Resume writing do's and don'ts

There are some general guidelines that should be followed if you want your resume to stand out from your competition. While some rules can be open to interpretation, there are others that almost every hiring manager will agree on. These are the do’s and don’ts of writing an effective resume:

DO Tailor Your Resume

Just as one outfit won’t work for every company setting, one resume won’t work for every job posting. You should tailor it towards the position you’re applying to. Utilize key words from the job posting and have bullet points that reflect similar work experience. Taking a few extra minutes to make these edits will increase your chances of landing an interview.

DON’T Use an Inappropriate Email

In the business world, professionalism is everything. Your resume is no exception! The design, word choice, and email address all play a factor. By no means should you use a work email on your resume, nor can you use an outdated email such as tweetybird12@hotmail.com. You don’t want this to be your personal brand! Besides, it’ll be easier for hiring managers to contact you if they can associate your name with your email address.

DO Use Numbers/Data

When it comes to the job search process, your word means nothing unless you can back it up. Simply listing off job duties is not enough; hiring managers want proof that you were successful. That’s why you need to add quantifiable accomplishments. For example, instead of putting “Conducted customer outreach in order to increase sales” on your resume, you could write “Conducted over 150 customer outreach phone calls each day, which increased sales by 30%”. The latter is much more impactful.

If your resume consists of open-ended statements, then you should rework it so that it better illustrates your accomplishments. Present the situation/goal, say the actions you took, and discuss the results in terms of numbers and data- otherwise known as the STAR method. Utilizing this method will help you prove yourself to a hiring manager.

DON’T Bend the Truth

Lying on your resume is one of the worst things you can do. Not only is it wrong, but you’ll inevitably be caught. If you say that you’re proficient in specific software and begin a job where it’s required, then you are bound to encounter problems. To avoid such a situation, it’s best to abide by the “honesty is the best policy” mentality. List your skills on your resume, and go into more depth when it comes to the interview phase. Do not say you are proficient when you’re still at the beginner/intermediate level. This will ensure that you land a job that fits your skill set.

DO Check for Spelling/Grammatical Errors

This is a given, but you would be surprised at how many people forget this simple step. Any errors will lead a hiring manager to infer that you’re not detail oriented and that you don’t care about the position. Always run a simple spell check and proofread every single version of your resume. Then, proofread again! It may seem tedious, but it could make all the difference.

DON’T Have too Many Pages

Although there is no page number restriction, hiring managers agree that too much information is a bad thing. Resumes are typically looked at for less than one minute and having more pages will not change this fact, so only include what’s important! As a rule of thumb, you should have a max of 5 bullet points per job description. In addition, each bullet point should only be two lines long. Implementing these restrictions makes your resume stronger and ensures that you include only your best accomplishments.

DO Utilize a Word Cloud Generator

Have you ever reread a piece of work and realized that you’ve used the same word one too many times? Even if you reference a thesaurus, who’s to say you’ve chosen the right words to highlight your skills?

One way to find out is to upload your resume to a word cloud generator. A great one to use is Word it Out. You can upload your resume text, create the word cloud, and then examine the word list to see which words/skills are used most often. You can also edit the word cloud to only display words that show up a certain number of times. If the results aren’t what you had expected or hoped for, you can edit your word choices and try again.

DON’T Forget to Update

No one enjoys updating their resume, but it’s a necessary step if you hope to land a new job. However, the task can be more manageable if you update it consistently, and this helps ensure all important responsibilities and projects are included. If you wait until the end of a job, then chances are high that you might forget something.

Now that you have a few tips to get you started, you can dramatically increase your chances of landing your next job. Remember, editing your resume may seem like a tedious task, but it is a necessary one. Take your time and tackle it section by section. Before you know it, your stellar resume will having hiring managers dying to hire you.

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5 keys to composing an impactful resume

Article originally published on US News & World Report

Try this exercise with a friend or loved one:

Give the other person your resume, but limit their reading time to six seconds and instruct them to show you how much they were able to assimilate in that limited time.

Why six seconds? Because that's the amount of eyeball time your resume typically receives when it's being first reviewed by human resources staffers or hiring authorities. If you can't convey something that grabs their attention, chances are strong they won't hesitate to hit the "delete" button and end your chances of being considered, no matter how well-qualified you might be.

This fact should influence the decisions you make about the overall look and feel of your resume. How you organize your information, what you choose to include, your choice of words and graphic elements all should contribute to a clear and coherent message that can be grasped in six seconds. Even a simple line across the page can facilitate a reader's understanding or detract from it, depending on how it is used.

Here are some things you should strive for when creating your resume.

Readability

Make certain that even at a distance, your page looks inviting to read and that it is easy to follow the various sections, such as Skills, Professional Experience, Education, etc. Using color to highlight the section titles can make a difference in this regard.

Is there enough white space on the page to avoid looking like a solid blob of ink?

Have pity on people with poor eyesight by not going any lower than 10-point type. Use standard, easy-to-read fonts like Calibri or Optima, or others with similar weighting.

Audience accessibility

It is likely that within your target company, a variety of types of people with diverse backgrounds and roles will be reading your resume. For example, HR, financial and technical professionals all may weigh in on a resume's value. It is important that the document speak to each of them in ways that they can appreciate and value.

Especially if you are in a field with its own particular vocabulary that is unknown to non-specialists, make sure you do your best to explain things in a way that can be commonly understood. When you list obscure tools or techniques that you are accustomed to using, take pains to also convey what results or accomplishments you attained by using them.

Present your personal brand

It might be that your resume surfaces because it came up in a sourcer's search as possessing the right keywords. Congratulations! But now, as they begin to read it, a succinct and well-crafted branding statement at the top can truly set your document apart from others using the same keywords. In the top few lines, just under your name and contact information, it is essential that you give a "helicopter view" of yourself, conveying your essential qualities, areas of expertise and specific content that only you can offer the employer. Keep it to no more than four or five lines, tops!

Get rid of ambiguities

A resume recently reviewed by your author had this line: "Devised solutions that produced the desired results." Lines like this convey no real information and leave questions about the candidate's ability to communicate clearly.

When asked, "What were the problems requiring solutions? What kind of solutions did you develop? What were the desired results and how were they achieved?" the response was: "I'll get into that when I have an interview."

Sadly, ambiguous statements like these are counterproductive to getting the desired interview, and are likely to sink one's chances of getting to the point of explaining their exceptional skills and talents.

Avoid stock phrases and clichés

Expunge what you think a resume "has to have" if you believe stock phrases like "aggressive go-getter," "results driven," or "excellent communication skills" are necessary. You'll immediately generate a yawn or a grunt on the part of your resume reader.

They've seen all these and more countless times! Instead, utilize clearly thought out phrases and sentences that demonstrate the results your "go-getter" qualities generated, thereby communicating effectively.

Have questions about your job search? We want to hear them! Comment below or contact one of our expert recruiters today! Find the closes CFS location to you here. 

Read the original article published on US News & World Report. 

The difference between hard and soft skills

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5 quick fixes to reboot your resume

Have questions on how to fix your resume? Our expert recruiters are here to help! 

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Did you know: 5 tips when updating your resume

What other easy tips do you have for updating your resume? We'd love to hear them in the comments below!

Are you on the job hunt for a new career? Our recruiters are here to help! Check out our latest job postings here, or find a CFS office located closest to you here.

Spring clean your resume!

No matter where you are in your job search, it’s always a good time to spruce up your resume. Every job application relies on this one document, and your fate could be decided in a matter of seconds because of it. Make it count!

Start by updating your contact information. There’s nothing more frustrating for a hiring manager than finding a strong resume and not being able to contact the applicant. Tatiyana Cure, Executive Recruiter of CFS New York, says that she can typically track down those applicants but that many hiring managers “don’t have the half hour to try to investigate and will most likely move on to another candidate.” Don’t let this happen to you!

Next you need to delve into the content. As you grow and develop professionally, you are continuously acquiring new skills and your resume needs to reflect that. Add in any new projects that you’ve recently worked on, skills you’ve learned, and promotions that you’ve received. This will bring your experience up to date and allows you to cut anything that is no longer relevant.

Jennifer Greenberg, Executive Recruiter of CFS Baltimore, suggests including 2-3 accomplishments per position. Although difficult to adhere to this rule, it helps you choose your best accomplishments to include. “You need to make the hiring manager excited about you, which means that your bullet points should be strong and illustrate what you can bring to the table,” adds Cure. The interview is where you can elaborate more and discuss anything that you left out.

Now that you have everything up to date, it’s time for the quick fixes. Greenberg recommends printing your resume out so that you can physically look at it and make notes with a pen or a pencil. It’s a lot easier to catch your mistakes on a hard copy version versus on the computer.

As you look over your resume, keep in mind these quick fixes:

• Scrub it for typos. Nothing is more unprofessional than submitting a resume that has typos. It shows that you didn’t take the extra time to evaluate your work and could lead the hiring manager to question your attention to detail.

• Check for grammatical errors. When discussing your experience, it’s a common mistake to mix up tenses. Beware of this issue, and make sure you are consistent.

• Check for formatting consistency. This is the time to “make sure that all of your bullet points are the same size and properly aligned. Double check that things are consistently bolded, italicized, underlined, etc.” says Greenberg.

• Declutter your points. You do not have a lot of space, so you have to be concise. Avoid being too wordy and cut anything that isn’t necessary.

After the quick fixes have been made, go back to your computer, make the edits, and don’t forget to save! As a rule of thumb, when working on your resume Greenberg advises you to follow the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple Stupid). Make sure each point is simple, succinct, and easy to understand. If you keep these ideas in mind, then decluttering your resume will be as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Have any questions about updating your resume? We'd love to hear them in your comments below!

Are you on the job hunt for a new career? Our recruiters are here to help! Check out our latest job postings here, or find a CFS office located closest to you here.

How to Draft a Resume Without Having Any Relevant Experience

Written by: Tatiyana Cure, Executive Recruiter, CFS New York

For expected 2016 graduates trying to enter the workforce with no applicable experience, this is becoming a daunting top priority. There is also an overwhelming population of recent graduates within the last 1-3 years who have no relevant work history and are still trying to break into their field. The biggest mistake that they make is thinking, “Any job and the responsibilities held must be good to list on my resume.” This is not true! First and foremost, do not waste valuable space by listing irrelevant education, experience, skills, and additional content. Do not double space or have empty unused space.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” If your current resume hasn’t had any success in getting you an interview, it’s time to change it up. Here are some new things you can try:

Header: use a definitive statement

Think of this like a universal business card, or billboard. For example, my header could be:

Tatiyana Cure

(646) 661-7152 | TCure@cfstaffing.com

“Helping companies hire Superstars”

Summary: craft your “elevator pitch”

Your summary should be 3-4 sentences using specific skills and/or measurable accomplishments that would make you stand out among your peers.

For example: Recent graduate with BA in Accounting. Proven ability to take leadership roles and meet aggressive deadlines exhibited through “Mock Audit Project”. Highly motivated and on CPA track.

Objective: keep in mind how each company benefits from hiring you

Many job applicants make the mistake of using the “Objective” section of their resume to be very selfish and use the same vague statement throughout their entire job search process. Instead, make your resume stand out by crafting objectives that are specific for each company.

For example: To utilize my education and leverage the fresh perspective on social media in assisting the growth of Creative Financial Staffing.

Education: keep it relevant

Unfortunately, many recent graduates will waste valuable resume space by listing their high school diploma, additional classes, and unnecessary certifications in this section. Keep it relevant and include your GPA if it makes you stand out among your peers.

For example:

University of Connecticut; Storrs, CT  2012-2016

BA: Political Science

Overall GPA: 3.5/4.0 Major GPA: 3.79/4.0

Experience: don’t be afraid to tackle this section

Get it out of your head that you need to include irrelevant of your work experience. Instead, focus on the skills that you can bring to benefit the department by analyzing the job description.

For example: If you are targeting a Financial Analyst role and the job description states, “Conduct research of market trends and competitors”, you can list “Research Skills” and include your experience you have gained in writing your research paper or final project. You may also list skills such as: time management, leadership, organization, problem solving, communication, multitasking, prioritizing, dependability, and taking initiative. Tailor this section based on each job description and include specific examples. Be prepared to validate each of the skills listed on your resume during an interview.

Work History: the inevitable

As you may have noticed, I did not advise to list any employers, titles, or responsibilities in the “Experience” section. The “Work History” section will satisfy those employers who ultimately would like to see specific dates of employment. This is the short and brief section where you can list your summer jobs, internships, and volunteer work. Since you already described your skills in the section above, you do not need to list anything else other than company, role, and dates.

For example:

Italian Restaurant: Waitress     January, 2016- Present

Office: Receptionist     June 2015- August 2015

Summer Camp: Counselor     June 2014- August 2014

Nonprofit: Volunteer     December 2013

The key to drafting a resume without prior experience is to tailor it to each job based on specific skills with examples. Put yourself in the hiring manger’s shoes: ask yourself if you would hire you and why. 

Do you have a success story or additional tips? We'd love to hear them in your comments below! 

Are you a recent grad looking for a job? Our recruiters are here to help! Check out our latest job postings here, or find a CFS office located closest to you here.