9 Ways Refresh Your. A community member emailed me this week and said, “I’m applying for a job and I need a resume refresh.
sh. What do you recommend?”
Savvy job seekers know that the best jobs are in the “hidden” job market. Most employers prefer to hire within. When that’s not possible, they talk with people they know. They ask current employees for recommendations. If they are digging in the resume stack, it’s because none of the above worked.
That said, it’s still expected that you’ll have a current resume, even if you came by referral. Here’s 9 things you can do right now to refresh it:
1) Remove the objective: I see resumes with statements like, “My objective is to get a mid-level position in the environmental industry that will allow me to grow… yada, yada, yada.” That’s about you, not the employer. If an employer is looking at your resume, it’s because they don’t know you. What’s in it for them? See #2.
2) Include a “summary of qualifications” or “executive profile” or other header that gives a overview of how you’ll bring value. Then, list the skills that you uniquely bring.
3) Eliminate overused words. Everybody already assumes that you think you are a hard-working, detail-oriented, team-player, with outstanding communication skills and a proven track record. If you really were, you would show them instead of telling them. See #4 , #7, and #9.
4) Demonstrate results. What you are/were “responsible for” in positions is boring. Avoid describing past jobs; instead, share results. “Launched a marketing program that raised new website inquiries by 24%” is a lot more attractive than, “Responsible for marketing.”
5) Shorten it. If you can say it with less words, good. At a bare minimum, no more than one page for every 10 years of work experience. Get it down to one page if possible. The only person impressed with the length of your resume is your mother.
6) Tame your fonts. If you’re going the traditional route, stick with 12-point font and at least one inch margins. Use an attractive, professional font (not Comic Sans). Decision makers often have older eyes. Make it easy on them.
7) Give them numbers. Claiming that you “increased profitability” sounds nice, but shows little. Stating that you, “Increased profitability year-over-year by 19% between Q1 2010 and Q1 2011 while growing the team by 3 people” is a lot better.
8) Get creative. This won’t work with every company, but try something different – especially if your application is a shot in the dark. Try something different, but only if it’s done well and is relevant to the job application. For example, creating a portfolio that showcases your skills and experience.
9) Share examples of your work. If I was looking for a job, I would send people to my podcast. Depending on your industry, you might include your website, blog, portfolio, book, project, or anything else related to the employer’s needs. Most people don’t do this.
One of the key things you can do to refresh your resume is to include a professional summary or executive profile, this should give an overview of how you can bring value to the employer and list the skills that you uniquely bring.
Another key thing you can do is to eliminate overused words such as “hard-working”, “detail-oriented”, “team-player” and “outstanding communication skills”, instead of telling them, show them the results and accomplishments, this will make your resume stand out.
It’s worth noting that having a resume with good content is not the only way to get hired, having connections in the industry can be just as important, however, having a good resume can help open the door and keep the conversation going.
In order to keep up with the changing job market, you should aim to shorten your resume to ensure it stays up-to-date and relevant, it should be concise and easy to read, it’s also worth tailoring it to the specific job you are applying for.
To refresh your resume, you can start by reviewing the common mistakes that people make when creating a resume, such as overusing keywords, not tailoring it to the specific job, not including enough numbers and facts, and not sharing examples of your work, to avoid these common mistakes and make your resume stand out.
In order to write a great resume, you need to focus on the results you have achieved rather than your responsibilities, this will show the employer that you can deliver results and help achieve their goals, it’s also worth highlighting your achievements, rather than just listing your job responsibilities.
An effective resume should also be scannable, with clear headings, bullet points and white space to make it easy to read, you should also use a clear and easy-to-read font, and avoid using too many different fonts or colors, also using action verbs in your bullet points can help to make your resume more dynamic and engaging.
To create a great resume, it’s worth considering the following tips, use action verbs in your bullet points, use numbers and facts to demonstrate your achievements, use clear and concise language, use a clear and easy-to-read font, use bullet points and headings to make it easy to read, tailor it to the specific job you are applying for, and have someone review it before submitting it.
While there’s no guarantee that a great resume will get you a job, having a well-crafted one can certainly help, it’s worth investing time and effort into creating a great resume that showcases your skills and experience, and highlights your achievements and results.
