The new year means new chances to find and pursue a different job and/or career. As you think about the changes you’d like to make and ways to improve your professional life in 2019, here are seven (7) simple but important tips to help your resume to stand out from the competition.
1. Replace your objective with a career summary: Use the prime “real estate” space at the top of your resume to share a tailored professional description/summary that matches the role’s requirements.
2. Include accomplishments versus job descriptions: When drafting or revising your resume, be sure to list your top 3-4 accomplishments of each position instead of simply including your job description.
3. Quantify your accomplishments: Once you identify your biggest accomplishments be sure to include numbers, such as percentages to illustrate an increase in sales, social media followers or other business “success” metrics.
4. Use action words: Make your resume dynamic by using impactful action verbs. Using these powerful words will help make sure your resume is descriptive and also engaging.
5. Customize your resume for each position/new opportunity: Although it may take some time, you should tweak and adjust your resume for each position. Your goal is to ensure your accomplishments match up to the requirements of the job.
6. Ask for feedback: Your goal is to continually tap into your network and grow your contacts and connections. During the job search process, don’t be afraid to ask prospective employers and clients for ways to improve your resume.
7. Toot your own horn: One of the biggest mistakes people make in writing their resumes is that they fail to include enough career highlights and milestones. Don’t think of sharing your accomplishments as bragging but rather detailing your achievements in a way that will help you stand out from the competition.
This week set aside one hour of your holiday “free” time to update your resume. This small investment in time can help you reap great dividends and secure new professional opportunities in 2019.