Top Nine Resume Tips from 2018

In reflecting on my business for 2018 I went over my most common notes and comments to clients. Since my daughter turned 9 this year, I picked out the top nine to mention here. These are the items in general to keep in mind when doing your resume.

1. High school/GED Grad

Ok so with this... it is completely fine to list your high school if you graduated less than 5 years ago and have not continued on with more education. However, if you have not gone back to school since high school or getting your GED & it has been MORE then 5 years, do not bring attention to this fact or create a section for it. Whether you went back to school or not, is not the point. Maybe you have a certification or club association that will better represent you in another section of your resume. Many career paths do not require anything above high school, or it is optional, so there is no harm just because you did not do more schooling just do not show your lack of something or age by listing this.

2. Tense consistency

Now speaking of the past, let's talk about your tenses. in order to make your resume flow even better you want to keep a relevant tens to your text. If you are talking about previous positions or accomplishments, then you want to use a past tense. And writing about what you currently do, use a present tense.

It is all in the details.

3. WHITE SPACE IS YOUR FRIEND!

This one is simple.

Embrace.

White.

Space.

4. What is your email address?

The best way I can explain this is through a story that I could not get myself to say aloud when I did LIVE on Instagram (if you have not added me yet, check me out @premierresumes).

In my time within Human Resources, I have seen and heard and read so many things that most people would not believe because all of these people are just like you and I. Your neighbor. Your friend. Your professor. Your niece. Your high school best friend. You name them. And then you step into the HR world and realize, people really are crazy. There is no such thing as normal. Weird IS normal. And normal is weird. So imagine having someone come in to pick up an application (does anyone even do this anymore?? Haha)... you have a great discussion, they seem like they might actually be a great fit, speak well and look polished. Then they send you the application and their resume from their email at POPMYCHERRY88@aol or hiskitty69@gmail.

I

was

in

shock!

So my new rule of thumb when I see an email that not be something inappropraite but maybe juvenile, I tell clients to rethink their resume to something they would PROUDLY read off to an elder.

Look we all do it. I have had roxygurl90 among others, however I could not imagine emailing my boss, someone I want to see me as an adult (adulting is hard enough), from an email address that I made in the 7th grade because I was cool.

I am not looking to be COOL in the workplace. I am looking to be respected. So maybe keep the email but create another just for business, networking, job search efforts or anything related to your career, even with professors. And keep it simple with your name in some way. Leave the ieatcheetoserrday@yahoo for your friends and family or all the store emails and discounts.

5. Keep your “highlights” in mind.

Your resume needs to highlight your best qualities, how you stand out or fit in, that you are (more than) qualified for the position and how to get ahold of you. Do not divulge into your life story. The story examples are best for rhe interview - to an extent even.

6. List your references on their own page.

References should be on a separate sheet. On the application. In an email. But not on your resume. Bring attention to you and your name not “the guy who knows Susan”.

We can talk more about connections another time but that is not what I am getting at here.

7. Accomplishments

List your accomplishments within past & current employment without regurgitating your job descriptions.

8. Space appropriately.

Add all becessay information. And let go of the rest. One to two pages should be work for anyone. However if this is your 1st to even 3rd job, there’s no reason you should need more than 1 page.

9. Is this even you??

The resume should sound like you. Be careful when finding synonyms. Being your best self but do not overcompensate. Hiring managers can usually see through this. savw yourself from explaining something you do not know or understand. Whether you or someone else do your resume, always take a second glance overall but especially for this.

And there you have it! Nine common resume tips for clients throughout 2018. Is there anything you would add or have a question on? Reach out! I would love to help you out.

Much Success,

Corynn LeeAnn