{"id":7058,"date":"2018-09-02T10:14:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-02T14:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=7058"},"modified":"2018-09-02T10:14:06","modified_gmt":"2018-09-02T14:14:06","slug":"how-to-upgrade-your-resume-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=7058","title":{"rendered":"How to Upgrade Your R\u00e9sum\u00e9 Now"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/a>The more experience you have, the harder it can be to create a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 that\u2019s concise and truly conveys your expertise. The challenge is to grab someone\u2019s attention straight away, a requirement that\u2019s increasingly important now that the hiring process for most jobs starts digitally. Once the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 you upload for a job posting gets to a human resource manager, 39 percent of them spend less than a minute initially looking at it, according to a\u00a0<\/span>survey<\/a>\u00a0from CareerBuilder. Nearly 1 in 5 (19 percent) spend less than 30 seconds.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Here are eight smart ways to make certain that your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 not only grabs their attention\u00a0but also makes the most of techniques shaped by job networking sites and other new technologies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Beverly Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Start like LinkedIn.<\/strong>\u00a0A r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is your stage to shout out your skills, accomplishments and strengths. Instead of a dull boilerplate objective, begin with a personal statement, according to Beverly Jones, an executive career coach and author of\u00a0Think Like an Entrepreneur, Act Like a CEO<\/i><\/a>: \u201cDone properly, this statement, or summary, of who you are can pull someone in fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

This method of launching your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is a nod to the popularity of LinkedIn. \u201cLinkedIn has changed the way many hiring managers read r\u00e9sum\u00e9s now,\u201d Jones said. \u201cThey expect this more personal approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Be bold and write this section in the first person, as you would your\u00a0LinkedIn Summary statement. This should be a quick roll call of your triumphs and skill set in the same language you would use when talking to someone.<\/p>\n

For instance, you might describe the most important thing you\u2019ve accomplished recently in your career, what you enjoy most about the work you do, something you are really proud of, or how your skills have allowed you to contribute to the success of your previous employers\u2019 missions and bottom lines. The subtle message: You have the chops to help the company meet its objectives.<\/p>\n

Keep it tight, say, five or six sentences, and end with a bulleted list, such as \u201cAreas of Concentration,\u201d with roughly three examples.<\/p>\n

Read on AARP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

And in your desire to super-sell yourself, don\u2019t get carried away. Three-fourths of human resources managers report having caught a lie on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9, according to CareerBuilder.<\/p>\n

Use your keywords.<\/strong>\u00a0The idea of having a one-and-done r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is a relic of the past. Your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 should be customized for each position you are considering. Use as much of the job posting\u2019s language as possible. If your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 doesn\u2019t contain exactly the right keywords that appear in a job posting, when you send it electronically, it may not make it through an employer\u2019s applicant tracking system (ATS).<\/p>\n

For example, if the employer asks for \u201cstrong Excel and report-writing skills,\u201d tuck these keyword expressions in your skills section and somewhere in the narrative of your past work experience. If the firm is looking for a \u201csales associate\u201d with \u201ca strong customer focus,\u201d then include this phrase two or three times, or if the job requires someone who has \u201cmanaged\u201d a team, use \u201cmanaged,\u201d not \u201cdirected\u201d or \u201coperated,\u201d or any other synonym.<\/p>\n

Tools like\u00a0Jobscan<\/a>\u00a0can help also you compare your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 against job descriptions and analyze which keywords you need to include.<\/p>\n

Simplify your fonts and format<\/strong>.<\/b>\u00a0Keep it to two pages. In some situations, it can be three pages, but only make your r\u00e9sume as long as it needs to be to underscore your credentials. Select a font that\u2019s modern and easy on the eyes. I recommend Arial, Helvetica or Calibri. Stick to a 10- to 14-point size, and use black type against white paper for the body of the r\u00e9sum\u00e9. Your name, however, might be in 15-point size, all caps; your contact information and section heads might be in 12. But be consistent in the formatting, and use boldface type, italics and underlining sparingly.<\/p>\n

Prepare the document in a plain Microsoft Word document format that can be viewed easily on most computers. You will also use this version to print out as a hard copy or to upload into an online job application form. Most job postings state what type of format is preferred.<\/p>\n

Put your contact information at the top of the r\u00e9sum\u00e9: your first and last name, email address, phone number (just one), a customized LinkedIn URL, and a website, if you have one. Including your LinkedIn URL and blog or website address makes it easy for recruiters and hiring managers to find out more about you online. List the city and state in which you live. Omit your street address for privacy reasons.<\/p>\n

Spotlight your skills.<\/strong>\u00a0Most job seekers use the traditional chronological or reverse-chronological r\u00e9sum\u00e9 format. But I recommend highlighting your specific skills first, focusing on those that are most transferable to the job you\u2019re looking for. More than a third of human resource managers (37 percent) said they preferred having skills listed first on a r\u00e9sum\u00e9, according to the CareerBuilder report.<\/p>\n

Focusing on the\u00a0skills relevant to the job you\u2019re applying for\u00a0up high delivers the \u201cwhy you should hire me\u201d message before you start cataloging previous jobs. After all, what you can do for them today is what an employer really wants to know. And if you\u2019re looking to change careers, or have a gap in your work history, it’s even more critical to focus on your skills, not your positions.<\/p>\n

The top three or four key broad skill categories mandatory for the job you\u2019re targeting will help you to pick what to include in this section. Add recent training, education and certifications to emphasize your professional development and willingness to learn.<\/p>\n

In the next section, present your professional experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent position. Include the following details for each organization you served: start and end dates (month and year); organization\u2019s name, location and what the organization does or did; position(s) you held and major accomplishments at each position.<\/p>\n

Include volunteer positions or internships in this section \u2014 related experience doesn\u2019t just have to be paid positions. I advise including any volunteer work that suggests you have management skills. Being in charge of a gala fundraising event, for instance, converts to sales and marketing chops. Holding a board position shows leadership capability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Weave a story.<\/strong>\u00a0As you describe your experience, remember the basics of a good story are who, what, where, when, why and how. No one wants to know just what tasks you performed. They want to know why it mattered. Numbers, statistics and percentages can get attention if you put them in bold type. These are quantifiable results that no one can quibble with when you\u2019re touting why you\u2019re a good hire. You want to say, for instance, that you grew sales by 25 percent, or you completed a job three months ahead of schedule. R\u00e9sum\u00e9-writing pros refer to this as telling your \u201cCAR story.\u201d This stands for \u201cchallenge, action and result.\u201d<\/p>\n

In your CAR story for each job on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9, write about a problem you faced, what you did to solve it, and the specific tangible results of your efforts. For example, \u201cInterviewed machine operators and developed multimedia training programs that reduced training time for new hires by 20 percent.\u201d Statements like this show rather than tell. Let reviewers hear your voice and pride in your achievements. Importantly, make sure the CAR stories are relevant to the job for which you are applying.<\/p>\n

Be sure to cherry-pick your professional experience. What employers want to see is your most recent 10 to 15 years of experience. No one wants, or needs, to read every one of your job entries over a four- to five-decade career. Bundle your earlier experiences into one tidy paragraph at the end of your r\u00e9sum\u00e9\u2019s \u201cexperience\u201d section, and skip dates. Only use the work history that\u2019s germane to the job you\u2019re applying for now.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t use full sentences. Begin with verbs. \u201cManaged company tax reporting, finance, invoicing, purchasing,\u201d for example. Get creative. Most r\u00e9sum\u00e9 bullet points start with the same overused words such as \u201cled\u201d or \u201cmanaged.\u201d Here\u2019s a\u00a0list<\/a>\u00a0of 429 verbs that can help you find fresh words to describe your efforts.<\/p>\n

Mind the gaps.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s best to have a good experience to sub for periods you were not working such as being able to say you traveled, performed community service, added a degree or pursued other education. Include a one-line explanation, such as \u201cVolunteered for Habitat for Humanity,\u201d to fill in for any extended periods of unemployment.<\/p>\n

If you were out of the workforce for caregiving duties, you can hawk that, too. You were a \u201cproject manager,\u201d managing a team of other caregivers \u2014 from nurses to doctors and physical therapists. You were a \u201cresearcher\u201d tracking down the best doctors and medical care. You may have been a \u201cfinancial manager\u201d in charge of bill-paying and insurance claims. Use action verbs to portray your caregiving experience: directed, enabled, facilitated, hired, supervised, controlled, coordinated, navigated, negotiated, secured and resolved.<\/p>\n

Add some punch.<\/strong>\u00a0Interests, hobbies, activities and professional memberships can also help you get noticed. That can be a great way to subtly deflect an employer\u2019s opinion that older workers don\u2019t have the stamina for the job. It might even provide a personal connection to someone who is reading your r\u00e9sum\u00e9, if he or she shares a similar passion.<\/p>\n

Hit delete<\/strong>.\u00a0Eliminate college or high school graduation dates. Remove jobs that lasted less than six months. Avoid quirky job titles; the title could jettison you from a recruiter\u2019s search criteria. \u201cWordsmith,\u201d for instance, is unlikely to show up in an ATS search for the specific keyword \u201ceditor.\u201d\u00a0Skip \u201cReferences available upon request.\u201d Of course they are.<\/p>\n

by Kerry Hannon<\/a>,\u00a0AARP<\/span><\/p>\n

Kerry Hannon, AARP jobs expert, is the author of\u00a0Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy \u2026 and Pays the Bills<\/a>,\u00a0Getting the Job You Want After 50 for Dummies<\/a>,\u00a0Love Your Job,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0What\u2019s Next? Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties, and Beyond<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter\u00a0@kerryhannon<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Share<\/a>