Resumés.
They are such an essential part of your job search.
I like to think most people are knowledgeable about resumé design nowadays.
However, I have reviewed well over a hundred resumés in the last two months. It’s become apparent that a lot of people aren’t aware of current resumé practices. If you haven’t conducted a job search in years, you may be one of them.
Here are a few things you should know about today’s resumé design:
Resumé design is of paramount importance.
Your resumé may not be compatible with the software (aka “the ATS, or Applicant Tracking System”) used by employers to post jobs and collect resumés. If your resumé is not ATS-compliant, it probably won’t even be reviewed by human eyes. In addition, I don’t recommend using any resumé templates that are available online. Trust me, I’ve seen A LOT of resumés prepared with templates and unfortunately, many of them are far from acceptable.
Two-page resumés are okay.
Many people believe a resumé should only be one page. Perhaps this belief comes from their time as a college student, when most students were instructed to prepare a one-page resumé. Anyone with several years of experience will likely need a two-page resumé, which is perfectly acceptable.
Street addresses are not necessary.
For privacy and for your personal safety, today’s resumé should only include your city and state.
Objective statements are obsolete.
Objectives were boring and every one said the same thing – “looking for a position where I can apply my skills and knowledge blah blah blah…”. The boring Objective statement has been replaced with a more impactful Professional Summary statement that entices the employer to keep reading your resumé for more details.
The top third is the attention-grabber.
After your Professional Summary, include three to five bullets that indicate the impact you have made at your employer(s). Accomplishments that include numbers will catch their attention and make the hiring team want to continue reviewing the rest of your resumé. If you don’t grab their attention in the top one-third, they will briefly skim your resumé for 7 seconds and move on to the next one.
You do not need to include every single job you’ve ever had in your lifetime.
For most resumés, you should only include your work from the last 10-15 years. However, it’s more important to include experience that is most related to the position you are pursuing now. For instance, 30 years ago, I was a hotel GM. If I were applying for a hospitality position now, my resumé would include my related hotel experience and place less emphasis on my current career.
Age discrimination is very real.
For this reason, don’t include graduation dates or any other dates that enable the employer to guestimate your age. If your related work experience is from a long time ago, just list the employer’s name, location, and your job title without dates of employment.
Section headings count.
Use traditional headings like Work Experience and Education. When you get too creative with section headings, it may confuse the ATS.
Font size matters.
Use font size 10 or 12 for the body of your resumé. Anything smaller than that is difficult to read. Headings are typically font size 14, and your name should be in the largest font size. You can play around a bit with font sizes if you need to, but again, don’t use any font size smaller than 10.
“References available upon request”.
Including this verbiage on your resumé is an outdated practice. It’s assumed you will provide references when asked to do so, so it’s not necessary to include this statement.
In today’s competitive job market, a well-crafted resumé is your ticket to landing your dream job. By staying up-to-date with current resumé practices, you can significantly increase your chances of catching a potential employer’s eye. Take the time to review and update your resumé regularly, ensuring it reflects your most recent accomplishments and aligns with modern design standards. With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to create a compelling resumé that showcases your skills and experiences effectively, helping you stand out among the competition. Shelley Maley, PHR, GCDFDreamcatcher Career Coaching, LLC www.dreamcatchercareercoaching.com (610) 663-0585
Communications Chairperson – Pennsylvania Career Development Association (PACDA)
Connect with me on Linkedin:
https://linkedin.com/in/shelleymaleycareercoach