In the same way that the job market ebbs and flows, the same occurs with the components of a resume. How do you know you’ve put your best food forward? How do you know you’ve included the most important and compelling information to make a company choose your resume out of the dozens, if not hundreds, of similar applicants.
Luckily, there are some definite do’s and don’ts to follow to give your resume an advantage. Let’s look at a few of the good and not-so-great resume examples, and identify some of the most important features of each one.
The Best Resume Features 2020
There are dozens of resume templates available online to download or use as a reference. Many of these are extremely helpful, but in the end, much of the layout and design will ultimately be your choice. In general, there are three big features that can make your resume stand out from the rest, or at least ensure that yours doesn’t fall to the bottom of the pile.
- Choose the Right Format
Whether you’re starting from scratch, or simply revising and updating your resume, a good place to start is by considering how you want to communicate your experience to employers. One big decision is deciding between a chronological resume and a functional resume.
- A chronological resume takes readers through your work history in reverse chronological order. Beginning with your most recent position first, the resume often goes back ten years, with each entry including your job title, the dates you worked there, and the responsibilities you held.
- A functional resume, on the other hand, focuses instead on industry or job-specific skills. Rather than listing jobs and responsibilities, and then summarizing the skills you used for those positions, functional resumes begin with a long and in-depth description of your talents, skills, and interests.
So, which one is right for you? A chronological resume is most effective if you have a long or impressive work history. If you have perhaps a series of entry level positions or internships, a functional resume can highlight what makes you qualified.
- Hard Skills vs Soft Skills: Why Not Both?
Resumes are designed to communicate your value. Employers should be able to read your resume and get a feel for your strengths, characteristics, and qualities that make you unique. That’s why communicating your identity in the workplace is about balancing your hard skills and soft skills to illustrate an accurate self-portrait.
Hard skills are the technical experiences that show the employer you have the knowledge and ability to hit the ground running immediately. Examples of hard skills include:
- Coding language proficiency
- Social media management
- Language skills
- Certifications in cybersecurity
- Specific graphic design skills and program-mastery
Soft skills show what working with you will feel like. Think of these as your “people skills,” or your personality. Often, these are the same skills you’d bring to any job in any industry. If hard skills are the left side of your brain, soft skills fall on the creative, right side. Examples include:
- Problem solving
- Communication styles
- Leadership qualities
- Empathy and interpersonal skills
- Collaboration
Just remember to balance these! Employers want to see both sides of the coin. Here is an example of a hard skills-dominant resume template, and another that focuses more on soft skills.
- Use Keywords
It’s sad, but true: if you don’t have the right keywords in your resume, it’s likely to go unnoticed. To cut down on the time spent reading every single application, employers generally utilize applicant tracking systems. In fact, 99 percent of Fortune 500 companies have these technologies in place. While it might feel daunting or impersonal, having a good grip on what keywords are ranking and which to use in your resume simply ensures you will pass the first round of tests and make it in front of a hiring manager.
Check out this great example of resume keyword usage gone right.
The Worst Resume Mistakes 2020
There are some common mistakes that can potentially decrease your chances of being seen for a job that could have been your perfect fit. According to a survey by TopResume, 70 percent of hiring managers say there are certain “deal-breakers” that would potentially cause them to stop reading mid-resume and return it to the pile without finishing.
- Poor Organization
There’s a reason we started out with the organization element of resumes! Your resume should be laid out in a pleasing and easy-to-read format. Avoid flashy fonts and colors and be sure to use a consistent font throughout. That being said, there’s no reason to settle simply for the bare minimum of design.
Another issue to consider is length. You’ve no doubt heard the one-page rule for a resume, but even when abiding by this length, it’s possible to pack in too much information. An analysis by TalentWorks found that the most successful resumes were around 475-600 words long. Make sure you say what you need to and cut out anything superfluous.
- Spelling and Grammatical Errors
Nothing is more cringeworthy than seeing a professional resume submitted with mistakes in spelling or grammar. Even if the job you’re applying for is completely unrelated to writing, typos communicate a lack of focus, clarity, and hard work. It also could cause you to misrepresent or miscommunicate your abilities altogether.
Some common errors include:
- Misspelled words
- Missing words from sentences or paragraphs
- Writing in passive voice
- Issues with tenses (i.e. talking about previous jobs in present voice)
- Vague language
Check out this woeful resume submitted with dozens of typos.
- General Lack of Passion
Perhaps the biggest flaw of a poor resume is the lack of personality and passion that comes with generic templates. You want to stand out and make sure that everyone recognizes your unique qualities. But, in general, you want to infuse your resume with everything that makes you, you. Be sure to speak from the heart, as well as the head, unlike these poor folks.
Your resume could be a simple summary of your experience and skills, but to an employer facing a stack of applications, you want it to be so much more than that. Only 10 percent of resumes result in a single interview. There is no room for error or poor choices when drafting yours. That’s why it’s always a good idea to ask a friend or peer to read over it. Getting that extra set of eyes on the document could be the difference between the call that never comes, and the job you know is right for you.
