Boss Ladies | Upgrade Your Resume

We all know that resumes can make or break your job hunting experience. I sat down with a Human Resource Manager  to get some insight on 10 ways to help you upgrade your resume.

Remove your address – Not only does it take up valuable space but your location can also turn recruiters off. Besides the fact that it’s none of their business, you don’t want them assuming it will be common for you to run late or have an issue with the commute.

Save it as a PDF – Documents open differently depending on the device. Would you read through a resume that wasn’t aligned or all jumbled? Avoid any crazy formatting issues by saving your resume as a PDF.

Include Appropriate Links – In 2016 almost everyone is digitally inclined. If you’ve created a website for yourself or have an active LinkedIn page, include the hyperlink. Being digitally savvy is a turn-on in almost every industry so highlight those virtual skills.

Get Keyword Savvy – Look at the keywords in the description for whatever position you’re applying for and be sure that you incorporate as many of them as possible into your resume. Because HR professionals receive so many resumes, they often scan through them before reading them entirely in search of specific keywords. Using the appropriate keywords is the easiest way to say “I’m qualified! Dig deeper”.

Use Hard Numbers – Did you grow increase sales by 25% or manage $2 million in assets? Using numbers is much more effective than saying “increased sales” or “managed all portfolios”. Tell us how much or how many. Hagan Blount is known for incorporating numbers into resumes, view his work here.

Delete the Year you Graduated – I graduated two years ago and when I did, I emphasized I was fresh out of school because I had been waiting so long to say it. I now realize an employer seeing that you just graduated may make you seem too inexperienced. If I want to apply for a managerial or director position, I want it to be based off of the work that I’ve done, not the timeframe in which I achieved it.

Tailor your Resume for Different Jobs – This may seem like a tedious chore, and well… That’s because it is. But it is a very necessary one. Based on what job you’re applying for, you should have resumes that highlight different experiences and skill sets. This goes back to making sure you’re highlighting the keywords for the position you’re applying for.

Add Volunteer Experience – If your resume lacks experience or you have big gaps in between your jobs, consider adding your volunteer experience, especially if you’ve taken on a leadership role or did major fundraising. It may not have been an actual job but many of the skills are transferrable. Think about what would make you an asset and brag on that.

What to Delete – Let’s start with the “references on request” line. It takes up a line and it’s obvious. That’s also like saying you’re proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel… OK? We expect you to be. Just like we expect you to be able to work a smartphone.

Eliminate Soft Skills – Resumes should be all about work experience and what you’ve accomplished. Save the details regarding your personality traits for when you land an interview.

Forget about College – If you’ve been out more the two years, delete the committees you were in and what your GPA was. I’d only make an exception if you did something extraordinary like create a program that’s still running.

What resume tips have you acquired that have proven to work for you? Share with us below!