(My) Top 5 Resume Hacks
Short version: This feels far too obvious. Sending you to the long version.
Long version:
I’m here to share my Top 5 Resume Hacks. I stick to these no matter the job seeker’s experience level or industry. If you’re stuck and can't seem to get that hiring manager to reach out, give these a whirl:
Use a clean & simple layout. How many of you have practically wound up adding kindergarten photos and a 2-week babysitting job to fill the page of some crazy layout you downloaded with colors, boxes, alllllll of the things? Don’t do it. It’s too hard on the eyes, and no one wants to bounce around the page just trying to understand why you may be a good fit. When in doubt, make sure you're making everything digestible and easy to navigate.
No (obvious) fluff. Example 1: Manage day-to-day operations, logistics and tasks including communications such as email correspondence, phone support, and document filing to alleviate the needs of the executive team. Are you cringing? My rule: every word on the page (most, at least) needs to be there for a reason and should be concise, strong & critical.
Try the 30-second test. I learned this in one of my college courses - I think it was called Professional Writing. Print out your resume. Look at it for 30 seconds. Flip it over. On the back, spend 15-20 seconds jotting down everything you can remember. TIP: better to do with a friend, sibling, dog, whoever, but still works. Point is: go back and see why you were able to retain that information. Is it placed somewhere with a lot of white space, helping it stick out on the page? Is it numerical? Do you need to add more numbers? Use your learnings to help you make the appropriate tweaks.
About me (you). We do not need to know that you’re trying to perfect a cacio e pepe recipe, or that you’re super friendly, but really do want to know more about you than your making the Dean's List 6 years ago. At the top of your resume, under your name + contact information, put a 2-3 line “about” section (no header needed) that drills down into who you are. Example: An accomplished and results-driven leader with 4+ years of experience adopting methods to nurture client relationships, generate leads, & surpass target goals. I’m a go-getter, a team player & an excellent communicator.
Don’t underestimate awards + achievements. When you can highlight shit you’ve been recognized for, do it. You should be thinking about a resume as your sales pitch. Sell why you should get the job. There’s no better to prove that than by using real, tangible awards / achievements. Weave it into the about me, or if you have a ton, create a section at the top. Examples would include: President’s Club nominees or inductees, Marketing awards for campaigns, etc.
This should hopefully help you scratch the surface, and at least get you thinking about your resume in a different way. Make every word on the page count (yes, keep it to one page), create white space, add numbers and let me know if you need me via the Solutions page. :)
XO Renee
