CV TIPS - 6 things you must update on your résumé right now
Posted 17th February 2022 • Written by Amanda Augustine on fastcompany.com • • • • •
In fact, a recent survey from TopResume found that a majority of employers and recruiters do not consider a substantial employment gap (lasting 12 or more months) to even be a red flag, given the current job market conditions.
Instead, use these tips to focus on demonstrating why you’re qualified for the role, as well as a good fit for the organization.
OUTLINE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
The best way to stand out in a pool of applicants is to make sure your résumé and cover letter clearly outline your qualifications and interest in a particular position. Review your résumé with the job description in mind to ensure you’re highlighting your relevant skills and incorporating some of the same verbiage you see in the job posting to describe your experience and accomplishments.
This approach will help you not only catch the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter, but it will also ensure your application makes it past the company’s applicant tracking system—or ATS, for short—which screens out approximately 75% of online applications.
REFRAME YOUR EXPERIENCE
A recent FlexJobs survey of active job seekers found that about half were searching for roles outside their current field. If you left your job with the goal of transitioning to a new industry or career, it’s important to consider what your résumé is conveying about you and your capabilities. The last thing you want to do is include unrelated industry jargon or emphasize irrelevant skills that scream “I’ve never done this type of work before!”
Instead, focus on translating your previous experience into terms prospective employers will appreciate. Swap out any language that is specific to your prior industry with more generic terms.
ILLUSTRATE YOUR VALUE
Employers want to see more than a list of your skills and a timeline of your education and experience. They want your résumé to prove that you’re good at what you do. Support your claims by including specific examples, figures, or case studies that illustrate your abilities. Wherever possible, quantify your contributions and achievements to show the value you’ve created for your past employers.
HIGHLIGHT YOUR FLEXIBILITY
If a flexible work arrangement is a priority for you, look for opportunities on your application to show employers that you are both interested in and highly capable of working in a virtual or hybrid work environment. For example, in your work history, indicate which parts of your experience (and/or achievements) took place while working in a flexible or remote environment.
SHARE YOUR VACCINATION STATUS (IF YOU’RE COMFORTABLE)
According to a recent study, one in three hiring managers automatically eliminate résumés that don’t include a COVID-19 vaccination status—and a growing number of job postings now list being vaccinated as a requirement for employment.
EXPLAIN WHY THIS OPPORTUNITY IS A GOOD FIT
If you recently resigned from your job, it’s important to explain what you learned from the experience and how it’s shaped your current goals. While much of this conversation will likely take place during the interview process, there are ways to incorporate some of this information into both your cover letter and your résumé’s career narrative.
Instead of focusing on why you left your job, include a line in your cover letter and your résumé’s professional summary that explains why you’re passionate about working for a company that possesses certain values or qualities—whatever is most important to you. The more you can highlight what you know about the company and how the group fits both your personal work style and core values, the better.
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