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Today I’m going to present my top 5 tips for writing a competitive resume in a job market flooded with candidates.
It is safe to say, in today’s job market your resume is one of many. I have recruited roles in the IT, Medical, Education and Legal industries over the years and I’ve noticed a few things great resumes have in common.
These 5 things are common with great resumes
A quick scan catches keywords that match the job description
Tenure looks good and any break or short stints are explained concisely
The company history on the resume highlights relevance to the company that’s recruiting
The hierarchy of their role within the company or team is clear
Their experience is relevant to the job
How to prepare your resume for the quick scan?
To prepare your resume for rigorous scrutiny make sure you know your industry resume expectations. There are a few common traits regardless of industry — Cover Letter, Objective, Summary, Skills, Company, Role and Responsibilities. Think of your resume as a presentation of all the parts of your experience that align with the job. Make a point of having a natural flow of keywords and relevant experiences front and center.
Doing this should help reduce fodder and help your most relevant attributes standout. Building the core and the flow of your resume in this way will give it a natural edge over your competition.
How you present tenure makes a difference
According to the Bureau of Labor Stats, candidate tenure has been hovering at around 4.6 years on average. The reality however is the average tenure of candidates is widely affected by age, education and industry. With cost of living rising, work culture changing and candidates understanding their workplace boundaries tenure can be reflective of a company as well as a candidate.
Average tenure falling below 1.5–2 years raises a red flag with hiring managers. To overcome this scenario I find what works best is a simple short indicative reason mentioned somewhere near the date. This removes the opportunity for the readers’ interpretation. It also helps you retain control of how you want your short stints to come across.
Just remember to keep it positive. Bad mouthing your past employer is never a great idea — even if they deserve it. Your goal is to land the job, keep the focus on why you’re a fit for the role.
Why company history matters?
For starters, companies compete with each other and one of the most popular tactics in competition is to get the inside scoop on your opponent. Sometimes, where you’ve worked alone could push you to the top of the job applicant line.
For my tennis fans, remember how Naomi Osaka nabbed Venus’ hitting partner of several years after winning the US Open. Or how she nabbed Serena’s old coach Sacha? Companies are just as competitive and want to hire from their competition. When applying for a job be aware of your company history and be sure to find a way to highlight it in your resume.
Although resumes are traditionally in chronological order there are sections that are open for customization. The summary, cover letter or objective sections of a resume can be used to tastefully underscore your experience with a competitor.
Be clear about your role
The best thing a candidate can do is demonstrate their ability to communicate clearly, concisely and deliberately. Overstating your work and excluding your position on a team does not paint a full picture.
Instead I’ve found the candidates that are able to place themselves within a team and relay their function and purpose to the company usually nail it!
Often people feel it necessary to overcompensate for areas they lack. This approach mostly works against them because generalizing is not a way to showcase strengths.
Try to keep in mind that good companies are set up to function like a well oiled engine. Each person has a purpose. Know your function from a team perspective and a company perspective and relay that information.
Ask yourself — How would I rate the overall relevance of my experience for this position?
Be your worst critic! Review your resume with these three questions in mind:
How have I used my resume to make the case that I’m the best candidate for this position?
Have I found a way to highlight my best attributes relevant for this role?
Can I be more creative in presenting my experience?
Do your best to always present the details that are most relevant towards the top. Don’t let it be buried in the middle or at the end.
If you haven’t already, download the free RPS Job Search Planner if you are in the job market or head over to our Candidate Services to see how we can assist you.
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