Resume Tips – Part One

Ah the resume.  A resume is a great tool that is used by both job seekers and employers.  For you the person looking for employment, the resume can be one of your greatest tools for marketing yourself.  For you the employer looking to add to your team, the resume is a great resource for recruiting and hiring.

A resume is something that many people have difficulty in creating and writing.  However it does not need to be an intimidating exercise.  In today’s world there is high competition for jobs and positions.  Having an effective resume as part of your toolkit is a must as you look to sell yourself in attempts to land a new job or launch your career.  Should your resume consist of one page or two pages?  Should you include references?  We offer some key resume tips that help answer some of these typical questions people have about creating resumes.

15 Resume Tips to Consider

  1. Make your resume pop – Did you know? Of those who receive resumes, 98% of them scan them in less than 30 seconds.  Less than 2% read through resumes thoroughly.   This means you have to make your resume stand out.
  2. Tailor your resume for the positions you are applying for – ensure that your resume speaks to the position that you are applying for.
  3. Provide enough information – be sure to include enough information so that your resume is read and reviewed and not simply thrown in a pile.
  4. Include action verbs in your resume – there are a ton of ways to describe your experience and expertise. Be sure to include action verbs from “achieved” to “collaborated” to “supervised” and “transformed” on your resume.
  5. If you are going to have a resume objective statement at the top of your resume make it short and sweet. It should be short, specific and really convey a “what’s in it for them” sentiment.  It could be something like: “To obtain a challenging position in a fast paced agency environment where my resourceful experience and marketing skills will add value to organizational operations, or it could be something as simple as: “To contribute superior project and operations management skills and experience in a Project Management role.”  Your objective statement should let the person know what job you are seeking, and allow you to sell your potential.  Many suggest that resume objective statements can be better replaced with your profile or career summary.
  6. Be consistent – the tone of your resume should reflect how you would communicate verbally during an interview.
  7. Make your resume visually appealing – the format you use for your resume should consist of common font such as Arial, Times New Roman or Verdana so that it is easy to read.
  8. White space is good but too much white space can be a determent – while your resume should be easy to read, you want to ensure that you convey enough information to pique the curiosity of the person who will be reading it.
  9. One page is not long enough – unless you are fresh out of school. A typical resume will usually consist of two pages and in some cases three.  Two pages should suffice for most people.
  10. Do not include your entire work history – if you have a lot of experience, you most likely only need to include your previous two or three jobs or from a tenure perspective include your experience going back the past 7-10 years.
  11. Consider having multiple resumes – depending on your career or background you may want to leverage multiple resumes for your job search.
  12. Do not include references on your resume – if and when requested you can provide references verbally or separately in an email or piece of paper.
  13. Include up-to-date contact information – this should be a no-brainer, but you want to ensure that people can contact you for an interview, so make sure that you phone number and email are accurate and current.
  14. Take your time – your resume is a tool to help market yourself, do not rush it, work on creating a solid resume that will help you land an interview.
  15. Freshness is good – do not be afraid to update your resume. Whether it is incorporating some new action verbs, adding a new hobby or interest or updating your social media information, a fresh resume will always work better for you.

Following these resume tips will help ensure that your resume accomplishes what it needs to do.

What Should a Resume Accomplish?

There are five things that your resume should accomplish:

  • Define and communicate your skills, accomplishments and competencies
  • Express and generate interest in you as a potential resource or team member
  • Set you apart from others who may be applying for the same jib
  • Provide an initial look into your character and personality
  • Compel the audience to want to learn more about you (i.e. land you an interview)

There is no doubt that having an effective resume can help you in your job search.  It can also help employers sift through the piles of resumes that they receive on a regular basis.  Still have questions or need help writing your resume?  Visit our resume writing services page.

Aspire Recruitment Solutions provide temporary staffing solutions in the Okanagan and beyond.  Contact us today for assistance with your resume and cover letter writing needs.