Tis the season to relax a little, catch up with family and friends and dress up your résumé. As the spring quickly approaches, jobs will start hitting the market, and you want to be ready with a catchy updated résumé if a job peaks your interest.
Nancy Collamer, a contributor for Forbes, posted 8 critical ways to improve your résumé earlier this year. These tips can assist in setting you apart from the hundreds of résumés that will hit a hiring manager’s desk once a job is posted.
- Write to the future, not the past. Your résumé is a marketing document, not a historical record. Give heavier emphasis to the experiences and accomplishments that relate to your objective.
- Integrate critical keywords. Use the correct keyword so your résumé does not get overlooked.
- Showcase your “WOW”. Lead with powerful “wow statements” when explaining your past jobs and provide a brief write-up of your other responsibilities.
- Ditch the objective and replace it with a summary. Objectives tend to come off telling your employer what you want from them instead of highlighting your years of experience, job history and major achievements.
- Write “lean and mean”. Every word must count and you need to leave the muscle and lose the fat. Numbers provide a measurable indicator of your performance, so when possible use figures.
- Make your contact information pop so busy hiring managers can reach you easily.
- Improve your résumé’s skimmability.
- Punch up the design (cautiously). Research the cultural and environment of the institution you are applying to when adding some unique bling to your résumé. What may be eye catching and appealing at one university might be too much at another.
As we head in to 2017, ring in the New Year with an updated and fresh résumé. Remember the importance of guidance and feedback from peers and mentors as it relates to your résumé. It is important to take time to recharge and look ahead to a new year with new and exciting possibilities.