As we head into 2015, I wanted to take some time to think about the resume tips that will have the biggest impact on your job search next year. Job hunting and resume writing are constantly evolving, yet I find many job seekers stuck in a rut. Here I’m going to provide my top ten resume tips for 2015 to help jumpstart your job search into the New Year and beyond.
Resume Tip #1: Separate Text
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When you read a book or magazine, you’ll often notice that different methods are used to guide your attention to important content, things they want you to remember. For example, they may print certain words in a larger font size or in a different font. Words can be “highlighted” by quotes, separated by lines, be their own section entirely, or even be colored. These all serve a purpose: they draw your attention to a line or two of text. that the author “really” wants you to remember.
Use this same strategy on your resume. Consider the most important point you want the employer to walk away with, and capture it in separate text within the top half of the first page of your resume. Let it be brief. And don’t just provide information, make sure it’s the most compelling point of why they should hire you.
Resume Tip #2: Callout Boxes
Callout boxes are on the same line as the separated text. The purpose of a callout box is to draw attention to the information it contains. These are great for specific keywords or skills you want to draw attention to, or for an endorsement from a previous employer that speaks to your value.
Resume Tip #3: Charts /Charts/Layout
Don’t be afraid to use graphic elements like tables and charts. Especially if you have income or earnings that you can track over multiple quarters or years. A picture is worth a thousand words, and if you’ve been a powerful income generator, here’s a resume tip that will come in handy.
Isn’t generating income an integral part of your business? position? Alright. You can use charts or graphs to communicate other important information, such as customer satisfaction, membership rates, or cost savings. If none of these apply, skip the chart/graph and opt for other visually appealing design elements, such as color, borders, or shading. The idea is to draw the reader in visually to help make the content easier to digest and ultimately remember.
Resume Tip #4: Video Resume Link
Video resumes may never replace traditional resumes, but that doesn’t mean they won’t become a powerful complement to them. More and more job seekers are starting to create 30 to 60 second intro videos so that employers can get a better idea of a person’s personality, presence, and cultural fit within the organization. Including a link on your resume to your video resume could prove to be an effective competitive advantage over your competition. I encourage you to consider creating one and linking to it on your resume and LinkedIn profile. There are a few video formats you can post on your LinkedIn profile so visiting employers can view the video directly from your profile.
Resume Tip #5: Value Propositions
Include a value proposition in your resume. Your value proposition is the most persuasive reason WHY the employer should interview you. You want them to see that there is a benefit to choosing you over another candidate. What knowledge or experience can you offer that no other candidate can? This very well may be your value proposition. Use it to your advantage and communicate it within your resume.
Resume Tip #6: Write for the audience
Write for your audience: recruiter , HR, decision maker. Be very smart about how to focus on your job search. A recruiter is looking for a specific set of elements in a resume and cover letter, but the qualifications and skills a potential target employer/company is looking for can be quite different. Recruiters have a different set of criteria that they want to see on a resume. We always advise our clients to customize their resumes to the specifications of the recruiter they are working with, because that recruiter knows their clients and what they like to see. There is no one size fits all resume. People who realize this and create specific resumes to match specific positions will see much better resume response rates.
Resume Tip #7: Use a Networking Resume
Put together a short snapshot of your accomplishments and value proposition that you can share with your network. It should be short, visually appealing, and full of benefits. A quick snapshot of what you do and the value you offer gives your network a more complete picture of what you do.And it can actually help them get the word out about your experience to interested employers, or make them think about contacting you if they hear about a great opportunity that aligns with their skill set.
Use a quick, a one-page type of biographical document that doesn’t necessarily look at your entire career history, but rather offers a glimpse of the value and experience you can offer a future employer, and highlights your accomplishments and successes most relevant to your career goal now . Please note: This is not the ideal piece to put in the hands of a prospective employer, BUT if you are in touch with family, friends, or connections, some people are more visually inclined. So being able to *see* what you do can help them help you even more!
Resume Tip #8: Include LinkedIn
Believe it or No, I still hear from job seekers who aren’t on LinkedIn, and I still see resumes that don’t include links to profile URLs. This is a wonderful way to engage your audience and help them learn more about you and what you have to offer. Don’t forget to include your LinkedIn profile URL at the top of your resume where you have your other contact information. And for God’s sake, DO NOT copy and paste his resume onto your profile! Give them different, equally compelling information there.
Resume Tip #9: Remove “General”
Remove the term “general resume” from your entire vocabulary. Every once in a while someone calls us and asks if we can create a “general resume” for them, and the answer to that is “No.” Well, we could, but it wouldn’t do you any good. A resume is not a place to be a jack of all trades; it’s a place to be specific about how you’ve mastered what you do and how good you are at it. In fact, you’re so awesome at it that the employer NEEDS to interview you or he’s going to lose some pretty good benefits. So next time you’re tempted to create a general resume… RUN! Instead, create a master resume, and then pull information from that master resume to create more focused versions that you can use to apply to specific opportunities.
Resume Tip #10: Get Off the Job Get On Get on the train
Employers are jumping ship, and it’s probably time you did too. This year, I set out to bust the job search myth that applying or posting your resume on job boards are the ONLY ways you can find a job. Using job boards should only be 20% of your job search efforts. The other 80% must be spent on other methods, such as informational interviews, networking, cold calling, direct mail campaigns, targeting specific employers, or research of decision makers.
Frustration and Hopelessness felt by job seekers stem mainly from a lack of knowledge about other forms of job searching. They jump on job boards, start applying, and never hear anything. Then they end up thinking that their experience is not valued, or that there are no jobs out there, when the truth of the matter is…
There are plenty of jobs out there. They just aren’t all on the job boards.
Take some time to educate yourself about alternative methods of looking for work. It’ll take a lot less time than you think…and it’ll produce much better response rates than anything you’ll get from a job board. I anticipate a rapid decline in the number of job seekers using job boards next year.
And while I’m on that subject, let me say this about that. I am not against job boards. I am against the misconception that job boards are the only way to find a job and that the efforts of job seekers they should focus exclusively online. This creates frustration and despair for far too many people.
So there you have it… my top ten resume tips for 2015. The last resume tip may have been a combination of resume and job search, but the point stands Here are the tips and trends I see having the biggest impact on your job search in 2015. What’s your best resume tip for 2015? I would love to hear it! Feel free to share it with me below.
As always, I’d love to connect on LinkedIn. Feel free to invite me here.
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