If you’re in the process of hunting for a job and haven’t had any luck getting an interview, the problem could be your resume. Here are some ways you can update your resume to find a much better job.
Quantify More
Using numbers to quantify your achievements where possible, adds more substance to any resume. For example, instead of just saying “managed employees and brought on new clients,” you can instead state that you managed a team of eight employees and grew your company’s client base by 20%. You can also add numbers in a range or frequency to give your achievements more impact.
Give More Examples
You’ve probably heard to “show, don’t tell” in a lot of different areas of life. Your resume is no different. The strongest resumes give tangible examples of your skillset, past achievements, and experiences you have had. This is more difficult for soft skills but there are ways to do it. Instead of claiming that you are a team player, for example, you can say you aided other employees during your downtime.
Enlist Help
If you aren’t a very strong resume writer, there is no shame in getting assistance. With today’s internet, there are groups for every demographic and topic. For instance, you can even join a specialized help group like at Work It Sister, where they even have a Women Over 60 Free Coaching Group.
Know that there are resume writing services out there you can use to help fix an existing resume or write a new one. These professionals will consult with you about your employment history and skills, as well as review your existing resume, before setting out to write you a better one. Professional resume writers know how to present you in the best light and their services can help you in your job search.
Address Red Flags
Finally, you need to look at your resume with the same critical eye that an employer will, to note any red flags that could be problematic for your employment prospects. Big ones tend to include gaps in employment, padding for length and job-hopping. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar mistakes should also be fixed because they leave you looking sloppy and uncaring about the job.
Keeping your resume updated helps you continuously edit this important document into one of increasingly good quality. If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, whether you are currently employed or not, you should. You don’t want to let any good job opportunity pass you by.
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