I said I was going to post resume tips yesterday but the NyQuil took me out. I’ll post a few today and you all can feel free to q&a if you’d like. I’m not an HR professional ,but I do feel that the information I’ve learned along the way can be invaluable to someone.
1. Create a professional e-mail account specifically for your job search. Ideally you would use your first and last name if possible.
2. Create a LinkedIn account. It is VERY useful when networking towards a career. I would suggest dedicating some of your social media hours to connecting on this platform.
3. Do not list your address on your resume. Unfortunately, geographical bias does exist in the recruiting process. I generally list “Greater Atlanta Area” if I am willing to travel.
4. Make sure that your voicemail greeting is clear and professional and able to receive messages.
5. Objectives are outdated. If your resume starts with an objective, I would suggest replacing it with a professional summary. A professional summary should list your skills and accomplishments in a measurable or quantifiable manner. List any number or goals you helped reach. Perhaps talk about how you contributed an invaluable piece to a project.
6. The most important part of a resume is the format. It should be a clear standard font such as Calibri or Times New Roman, 10-12 pt, evenly spaced, and free of spelling/grammatical errors.
7. Typically it is suggested to list 10 years of work history with no gaps. I suggest listing volunteer work or any special projects you did in between jobs. Be creative.
8. ALSO VERY IMPORTANT! Most employers use computer generated systems to pull applicants for review. That little “thanks for your interest” e-mail was most likely sent before a human ever laid eyes on your resume. As a rule of thumb, I typically won’t apply for a job unless I have at least 60% or more of the skills needed to succeed. I then go to the job listing and make sure I use some of the exact wording to describe my skills. You don’t want to be overlooked because you said you were highly proficient in “interpersonal relations” and the computer is looking for someone who has “customer service” experience like it said in the posting.
9. Putting “references available upon request” is an implied statement. It is not necessary to list it on your resume.
10. Customize each cover letter to the specific job posting. My cover letter typically consists of a good introductory paragraph, 1-2 paragraphs expanding on my work history and significant contributions, and a summary paragraph that ends with me assuming the role e.g.
“It will be my pleasure to join your growing corporation. Your commitment to servicing the community is directly inline with my history of managing a non-profit ;and my desire to continue my mission of bettering the nowhere area. I’d like to schedule an meeting some time next week so that we may further discuss how I may be an asset to your team. I am available by phone at 888-888-8888 or by email at email@email.com. I will follow up by the end of the week to see what time works best for you. “
Believe it or not, I actually got a few interviews that way. They called me the next day.
What else did I miss? Are there any areas in particular that you need guidance on? Any tips you’d like to add?
Ke Know's a Lot About That! 