Let's talk resumes. To start off, I have the special advantage of being a professional career practitioner and resume writer for 10 years now. Resume writing in itself was a definite learning curve at first, nonetheless with time, experience, and effort I was able to become really good at identifying what makes a good resume as opposed to a bad one. I had a fair share of employer insights and countless of resumes editing. In this blog, I like to share my own resume insights, as well as break some common resume myths I have heard over the years.
A Guide to a Great Looking Resume
I am sure that many of us discovered some of the craziest resumes and guides on Google. I hate to break it to you, a fancy design does not make a good resume. Function is key. If it is not legible, or follows a common resume format, its not worth the recruiters time in reading.
"Before you go spend $50 on a "professional" resume writer on Bark.com, make sure you do your research. More often than people like to admit, they end up paying someone to change their own written resume from black to italicized green, bold blue, and fancy font😊."
1. Less is more
Depending on how technical the job you're applying at, you may want to remove the fluff words on your resume. Recruiters are not interested in reading a storybook, rather they spend an average of 6 - 7 seconds looking for keywords.
2. Be Relevant
Let's not be one of those guys who submits his resume containing warehouse or line cook related skills to an office assistant role through Indeed, and later wonder why they never got back to you.
3. Be Consistent
For a moment, imagine placing yourself in the recruiter's shoes. After the company ATS (applicant tracking system) removed 800 online applicants, you have over 200 resumes to review in order to find 10 qualified candidates for the first interview process. You find a resume with a few spelling errors, misaligned formatting and colour mismatches. What's your first thought?
By average, if you are actively networking and applying for jobs online, expect at least 5 - 6 months until you finally get that job. If this is the case, it won't hurt to double-check your work before submitting your resume online.
4. Include key skills and measurable results
Did you know? Putting the key skills on top will boost interview chances by 59% compared to those don't? By including measurable results, your resume has a chance above the 36% of resume that don't.
5. Tailoring your Online Presence
According to a resume study, did you know that including a LinkedIn profile on your resume increases your chance of getting a job interview by 71%? Whether you try to hide it or not, employers are more likely to search you on google before considering you for a job interview.
Common resume misconceptions
Let's get down to what a resume does not do.
1. A great looking resume guarantees quicker results in landing your perfect job or career.
Sad to say, the success rate with resume application is around 2 - 3%. Lower if we are aiming for highly competitive jobs like software developers or project management. Therefore, it's not unusual for having no success within the 50 job applications you are qualified for.
2. Loading your resume with keywords guarantees ATS success.
Keep in mind, excess keywords, keyword stuffing can backfire. If you do decide to include them, make sure you integrate them naturally and not forcibly.
Are you looking to hire a professional resume writer?
Check out my competitive pricing plan for resume writing. You wont' be receiving a resume back with italicized green, bold blue, and fancy font😊. On top of this, you will also gain resume writing tips and tricks along with enhancing your job search confidence!
Yules Chan (BFA, CWS, CCS) is a CPC registered career development professional in Calgary who is motivated in providing holistic excellence by finding your hidden genius through the world of employment.
For more information go to Brilliant Person Career Coaching or call +1 (403) 891-2673 for a 15-minute complimentary consultation. We provide both in-person and online services.
Remember, interviews are opportunities to showcase your skills and personality. With practice and the right mindset, you can turn them into positive stepping stones toward your dream job!