Spring Cleaning Your Resume!

New job opportunities can arise in the blink of an eye in today's job market. Being prepared, specifically with regards to your resume, is the key to seizing them. If you haven't looked at your resume in a while, pull it out, dust it off, and use these strategies to make sure it's presenting you at your best:

1) PASSING THE VISUAL TEST

Glance briefly at your resume, then away. Now ask yourself what sticks in your mind: a bit of formatting or a portion of text? The problem with the vast majority of resume templates floating about the Internet is that they err on the side of the former. Take it from a Professional Resume Writer: artificially calling attention to your resume through a flashy border, logos, fonts, etc. is one of the best ways to get rejected during submissions. Keep it simple and make sure it SUPPORTS the text instead of detracting from it.

2) "IT'S ALL ABOUT SKILLS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS"

How many times have you heard the above phrase used when talk turns to resumes? While true, what TYPES of skills you highlight and the QUALITY of your accomplishments is the key to landing interviews. Did you recently complete a project drawing on previously untapped skills such as client relationship building, budgeting/cost control and others? If relevant, be sure to mention it within the OPENING SECTION of your resume, typically a 3-4 line summary of what you're bringing to the table.

The accomplishments you've racked up at previous positions are best served by being listed in bullets. Try to make them as quantifiable as possible. For example, a line like, "Managed all aspects of residential construction project, working with staff and regularly updating client" would work much better along the lines of, "Controlled all aspects of $22M condominium project, liaising heavily with cross-functional staff and delivering weekly client status updates." See the difference?

3) HIGHLIGHT WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

Sometimes in the panic to integrate industry keywords and play up professional credits, we forget to highlight what SETS US APART. While it's crucial to make sure your resume is up to professional standards, oftentimes the deciding factor in calling someone in for an interview resides in a seemingly unrelated detail such as fluency in another language or volunteer work with a respected organization. These details provide a window into the personality of the candidate, and highlight VERSATILITY, which is a quality that is valued by all hiring agents and recruiters regardless of industry.

Anish Majumdar is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Owner at Resume Orbit. 95% of clients report a significant increase in interviews within 30 days, and all work comes backed by a 100% Satisfaction or Money Back Guarantee (in writing).

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