118 Resume Tips for 2018

118 Resume Tips for 2018 January 10, 2018 There are a wealth of tips and best practices that professionals can employ to raise the value of their resume. However, no two job seekers are exactly alike, therefore, what works for one persons resume may not work for another.   Truly, the best resume tip of all is that there is No One Way to Write a Resume!  The following 118 bite-sized tips are designed for quick reference and easy application. Lots of links are included to additional resources and posts to help you further explore ideas and apply what works best…for YOU! 118 Resume Tips for 2018: Pick out a job target before you start Exploring multiple job paths? Create a unique resume for each Changing careers? Be ready to highlight transferable skills Research target role requirements and job functions carefully Identify top job skills to translate into your file Tailor resume content for each job target Customize content for every job â€" general resumes don’t work Align your skills with the posting requirements Highlight job requirements from the job posting Present immediate value Clearly demonstrate why you are the candidate of choice Use the targeted job title as your resume header Use a resume format that works best for you Avoid templates; these don’t account for strategy Add contact information so employers can connect with you Include a link to your LinkedIn profile Showcase social media addresses, your website, or personal blog Create a human-friendly format for in-person or networking purposes Keep your resume format industry-appropriate Consider how ATS (applicant tracking system) will read your resume Research how ATS works Develop a computer-friendly format for ATS Eliminate certain design components to support ATS compliance Avoid placing content in the document header or footer (won’t be read by ATS) Don’t try to ‘game the system’ by overpopulating your file with keywords; it won’t work ‘Know thyself’ before starting to write your resume Locate your 10% difference Employ professional assistance if you aren’t sure of your unique value Develop a value proposition Identify your brand and support it throughout the resume Create a strong tagline or headline Write for the job you want; not for the job you have Cut back on tasks-based content Demonstrate success in every role Provide examples of how the application of your skills results in positive outcomes Ensure content is scalable and measurable Share accomplishment-driven stories Promote yourself with purpose Keep content compelling and engaging De-emphasize unrelated roles Brainstorm Challenges, Actions, and Results (CAR) and turn them into action points Consider which resume sections will sell you best and showcase them Create a Skills or Core Competencies section Feature top results in a Qualifications or Achievements section Do you have related volunteer work? Add this section Targeting a technical role? Consider a Technical Skills section Try a unique section header like “Career Evolution” or “Leadership Impacts” Minimize focus on unrelated work history Keep work history or experience to recent 10-15 years Add Education. Older workers might remove graduation years Don’t forget to mention professional development (courses, certifications, etc.) Use strategic content to de-emphasize any employment gaps Demonstrate results Sell don’t tell Highlight top career achievements Lead with results and front-load points throughout Laden the resume with metrics Focus on how you impacted the bottom line Quantify details by answering: how much, how many, how often Add oomph with specific $, %, or # Provide the proof Share strong career ‘stories’ Emphasize growth, revenue expansion, and cost-savings Employ strong keywords Use an active voice with lots of active words Pepper industry words and phrases throughout Support keywords with concrete examples Vary your word selection Use the job posting to identify which keywords are best Create a word cloud from the job posting to identify top words Avoid common resume mistakes Ensure content doesn’t miss the mark. Customize! Evade the career obituary…a list of “everything you’ve ever done” No need to list all career history: 15 years is typically sufficient Steer clear of dense text or heavy paragraphs Remove the line “References Available Upon Request” Keep personal pronouns off the resume Proofread! Use proper spelling and grammar Don’t go on and on and on and on… Fill every page fully or use less pages Use a thoughtful Career Summary versus an objective statement Avoid using the same resume for every application. Customize! Tune out misinformed resume opinions. Get your tips from qualified sources Never copy content from someone else’s resume Don’t cram content onto one page if you need more space Sharpen resume content by reducing wordiness or fluffy fillers Remove extra words like of, the, a Avoid word widows or orphans Vary your action verbs Order content from most relevant to least relevant Leverage the top 1/3 of the resume to sell yourself Watch the length! Maximize metrics and wow with results Remember: sometimes less is more and longer isn’t better Aim to be informative and descriptive Be consistent: if you spell out numbers above 10, do it always Engage modern, well-suited design components Use a distinct presentation that is suitable for your industry Consider a graphic resume Use a chart or try some color Graph impacts and results Include appropriate white space; make it easy to read Bullet key points Make content pop with boxes, shapes, or Smart Art Include strong, on-brand testimonials Try a mix of fonts, but sparingly Don’t let design get garish or cutesy Keep font size between 10 to 12 Content is king, but presentation matters too Think quality over quantity Remember, less can be more Overview job duties in a succinct manner; focus more on your achievements Keep bulleted points to just 2 or 3 lines Never lie in your resume Stay away from superlatives like excellent or superior Be prepared to speak on every resume point Keep abreast resume trends because this important career tool is always evolving!