Dear Abby: I haven’t written a resume in years and I need HELP! or I’ve sent my resume to more places than there are Swifties with no response – HELP!
Don’t worry, I got you. Here are some tips that get the best response from hiring managers:
The Basics of a Great Resume
Key Resume Tips
- Chronological Format > Functional Format. I want to know what you did, when you did it, and where you did it.
- 👍 bullet points, 👎 paragraphs. If a hiring manager is thumbing through 50+ resumes, make sure your content is as digestible as possible. I’m fine with a 1-2 descriptive sentence detailing the size of company, etc., but concise bullet points are easier to consume.
- Bullet Points – Have a good mix of key accomplishments and daily responsibilities, either separated out with the respective headers or mixed together…your personal preference. The more quantifiable and objective details, the better: revenue generating/expense saving initiatives, reducing ME close X amount of days, presidents club, % achievement of quotas, etc.
- Outline/Header Format – This is my favorite view to construct your resume. This can show longevity, progression, and highlights of what you did at each role. If you’ve had more than one position at the same company, start with the name of the company as the master header with the total years you’ve been there. Under the master heading, your secondary heading is the most recent title you held, the dates/years you held it, with bullet points under that; then your next secondary heading with the next most recent title, dates, bullet points; so on and so forth!
Highlighting Your Skills and Achievements
- Section for Technology, Certifications, Skillsets. Show the level you’re at as much as you can, i.e., Excel (v-lookups, Macros, Pivot Tables). Include all softwares and ERPs. You can list out general responsibilities like Cost Accounting, Budgeting, Forecasting, etc. Be as objective as you can. I don’t care as much about “hard working, detail oriented, etc.” because those are so subjective. Show that with your accomplishments in your bullet points.
- Less is more – save a little for the interview! Keep your resume 1-2 pages with the top highlights.
- Add more details under your most recent positions. What you’ve done in the last 5 years is much more relevant than what you did 15 years ago. All of it is important, but I want to know what your recent experiences have been!
- If you have any certifications, list them after your name. This starts the review of your resume on an optimistic note!
- I’m indifferent about an Objective or Interest section. To me, the objective is implied by applying to any position. I’d rather take that space to add more details about what you’ve done.
- If you have less than a 3.8 GPA, leave it off the resume. 🙂
Need Help? We’ve Got You Covered
If you want help or a review of your resume, reach out to our Prospex Recruiting team!!
Need help?? Reach out to anyone on the Prospex Recruiting team to review your resume and LinkedIn profile and ensure you’re presenting your best on-paper self.
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