You
already know your resume is important. Updating your resume with current,
useful information is essential, whether you are seeking a job or creating a
personal brand. However, the rules for writing resume change frequently. This
can be stressful and confusing when you sit down to write one, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. We’ve created a list of 6 old and new resume trends to show
you the difference and help you write your new resume today.
PERSONAL EMAIL vs. PROFESSIONAL EMAIL
OLD: Using a personal email address: specialskittles75@hotmail.com.....Totally
not appropriate for a professional document…Yet I see it every day. Use your first name, last name, or a combination
of these. Upgrade your email provider if you use AOL or Hotmail. These email
providers were popular years ago, but are no longer viewed as current. Gmail is current and will not give any hints
to your age unless you add your birth year as the example shows above (not
recommended).
NEW: Add your social media links to
your contact information. If your resume gets to
the hiring manager, it is very likely that they will look you up anyway. This
article from Grantham University highlights this new reality, and how you can
actually use it to your advantage http://blog.grantham.edu/blog/bid/132065/Should-You-Include-Social-Media-Links-on-Your-Resume
. Make sure that you put your best foot forward to show that you have nothing
to hide. If you have a well completed
LinkedIn profile or a professional Facebook page add the shortened version of
your URL to the contact information.
OBJECTIVE
STATEMENT vs. PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
OLD: Objective statements are out.
The days of telling an employer what you want from them is gone. Employers are
only interested in what you, out of ALLLL the other candidates, can bring to
the table.
NEW : Use a well-crafted Professional Summary. This is helpful because you will highlight
how having you on their team makes the employer look good. Use this area to display the value and
benefit you bring to their mission.
VARIOUS JOBS vs. CAREER SUMMARY
OLD: Providing an indiscriminate
list of your previous jobs is distracting. The summer job when you scooped ice
cream in college is not helpful information if you seek a position in
accounting. If you are targeting a
certain position/field and some of your jobs are fairly irrelevant this will
not paint a clear picture of a cohesive career story for the employer. In general you want to keep your work history
down to the past 10 years unless you need a specific job history to show your
skills.
NEW : Create a cohesive career story. It takes some
crafting but you tie your work history together. Research the position you want and the
company. What key terms, attributes, and skills are required or seem to show up
repeatedly? If you have the skills
valued by a company you want to work for, identify how you used these skills in
your previous jobs. Be sure to emphasize those particular skills and eliminate any unnecessary information
in describing the job.
LISTING DUTIES vs. SHOWCASING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OLD: Listing your duties and daily tasks in your job description. You do need just a tiny bit sometimes to
describe the type of work you did….however, that is not what will impress the
employer. They are looking for the
facts. What have you done not what do
you do.
NEW: The employer is absolutely interested in examples of your work and a
showcase of your ability more than any listing of duties. Show them the facts: your accomplishments. Use
numbers. It can be hard to think of what you have done as an accomplishment,
but hang in there. You can do it. You
are not going to stand out among your competitors if you don’t use well-written
accomplishments. This recent article in US World News Report highlights the
importance of measurable achievements on your resume: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2014/01/02/resume-writing-tips-for-the-new-year
REFERENCES UPON REQUEST vs. REFERENCES ON HAND
OLD: References Upon Request is outdated. Your references are EXPECTED…always have them ready and do
not include this phrase on your resume.
NEW : Have at least 3-5 professional references on a separate but
cohesive document to go along with your resume. If you really want to get fancy (note: this
is fairly impressive when done correctly) include short quotes from the
reference with their contact information.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN vs. RESEARCHING THE RIGHT NAME
OLD: Addressing your cover letter using “To Whom it May Concern.” This has fallen out of use and relying on it
can give the impression that you are a bit lazy. There are so many ways to find out who the HR
manager of the organization is that not doing the research shows an obvious lack
of effort and interest to the employer.
NEW:
Address your cover letter to the right person. Use your networking skills, Google them, Facebook Graph search them, look them up on LinkedIn….Do your research!
Blow
the dust off of your old resume. Revitalize your personal brand and
professional image with the new. Do it today! For professional help in making
your resume stand out, visit our website: www.kellumcareerconsulting.com
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