Tips To Improve Your Current Resume
If you are thinking about looking for a new job, you might want to take a look at your old resume. While your resume is a work in progress, it’s not always a good idea to simply input new information into the old format and assume it’s good enough.
By following just a few steps you can totally makeover your current resume, which will help you land more interviews, as well as make the tough task of writing your resume much easier.
Make Sure Your Resume Is Focused
If you are thinking about applying for new jobs because you want to advance your career or you are simply ready for a career change, you need to be sure that your resume has a focus. You might find writing an objective at the top of your resume the simplest way to give your resume focus. You’ll want to be sure that every person that picks up your resume knows not only where you have been and what you have done, but also where you want to go. When an employer can’t look at your resume and understand within moments what you want or why you are applying with them, they won’t be interested. So, pick your field of interest and make sure that what you what is very clear to anyone that may read the resume.
Don’t Forget About Education
Many people that have been working for a long time think that they no longer need to list their education on their resume, but this is something that you should definitely include. You should not only include your college, certificate, and diploma programs but you should also choose to include any optional or continuing education programs or certificates that you have earned. Education shows most employers that you are educated and have the ability to put your education to good use.
Use Industry Buzzwords
Read over your resume and insert industry relevant buzzwords. While this may seem as though it is not necessary, it’s a good idea to use the language that is relevant to the job you held. This shows employers that you have a grasp on the industry and knowledge that you are eager to apply in future positions as well. While you want to make sure to use these buzzwords to show that you are involved and knowledgeable, you want to make sure that your resume isn’t just all buzzwords. You don’t want a resume that is so full of buzzwords that it doesn’t tell the employer anything about you. So, review your resume to be sure that you achieve a balance between sounding knowledgeable and actually saying something!
Write Great Job Descriptions
You should attempt to write really great job descriptions for each of the jobs that you held. Not only will this include the buzzwords mentioned above, but also it will also engage the reader and actually have them interested in your past employment. You can get help with job descriptions by contacting the human resources departments of the places you’ve worked, or you can visit your library and browse through the Dictionary Of Occupational Titles, which will provide a great description of just about any job title you can think of and then some!
Give Job Details
When you list your jobs, don’t just list the titles and the dates that you were employed. Review your current resume and be sure that you give adequate details about each position such as what responsibilities you held, how many people you supervised, and any other important information. Remember to use buzzwords and keywords that are job specific here, as well.
List Your Accomplishments
It’s important to remember that a resume isn’t just a list of job descriptions; it’s also about your accomplishments. You need to really think about all of the great things you’ve done in your career. Ask yourself what you have done that has gone above and beyond your job description and detail these things in your resume. If you helped to develop a new product, exceed sales goals, or start a training program make sure to include that in your job description. Remember that when you are writing a resume it’s always a good idea to quantify your accomplishments because numbers are always impressive.
Don’t Be Afraid To Delete
After you’ve added new information and perhaps changed the formatting a bit to make your resume more focused, don’t be afraid to delete information that is not relevant to the type of career you are now aiming for. You don’t have to submit an all inclusive resume, you just need to give a prospective employer enough to get him interested, to get you in to have an interview. Make sure you keep sentences that have your all important buzzwords, but remember that less is often more with a resume so deletion generally isn’t a bad thing.
Grammar Check
Read over your resume and be sure that you have written in a language that your target audience will be able to understand. Make sure that your sentences are complete and avoid short and choppy sentences in your description of job duties. You want sentences that really flow together and are compelling and really sell your ability to do the job you are applying for. Sentences that begin with verbs are often the most compelling, though they should be positive in nature, as well as very brief and accurate. Only use words that you are sure of their meaning when you write your resume. When you are checking the grammatical correctness of your sentences you should also think about their order. Read your resume aloud so you can see if there is a better sentence order than the current one.
Extra Qualifications
Don’t forget to update your qualifications that may be above and beyond what other people have achieved. Your qualifications can be listed at the bottom of your resume after your work experience. You’ll want to list items such as special licenses, certifications, affiliations, and even hobbies if they relate to the industry in which you are applying for jobs.
You’ll notice that when you review your resume and you make these changes that it not only looks better and reads better, it will serve you better! It’s never too late to revise your resume and breathe some new life into it. When you fail to update your resume the only person you are holding back is yourself. So, look over your resume closely and see if you can’t make some of these changes for the better!
