Resume Tips to Get You The Job You Want, Straight from Recruiters
By mbretous@hubspot.com (Martina Bretous)
I can’t think of many tasks people dread more than writing a resume. There are so many little things you need to add, rephrase, check, double-check, triple-check.
Post-pandemic, the job search is a whole different ball game, with new considerations you haven’t faced before.
A checklist makes everything seem less daunting so that’s what much of this article will be, and the best part is it’s recruiter-approved. Let’s dive in.
1. Include your contact information.
This seems like a given, right? Not exactly.
“You would be surprised to know how many really good resumes I’ve come across with no contact information,” says Ira Hughley, senior technical recruiter at HubSpot.
Make sure your full name, email address, and location are included. Don’t write out your full home address though, only a city and state.
While your location may not be too relevant to the job itself, as more roles are remote than ever before, employers still want to know your general location for tax and law purposes.
This also means that you should probably remove references that are too local, as your resume will likely reach a broader audience than before.
Lastly, make sure your email address is professional. While the time of MSN and AIM usernames are long gone, many of us still use old addresses we created long before we were in the workforce.
With this in mind, create a simple email with your first and last name. If it’s already taken, consider adding your industry to your email. E.g.: martinabretous.writing@gmail.com
2. Tailor your resume to the role.
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is using the same resume for every role they apply for.
Hughley recommends having multiple resume versions for each role category you’re interested in.
“Don’t try to cram all of your experience into the resume,” he says. “Sometimes you can talk to them during the interview.”
The same goes for keeping old roles that are no longer relevant.
“Be 110% sure that your work experience and interests match the job opportunity you are looking to get,” says Hughley. “Too often, I see resumes with tons of experience in areas other than the one being applied for.”
Instead, note roles that highlight your experience and show why you are a good fit for the role.
“What if I’m transitioning to a new industry and don’t have much experience, what should I do?” In this case, build a functional resume that frames your past experience to match the job you’re seeking.
For instance, say you’re transitioning to a developer role but only have experience in writing. Well, developer roles require problem-solving, critical thinking, time management, and a willingness to learn.
In this case, you can highlight the same skills in your writing role, like:
- Meeting deadlines – time management
- Brainstorming new article ideas – critical thinking
- Analyzing article performance and suggesting optimization strategies – problem-solving
While you may …read more
Source:: HubSpot Blog