Writing Resumes that Work – Resume Tips for Job Seekers

No matter how qualified you may be, if your resume can’t effectively portray your skills and experience, you’ll never get the interview. But writing resumes can be difficult! Whether you’re new to the job market or just looking for an update, here are some resume writing tips that will get you noticed.

Resume Keywords

The words you use in your resume matter. If a job is posted online, hundreds of resumes may be submitted. A screener has limited time with each document and will scan for relevant words. In addition, most staffing professionals have caps on candidates they can present to a hiring manager. They are more likely to select resumes where descriptions align closely with listed job requirements.

Applicant tracking, or talent management, systems are also very common with companies. These tools filter resumes and provide search features based on resume keywords. Yet another reason to select the words in your resume carefully.

How do you identify the right resume keywords? We have some suggestions.

• Brainstorm. Think about the key skills you have and what you accomplish on a daily basis. Get granular! It’s great if you manage projects, but elaborate by adding that you reconcile budgets, manage milestones and track project hours.
• Search jobs online. Select jobs that you would like to have and take note of the key words used. You may already have the right experience and just be using the wrong vocabulary on your resume.
• Use the posted job description. Writing resumes for specific job postings can be time consuming but also can be time well spent when you really want the job.

Choosing Language Carefully

Once you identify the right resume keywords, put them together in the strongest pitch possible. Effective language will catch a busy recruiter’s eye and give you a shot to sell yourself. Here are some highlights.

• Active. Using action verbs indicates you are productive and achieve results. In a business setting, that will matter to a manager. In a bulleted form, it is perfectly acceptable (and preferable) to lead with an action verb and omit the subject.
  • Good – I was responsible for leading teams
  • Better – Led teams
• Concise. Select language judiciously. Busy recruiters need a quick snapshot of you…don’t make them wade through your descriptive prose! (Unless you are applying to write descriptive prose.)
  • Good – I worked with teams across multiple organizations representing many functions
  • Better – Collaborated with cross-functional teams
• Specific. When describing your accomplishments, be fact-based and quantitative (if possible).
  • Good – Increased Facebook followers
  • Better – Increased Facebook followers by 20% in six months.

Accuracy is always important. Your resume is a representation of you. Anything you include should be verifiable—be ready to defend it! And one of the best resume tips? Ensure your resume is free of spelling and other writing errors. Have multiple sets of eyes review it. Recruiters and hiring managers will choose candidates who present the best.

Presentation Matters

The layout of your resume impacts the recruiter’s first impression. It should be well organized with a readable, professional font. Be sure to include these elements.

• Summary. A summary statement at the top of your resume (one or two sentences) gives a quick overview of your experience. It’s an excellent opportunity to pick up resume keywords and emphasize the experience relevant to the application.
• Skills. Creating a skills section before listing job experience helps a recruiter immediately qualify you for an interview. This section should include software and tools, coding languages, spoken languages and core competencies that span across multiple roles (copywriting, facilitation, project management, etc.). This is the single best way to capture keywords in your resume.
• Professional History. List your previous roles, with the most recent first, and include the dates. Each entry should have 3-5 bullets with specific responsibilities and accomplishments. Remember the resume writing tips for language!
• Education and Training. Include your college degrees, but if you are 10+ years post-graduation, the graduation year isn’t necessary. Also include any certifications or coursework relevant to your professional field or the type of job you seek.
• College Coursework. Some college students or recent graduates could include coursework, in-lieu of work experience, on a resume. This could be helpful if applying for a research position or a role requiring specialized knowledge such as accounting or law.

The age-old question with resumes still remains: should it be one page or two? Of course, it depends. If you have less than 10 years of experience, limit yourself to one page. More seasoned applicants may need two pages to accurately present their professional history. Just know that the second page may get less attention, making summary and skills sections are even more valuable.

Your resume is a living document. You should continually update it as your experience changes, but also as you navigate and learn through the application process. It’s a portrayal of your work experience and potentially your ticket that next big job. The investment in a strong resume is an investment in yourself!