2023 has been a firm reminder that if you stay ready you don’t have to get ready when it comes to employment.  As a rule of thumb, it is always recommended to update your resume quarterly.  This keeps your resume up to date in real-time and allows you the opportunity to add content to your resume thoughtfully versus under duress.  I would also invite you to consider your stake and investment in your career.  You’ve gotten the education, you’ve obtained the experience, and you’ve worked hard to set a positive trajectory for your career.  Now take the time to highlight those aspects via a professional resume.

Did you know that recruiters have 6-7 seconds to review and decide on how to move forward with your resume?  This isn’t a nonchalant approach to assessing your skills, abilities, and experience.  It is however an indicator of the volume of applicants, the needs of the organization, and the time to fill the position.  So here are some tips to make the most of those 6-7 seconds and showcase your value on your resume. 

Track your Achievements

Content matters!  The best way to deliver quality content to your resume is to describe not only your tasks but your actions and accomplishments.  As you complete your day-to-day functions it can be easy to discount your work efforts as “just a part of the job”. However, your efforts and achievements are the markers of your professional progress and experience.  Do not shortchange yourself.  Make a point of providing a professional assessment on at least a quarterly basis. 

 No More Objectives, Use a Professional Summary

Candidly, objectives are antiquated.  All recruiters understand that there are 2 objectives in submitting your resume.  1. Obtain an interview and 2. Get the job.  What is on trend now is to develop a professional summary.  Consider this an elevator pitch providing a high-level overview of why you should be selected to be interviewed for the role.  After your demographic information, this should be the very next item a recruiter reads.  The summary should illustrate your professional brand.  And yes, you can brag!

Half-Page Rule of Thumb

Remember, recruiters have 6-7 seconds to review your resume.  What better way to increase your chances of moving forward than to have the most important elements in the first half of your resume?   The first half of your resume should include your name, city and state, best number and email to reach you, your LinkedIn address, Professional Summary, and Key Skills (9 bullets).  Your recruiter now knows enough information about you and your potential as it pertains to being fit for the role. 

Make your Bullets Count

Once your resume has been selected from other applicants, now what?  What does the rest of the resume say about you?  Your bullets are an excellent way to continue to highlight your skills and ability.  While true “sentence form” is not used on resume bullets, they should be clear, and articulate and help the reader understand what you have accomplished.  Use strong action words but diversify their usage i.e. if you used “Supervised” to start one bullet find another word to express your this as you move through the resume.  Also, budget and percentage amounts, projects completed, initiated, and or/led, and teams you have managed are extremely helpful as well.  You are painting a picture of your abilities. 

Get a Second Opinion

Believe it or not, you can become “resume blind” when writing your resume. Get someone you trust to review for grammar, composition, and content as well.  Some recommendations would be a mentor or trusted co-worker.  Also, if you are seeking an impartial opinion, consider contacting freelance agencies like Fiverr to review your resume for a fee. 

You are the captain of your career.  No matter how big or small your contributions have been, they have added value to your organization.  The tips provided will set you on track to feature your skills and ability as the star of your resume.  You’ve got this! 

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