Perfecting Your Resume

It’s no secret that your resume is one of the key ingredients to a job search. It’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of what should and should not go on a resume these days. Should I add color? Are these fonts acceptable? Can I use more than one page? Fear not, BSG’s got you covered. We highlighted some of the most important tips you might not have considered.

Do keep in mind that a lot of companies use applicant tracking systems, or ATS. This sorts out the candidates that don’t fit the bill. To get past the ATS bots, be sure to incorporate the relevant keywords in your resume. You can usually find these on the job posting. Zipjob has a free guide and test to format your resume to beat ATS.

Don’t add an objective statement. Objective statements are fairly outdated in today’s job market. Let’s face it, it’s assumed your objective will be to get a job at the company you are applying for. An objective statement also leans more on your needs rather than the employer’s needs. Instead, add a summary statement that highlights all your best qualities that would make you the best candidate for the job.

Do keep it simple. You don’t need to have the prettiest resume in the stack. Add substance to your resume before worrying about the design. Unless you are applying for a job specifically in design, your resume doesn’t need to be an art piece. Further, to increase readability, limit your resume to only two easy to read fonts.

Don’t offer to provide references at the end of your resume. Most employers will request references if they need them. Other than that, it just takes up valuable space that can otherwise be used for your experience and skills. If anything, bring your references on a separate sheet that matches the formatting of your resume.

Do use action verbs in a meaningful way. It’s important to highlight your past work, but don’t make it a laundry list of tasks. Use words like “executed” or “spearheaded” in your resume. Do be cautious of repetitive words. Use a thesaurus or a guide while editing your resume. Additionally, it’s a huge plus if you can use data to emphasize your past work.

Do use relevant experience. Remember that your resume should not be more than one page. If you have a lot of professional and volunteer experience, be sure to include the experience that is relevant to the position you are applying for. It’s great to have a master resume to go off of, but make sure you tailor it to each job you are applying for.

Don’t forget to proofread. This might seem obvious, but it never hurts to proofread again! Go over it yourself a few times, read it out loud, and then have a trusted friend proofread it as well. Spelling and grammatical errors are one of the easiest ways to get your resume tossed aside.

Ultimately, your resume should give your potential employer a glimpse of what you have to offer. Be sure it showcases yourself in the best way possible!

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