If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to find a new job, then you need to start with your resume. Even in 2020, a polished and professional resume is still expected if you want to land a great new position. The bad news? There are many candidates out there right now with the same resolution as you. But there is good news. By taking a few key steps and tweaking your resume, you can ensure it’s at the top of the pile for interview calls. Here’s what to do:
Focus on the most relevant strengths and experience.
When you’re applying to a particular job, don’t list every task and duty you’ve ever handled. Instead, focus on those most relevant to the opportunity so that the hiring manager can quickly see that you’re a good fit. This means you’ll need to edit your resume each time you apply for a job. But the extra effort will be well worth it in the form of more interviews and potential job offers.
Show your worth through numbers.
It’s important to talk about your responsibilities and experience. However, more than that, you need to demonstrate your worth through hard numbers. For instance, how many projects did you manage? What was the size of the team you led? Where did you save a past employer time or money? These are the types of accomplishments that are going to make you stand out – and make you more memorable – to a hiring manager. So wherever you can, bring your background to life through numbers.
Include continuing education and outside experience.
Beyond your paid work experiences, don’t forget to include those where you gained a new skill, earned a certification or volunteered for a role. While these might not have been formal positions, this shows hiring managers that you’re committed to learning, growing and giving back. It’s just another way to set you apart from other candidates with similar experience as you.
Follow proper formatting rules.
While what your resume says is critically important, how it looks is vital, as well. If the margins are too narrow, paragraphs are too dense and the font size is too small, then the hiring manager isn’t going to be able to scan your resume quickly. Instead, make it as easy as possible for them to read and get the sense that you’re a match for what they’re looking for by using plenty of white space, incorporating bullet points, bolding job titles, and using a font size that’s large enough to read quickly.
Include keywords.
In today’s hiring process, many times an applicant tracking system will screen resumes before a hiring manager sees them. They use relevant keywords to search out those candidates that are the right fit, which is why it’s so important to include them on your resume. So before you submit yours, read through the job posting and make sure that some of the most relevant, job-specific ones are included on your resume.
Beyond the tips above, make sure you proofread your resume multiple times to ensure there aren’t any typos or mistakes. You want to put your best foot forward every time you submit your resume, so you increase your odds of getting called for the job.
Interested in more help with your job search?
As one of the Northwest’s leading employment agencies, Provisional Recruiting is here for you with a range of top opportunities we can give you access to. Simply contact our team to get started or search our jobs now.
