The past few years have been a rollercoaster ride for the job market, from pandemic-related layoffs to surges in hiring to “The Great Resignation.” All of these changes have caused many people to rethink their jobs and their careers. The year may be more than half over, but that doesn’t mean you should put your job search on hold until 2023. Now is the time to polish up your resume and go after the roles you want.
If it has been a while since you updated your materials, here are some current resume trends to keep in mind.
Generic is Out. Have a Clear Purpose.
As you search for a new job, you may find many opportunities and different roles that interest you. But don’t let this sabotage your chances by trying to create a generic resume that captures everything you can or want to do.
Tailor your resume for each position. Focus on the skills and experience required for the specific field you want to pursue. Let employers see right from the start that you are a good fit by using a clear summary of qualifications. Incorporate keywords and phrases that align with the industry and the work performed. Don’t try to be a jack of all trades, master of none. Know your value.
Consider Your Online Presence.
Thanks to the Internet, recruiters and hiring managers have a wealth of information at their fingertips. Don’t be deceived thinking they’re not going to be checking your online profiles and social media pages. Update your LinkedIn and online portfolio so you can include these links on your resume and show a potential employer what you can do.
Clean up your online presence on pages you’re not putting on your resume as well. Make sure they reflect you in a positive, professional manner and don’t give an employer reason to think twice about bringing you in for an interview.
Show You’re Tech Savvy.
The coronavirus pandemic accelerated many businesses shift to using digital tools and platforms. Make sure your resume highlights the software, systems, and programs that you are competent in using. Review various job postings to see what technology is being used in the role or industry you’re applying to and consider brushing up your skills if there are programs you’re not already familiar with.
Demonstrate Measurable Achievements.
It’s not enough to simply say you are good at your job; you have to show it. Include quantifiable results when possible, including dollar amounts, percentages, and other figures. How much time or money did you save the company? What percent to goal were you on your sales? How large was the team, budget, or fleet that you managed? Numbers pop and show the impact you have made.
Use a Clean, Straightforward Format.
Many employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to quickly scan through dozens of resumes. You want your resume to be simple and easy for the system to read and pull out essential information. Getting too creative with fonts, graphs, images, headings, and layout can confuse these programs and increase your risk of being rejected right from the start.
Yes, there are the occasional news stories about people who have landed jobs by thinking outside the box and getting creative with putting their resume on a cereal box or making a TikTok video, but these cases are often the exception, not the norm. Unless you are physically handing your resume to a human who will be looking at it, you are better off using a more traditional approach. Let your personality shine in an interview.
Use a Professional Resume Writing Service
The first step to getting hired is impressing the hiring manager through your resume. If you are unsure about what should or should not be included or how to effectively present yourself and your abilities, working with a professional resume writer can help. Contact Grammar Chic today to learn more about resume writing services.
