It's time to revamp your resume

The entire process of writing a resume can be overwhelming. What do you include? How long should it be? Do you need an objective? The list of questions can go on forever, but don't feel stressed.

The experts at Creative Financial Staffing in Houston have made the resume-writing process much easier for you:

• Recruiters LOVE chronological resumes. We want to see how you have grown in your career and what types of companies you have worked for. 

• If you graduated within the past 5 years, keep your education on the top portion of your resume.

• If you have a CPA, CIA, or CFE designation, put it behind your name on the top of the resume. Don’t hide it at the bottom- you earned it and you should show it off!

• If you are eligible to sit for an exam or have passed sections, add that to the education section of your resume. This is important to employers today.

• Always, always use bullet points. No one has time to read paragraphs. 

• Objectives aren’t necessary, and could hurt you if it doesn’t align correctly with the job. If you feel like you need it, make sure to change the objective for every position you apply to.

• Short summary sections or tables are great to highlight your background. 

• Did you get promoted or move into another group at the same company? Include that in your resume, but don’t re-write the company name each time. At first glance, you can look like a job hopper rather than a promotable candidate. 

• Do you volunteer? Were you in the military? Active Greek Alumni? Including this shows some personality on your resume. 

• Don’t forget to add your software skills. This is crucial in such a tech-driven time. If you know the versions and modules you are working with, it’s beneficial to include them. Are you an advanced Excel user (VLOOKUP, Marcos, Pivot Tables)? Mention that too if relevant to the job. 

• Your resume can be longer than a page, but never longer than 3 pages MAX. 

• Don’t put a bullet point on your resume for something you can’t back up. Being exposed to or watching someone else do something does not mean you have mastered that skill. Never lie on your resume! 

• If you’re a recent graduate and your GPA was above a 3.0, be sure to include that along with your graduation date(s). 

• Remember, your resume is your marketing piece. Most recruiters spend about 10 seconds looking at your resume before they decide if they will keep it or toss it. That is not a long time to make a first impression, so make sure it’s a good one. 

• You should update your resume at least once a year. Write down your latest accomplishments, add new responsibilities you took on, or recent software programs or ERPs you worked with.

      Do you still have questions about your resume? Please visit here to find a CFS location closest to you!