It’s that time of year again! That warmer weather we’ve all been waiting for is enough to inspire you to clean out your closet, your desk drawers and maybe even your inbox. Your resume could use the same kind of cleaning. Even if you’re not planning on looking for a new job this year, you want your resume to be crisp and clean and ready to send out on a moment’s notice. Here are some tips to clean up your resume so it’s concise and grabs attention.
Print it out
It’s a lot easier to mark up a hard copy than a digital copy—and it’s easier to scrutinize every little word and symbol on a piece of paper than a computer screen. You’re also less likely to get lost in the process of removing entire chunks, moving sections around, or deleting certain pieces. Use a brightly colored pen and make your edits!
Fix the typos
This one seems obvious, but it’s crucial. A misspelled word, incorrect grammar or inconsistent formatting tells a hiring manager you’re careless, unskilled or just misinformed. It’s certainly not going to help your resume stand out from the rest of the competition.
Delete the old stuff
Get rid of the sections that are more than ten to fifteen years old. Those experiences are no longer relevant, particularly if it’s a licensure or certification that’s expired or out of date. And take out anything that’s unrelated to the job you’re applying for. If you’re seeking an accounting position, for example, delete those two years you spent as a clerk in a cell phone store.
Highlight the accomplishments
Your future employer wants to see what successes you’ve had and what contributions you’ve made to your current company. Read between the lines of the old bullet points on your resume and figure out how you can turn those into achievements instead of boring responsibilities. Add in some numbers, facts and figures to give those achievements some magnitude – you reduced expenses by X dollars, trained and managed X employees or boosted sales by X%. And add any recent achievements you didn’t have on there before. If you do it while they’re fresh in your head, you can be sure you won’t forget them later on.
Customize it
This is a little tricky if you haven’t identified a specific job you want yet. But if you at least look at similar job descriptions and include those keywords, you’ll be in good shape. Make sure your skills and experience align with the requirements in those job postings. A lot of companies use software to screen resumes, so if yours doesn’t feature some of their most important keywords, you probably won’t make it to the next round.
For more tips on crafting the perfect resume, contact PrideStaff Thousand Oaks today.
