean 20 slight variations of your resume.
Besides a good ol’ google search “what should NOT be included in a resume?” [Write Coach Tip #2] Here’s how to improve your resume’s “curb appeal” at the same time:
- Put titles and name in bold and color
- Delete all unnecessary words
- Lose your home address (it is not 1990:-)
- Include your LinkedIn profile
Speaking of, over 75% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates. [Write Coach Tip #3] show that you are active in groups on social media. Being actively engaged with peers puts your name out there as someone who understands the industry he/she is in. Spending just 10 minutes a day commenting on other posts from like-minded folks in your industry, or the industry in which you would like to play an integral part of, is a terrific networking trick.
Write Coach suggests you look at it as a working document. The goal of your resume is to zero in on the job that best fits your experience. To do this, you need to focus on what you do and who you are. Have a friend look it over and ask that friend to highlight three things that seem “random” to your end goal. If you are applying to be a high school History teacher, say goodbye to the part of your resume that highlights your college-earned bartending skills.
The length of your resume should be one page. This will change over time, as in, when you have enough work experience to merit a two pager. [Write Coach Tip #4] Include the date when you save your resume. When you insert a date within your title, i.e. {Jack.White.Resume.1.21}, it will be easier to find and revise for the rest of your life!
Resume writing is serious business. If you’re still stuck, Write Coach has a myriad of resume styles and suggestions that help you land that dream job. Sign up for the “Don’t Get Picked Last!” package or take advantage of our free 15-minute Resume Writing consult. We’re excited to help you make a stellar resume and land that dream job!
