How to Spring Clean Your Resume

How to Spring Clean Your Resume How to Spring Clean Your Resume Spring is here which means its bedrngnis only time to clean out your closet, but also time to dust off your resume and give it an update. Its important to make a positive first impression on potential employers as you look for your next career opportunity.Notice I said career, not job. Ajob is a mere moment in time that may not be fulfilling or satisfying, but a career is a long-term professional endeavor that grows with you over time.The average recruiterlooks at each resume for six secondsbefore deciding whether to to pass or move forward. Iwant your resume to get a second or third look, so here are a few tidbits to help you prepare a resume that catches peoples attention and advances your careerTidbit 1 FocusDecide which field you would like to work in so that you can gear your resume toward that field. Many job seekers use a scatter gun approach and apply for whatever looks good, but its more useful to focus and n arrow your approach. For example, if you desire a location in healthcare, then you should create a list of the medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and healthcare associations in the geographic area where you wish to live and to commute. Review the ads for each position youre applying to and pattern your resume accordingly.Tidbit 2 FormatResume templates are a nice startingpoint, but you will want to tailor your resume so that it does not look socookie-cutter. Remember, a number of other people are looking at the same opportunity you covet. Your resume will not get you the job, but it will get you noticed. Make your resume stand out by including all of the relevant information that shows youre the most appropriate person for the role. In particular, be koranvers to include the followingNameAddressPhoneEmail AddressEducationIf you do not have manypositions to put on your resume, list your education here. If you have substantial work experience, put your education at the end of the re sume, because it is not the most meaningful point about you.Work ExperienceTry not to use bullets and arrows on your resume. These distinguishing marks do not travel well, especially if the resume is sent across different platforms. For example, if you use aMac and you send your resume to a PC, thesesymbols may turn into hieroglyphics. Also, remember that Microsoft Word is the standard software. Turning your resume into a PDF unless the opportunity asks specifically for a PDF may cause problems if the person you send it to does not have the right software to open it.SkillsIf you are bilingual or multilingual, it will be a big plus in our global economy, so be sure to list that. If you are skilled in relevant software platforms or know how to operate relevant machinery, please put it here as well.Other ExperiencesIf you have attended conferences, participated in panel discussions, served as a mentor, volunteered for a nonprofit, or served on a board, you may wish to use this inform ation to demonstrate how involved you are in the community/industry. Caution You may want to leave out anyinformation that may generate questions or cause people to form the wrong kinds of opinions about you. For example, your political or religious views do not belong on your resume.Tidbit 3 ContentWe have all had modest breaks in our employment or education histories. One way to minimize these eu-agrarpolitiks on your resume is to list only the years of your employment, rather than the months. For example, you may wish to present your resume as follows1996 1999 Administrative Secretary, XYZ Company, 2428 South Masa Tenafly, New Jersey1999 Present Assistant to the President, ABC Company, 1976 Vernon Place, Piscataway, New Jerseyinstead ofMay 1996 May 1999 Administrative Secretary, XYZ CompanyOctober 1999 Present Assistant to the President, ABC CompanyThesecond example exposes a four-month employment gap that may prove unsettling for some hiring personnel. Such a gap shouldn t startle people, but you want to be careful. You only get six seconds to impress a recruiter or hiring manager, so you want to be sure not to cause any alarm.If the application calls for more detail, tell the truthabout the gap. It is never a good idea to present a falsehood on an application because the truth will always come out eventually. Also, present a reasonable explanation for the gap e.g., sick parent, death of a spouse, relocation, etc.Tidbit 4 ProofreadFinally, you want to run a spelling and grammar check on your resume. No one wants to read a resume that has misspellings or grammatical errors. In addition to using a spell-checking tool, you may also want to proofread your resume yourself and have a trusted friend, colleague, or professional resume writer give it a look as well.When its time to print your resume, remember that off-white paper and 11- or 12-point font are standard.Joanne E. Howard is on the faculty of the Stuart School of Business at Illinois Tech and an adjunct with MacCormac College.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.