When was the last time you updated your resume? If it’s been more than six months, it may be time to give it a facelift. When you submit your resume for consideration, it’s added to a pile of many others just like it. If your resume is boring, it’s going to get tossed in the recycling bin. Here are some areas of your resume that can be improved:
Formatting
Recruiters see hundreds of resumes in any given week, and they don’t read every single one line by line. They scan for important keywords and accomplishments, and spacing out all that information over more than one page makes it harder for them to find. Keep your resume to one page. Use a readable font like Times New Roman, or Georgia if it’s going to be online, as that’s an excellent font for reading on a screen.
Objective
Most resumes don’t include an objective statement anymore, so if you choose to use one, make sure that you have a good reason to. Ask yourself if you would do better presenting your objective statement in a cover letter, where you can use more words to persuade your reader. If you choose to use one, make sure that you keep it short and focused.
Employment
Instead of loosely rewriting your past job description to explain your responsibilities, use a bulleted list to highlight your accomplishments. Actions speak louder than words, so highlighting what you’ve accomplished makes you much more interesting than a candidate who only lists his responsibilities. Most job titles are self-explanatory, and if a hiring manager has any questions about your duties, they can always ask you in an interview.
Other things to avoid
- Don’t include anything about your high school education if it’s been more than five years since you graduated.
- Every employer knows that they can ask you for references. Printing, “References available upon request,” on your resume is a waste of your printer ink and your hiring manager’s time. Leave it out!
- Don’t feel pressured to include a list of every single skill that you possess. Again, focusing on your accomplishments will show your skills without you having to tell your hiring manager about them.
Does your resume need more than just a facelift? If you need a complete overhaul, get in touch with one of our specialists at Burnett’s Staffing. We’ve been placing candidates in jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1966, and we’d love to put our experience to work for you!