Routinely Rewriting my Resume: What to include, does anyone really know?

Anonymous

November 13,2021 at 3:30PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

Routinely Rewriting my Resume: What to include, does anyone really know?

In the past year, I feel like I've changed my resume more than 100 times. I went from including a highlight section, from two to a single page, bullet points with key verbs, Word to PDF and my latest, result and solution-based content.

I'm still at a loss as I was getting more response when I had a longer resume, short summary and key words. I feel like I'm constantly chasing the current trend but still not landing on the right method.

Is anyone else in the same situation? Due to my eclectic background, I feel a skill or industry -based resume depending on the job would be better than chronological. That being said, I've heard ATS systems don't accept that format.

I want to be able to stand out from other resume and highlight applicable skills but how to do that in a chronological resume when what I want to highlight was from a previous role and industry? Thank you!

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

93 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

93 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousNovember 13,2021 at 4:49PM UTC
You are not alone! I’m the Queen of my own resume rewrites. I am a career changer who followed a chronological format. I kept the resume to 2 pages. From your summary & profile, tell the prospective employer of who you are and what you bring to the table. You can include some competencies, ie, mine compliance, employee relations, talent management. You can do a combination resume. For each company, illustrate, quantify and apply keywords from the job description for ATS. Yes to bullet points, and overall link up your resume/skills to a position or industry. Hope this is helpful!
AnonymousNovember 13,2021 at 5:13PM UTC
Thank you, Anonymous. I'm going back to 2 pages and including a summary. I appreciate your advice as my one pager feels without personality and letting recruiters what I can bring to the table. I like your idea about weaving in key words and link the resume to the job description.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 13,2021 at 8:49PM UTC
As a recruiter with over 20 years experience, I can tell you that there is NO "gaming the ATS". Resumes are also not screened out by the ATS.
The ATS is basically an electronic filing cabinet. It's a data base. It stores resumes.
Occasionally, they are set up with "knock out" questions. Those questions were set up by humans. Like if the position requires a specific degree. If you respond that you do not have that degree, you will be "knocked out". Even you are knocked out, your resume is still stored in the ATS and still very much visible to any and all recruiters.
I look at every single resume that gets submitted to my jobs. With my eyeballs.
You know what gets a resume noticed? Being qualified for the position.
As a recruiter, there is nothing I hate more than a functional resume. It does not put your experience into context. I can't tell if you did something last year or 9 years ago. I can also see how you might have trouble with an ATS parsing that type of resume.
Let me say it one more time for those in the back: I do not care how long your resume is as long as it's relevant information.
Now no one wants to know your entire life story - but I promise you, I have never ever had a hiring manager tell me they wouldn't speak with a candidate because their resume was 2 pages instead of one. Exception to this: new graduates with no experience.
It's standard now for anything over 10, 15 years get lopped off the resume. No one cares what you were doing in 2001.
You want to really get on my bad side from the get go? Cram your resume onto one page, put in size 8 font and make me go blind trying to read it.
I guess my question is why are you not using the format you were having the most success with?
Please let me know if you have any questions.
GOOD LUCK IN YOUR JOB SEARCH!
AnonymousNovember 13,2021 at 9:31PM UTC
Joan, I appreciate your advice. I switched resumes after speaking with recruiters advising a different format due to ATS.
What I'm having difficult with is that I have 20 years of experience and accepted an interim role in the town I grew up during the pandemic.
I originally told myself it would be a short stint, has turned into two years. Although it's not my desired industry or location, I've done my best to help the company grow and was awarded with raises and new titles. I'm grateful but now that I'm ready to resume my former field, I'm having difficulty figuring out the best way to promote my previous work.
I hear from recruiters but only in my current field. When I reach out for more creative roles, I find that they are only looking at my recent employment. In fairness, I would have the same misgivings if I was only looking at my recent employment as although I've made my position more creative, it's not that type of industry.
Where I've settled during the pandemic does not have my type of roles and is very industry specific. I was fortunate to secure employment but I'm starting to feel stuck.
I've looked into remote roles and also relocating to larger cities if I was able to arrange employment ahead of time. When I was just staring out, I would move there but I'm finding it difficult to give a good salary for the unknown.
I've had conversations with recruiters that told me I need to be there rather than willing to relocate. I've added in to my cover letter and sometimes even resume that I would do at my own expense still without any offers.
I'm not sure what else to try as I've reached out recruiters, contacted employees in my field & reached out to contacts and that's why I keep trying to fit the formula when my background doesn't play well with little boxes.
I'd appreciate any advice as I'm willing to do the work. Thank you!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 14,2021 at 1:24AM UTC
Ok - let's see if we can help you. What did you used to do and what are you doing now?
What have you done in your job search so far? Where are you searching for jobs? Approximately how many jobs are you applying to per week? Do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles? Are you utilizing industry specific specialty job sites?
Are you getting calls? Getting any interviews? Making it to the second round?
AnonymousNovember 14,2021 at 8:53PM UTC
Thank you, Joan. I worked in publishing and other creative industries. My current field is in finance and I feel that's making things difficult as it's a completely different industry. When recruiters contact me, they are doing so in terms of banking, finance or insurance. If I wanted to stay in that field, I'm in a good company and position. That being said, I would like to get back into publishing or entertainment marketing. I'd appreciate your help!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 15,2021 at 5:59AM UTC
If you'd like me to take a look at your resume, please reach out to me. No charge - I'm not a resume writer.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:13PM UTC
Thank you, Joan! I would appreciate it. I'm going through everyone's comments and then will updating my resume with those suggestions. At that time, I'll send you that version and I'd value your feedback.
LaurenNovember 14,2021 at 10:54PM UTC
I agree with you, Joan - spot on!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 1:10PM UTC
This is very helpful information, thank you! Appreciate your perspective, it validates my experience in the marketplace. I can't fit 30 years' worth of work experience on one or two pages, and I'm sick of modifying my resume for every job posting. I finally went with a longer, more detailed, chronological version filled with lots of good bits, and that did the trick. And, after 6 months in a new job, I finally went back and updated my resume for the new post, which added half a page to an already long resume. It's who I am, and what they're getting, so I really don't care. Done with reformatting!! On with key responsibilities, substantiated accomplishments, and quantifiable contributions. Thank you again for saving all of us from continual rework and reformatting!!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 1:27PM UTC
Except 2001 was the year I started my brick-and-mortar business. And any job I want will need to refer back to skills I built during those twelve years.
So yes, I'm going to mention it.
Allison RuffnerNovember 15,2021 at 1:28PM UTC
That was super helpful. Really. Thanks so much.
Connie PaulsonNovember 15,2021 at 1:32PM UTC
Interesting, you don't like a functional resume. With my eclectic background that is the one that I have been steered towards the most often. Thanks for the input.
MJNovember 15,2021 at 1:57PM UTC
Fellow eclectic here, with years of freelance and temp experience.
What one recruiter doesn't like, another will. One time on an interview a recruiter was "confused" by my functional resume. Wanted exact chronological order month/year to month/year of everyplace my agency ever sent me. I told her I will put one together but it will be several pages long and be repetitive, however I have no interest in working for someone who is more concerned with a persons attendance sheet instead of how their skills and experience will contribute to the company's success. Never sent it to her, but she also never followed up. Didn't matter because several other recruiters were trying to place me, which I did get a good job using the functional format.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:18PM UTC
Original Writer: MJ, when I've tried a different format, I've had recruiters say they want a chronological version. For the past year, I've tried a chronological with key bullet points and a four-lined summary at the top to showcase my background. I've tried key words at the end as well and then was told that would interfere with ATS formatting. I'm glad to see I'm not alone and I commend you for taking a stance and showcasing your skills to the best of your background.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 5:52PM UTC
Original Writer: I've tried functional and then I heard that ATS wouldn't work for that format. I might go back and give that one a try. I feel that it lines up better with my experience.
AnonymousNovember 14,2021 at 8:57PM UTC
Hi Anonymous, First of all, congratulations regarding your career and hard work. I understand that most recruiters wouldn't care about that far back but I'm trying to highlight what I did before the pandemic. I was in my desired field but I had to relocate during the pandemic and the area didn't have my industry. I was fortunate to land with a good company but I would like to get back to more of a creative field.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 15,2021 at 5:56AM UTC
When I said " No one cares what you were doing in 2001" - I wasn't just talking about recruiters, I was talking about hiring managers also. And before you ask me how I know that, it's because I've had them say those exact words. If you think a hiring manager cares what you were doing in 1992, knock yourself all the way out.
Most people don't want to have experience that long ago on their resume - nor do they list long ago graduation dates that can show their age - because they are concerned about the very real age discrimination that is so prevalent these days.
Also, the ATS doesn't screen resumes. I read every single resume because it's literally my job.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 7:14PM UTC
Jean, maybe consider that while your experience, voice, and opinion are helpful here, they are also based on your singular journey.
Just because you read every resume doesn't mean every resume for every job posting gets read.
And unless you're recruiting for every company on LinkedIn you'll be hard-pressed to convince many of us they are.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 16,2021 at 1:24AM UTC
A. My name is Joan
B. Follow people like Amy Miller, Kristen Fife and Bernadette Pawlik on LinkedIn if you think I'm the only person looking at every resume what gets submitted to our open reqs.
Companies have teams of recruiters and sourcers hunting for candidates every day all day - why WOULDN'T we look at resumes that land in our ATS? That's called low hanging fruit and we LOVE THAT.
Kimberly HornsteinNovember 15,2021 at 1:11PM UTC
I also earned my CPA and keep that on my resume just not the employers related to it.
Winifred BrowneNovember 15,2021 at 1:21PM UTC
To keep is simple...Does your resume match what the job posting requirements? Do you have the skills, experiences and education background that the company wants? Update your resume from this perspective. There are websites that can compare your resume to job posting that you can use before submitting it through the ATS. My recommendation is to have 1-2 pages with clear and easy headings showcasing your professional work experience, core competencies, education, professional associations, and volunteer experience. Your resume should be relevant to the position posted. Simplicity, clarity and relevancy are key to a good resume. Stop overthinking it.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 5:55PM UTC
Original Writer Thank you and I know that I'm overthinking it but I haven't found one that works. That's why I keep changing it. I appreciated everyone's comments! I'll use them to go back again and highlight what's relevant rather trying to keep more than 20 years of experience into a single page.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 1:23PM UTC
All I can add is that I have had the same experiences over the years.
When I feel that I am the perfect fit and meet the exact requirements and adjust my resume accordingly - nothing.
When I really don't care much about the opening and throw something out there - I get a call back.
I wish I knew how it really works....
I am a logical person, so for me a chronological resume is more, well, logical, but I would think that would not work for other more creative roles. But I also believe that the automated systems look for something specific, I just don't know what.
Good luck for your job search!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 5:58PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Anonymous. I understand your frustration. I hear back when I'm able to send my resume on to the recruiter rather than through websites. With my eclectic background, it doesn't fit into boxes. I'm using chronological but it makes it difficult to have them consider me for creative roles when the last are in a different industry. I appreciate everyone's suggestions and have a lot to think about before moving forward.
MARI S PHONASA, CPSM & CPSDNovember 15,2021 at 1:29PM UTC
I agree with most of the commenters, I have always had better lunch with more details on my resume. I recently used TopResume.com to help review and rewrite my resume of over 25+ years of experience. The bulk of my experience was 18+ years with one company, and they helped me condense that a bit to show only the most relevant experience, but even then I would tailor it towards the position I was applying. TopResume will conduct a free review for you, and provide you suggestions on what to change yourself or you could pay for their services to rewrite it for you. I chose the second price range to include a sample cover letter for mine. You still have the option to edit and tailor your resume and/or cover letter to include what is relevant to the job you are applying, so that you may demonstrate your "qualifications". I have been taking more risk and applying for positions where I am at least 50-60% qualified, and including in my cover letter where I would add value for areas I may not have complete credentials or qualifications.
Best of luck to you.
MARI S PHONASA, CPSM & CPSDNovember 15,2021 at 1:33PM UTC
Eeek - not better "lunch" - rather better "luck". no spell check on here. LOL
Aley13November 15,2021 at 1:49PM UTC
Can you share an idea of cost for them to rewrite your resume?
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:05PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Mari! I've had similar results. When I've taken the time to craft my resume, I don't hear anything and then other times, I used a standard version and hit works. It's difficult to know what to do. I'm glad to see that it's not just me and I appreciate everyone's advice.
Carol Brumer GliksmanNovember 15,2021 at 1:30PM UTC
While earlier professional experience is not routinely listed on a resume, not all career trajectories are straight forward. Some of the experiences I've had and skills I gained for the next position I want, may harken back and still be relevant from an earlier position. Then I do my best to find a place for it in my resume, in my core competencies and in my cover note.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:22PM UTC
Original Writer: Carol, do you find anyone reading your cover letter? I've tried tailoring mine and then heard people aren't reading them anymore. It's now about tailoring your resume. In addition, early in my career, I worked for a Fortune 500 company that is currently not on my resume as it's from more than 10 years ago.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:24PM UTC
Carol, I'll need to research the best ways to add in the core competencies as I think that will benefit my resume. I have experience that I want to showcase from earlier positions that are still relevant and that led to career advancement.
Nicole ChristensenNovember 15,2021 at 1:34PM UTC
I had the fortunate opportunity to have 3 recruiters review my resume during an event on resumes. The feedback I received was:
1. Only include the last 10 yrs
2. Use bullets and verbs based on what position you are applying for (contributor versus management)
3. Have a copy which has ALL of the bullets you might use
4. Adapt the submitted resume to only include around 3 bullets per role selecting only the most applicable (make sure to adapt language, lingo, etc. as needed) for each position one is applying to
5. Bullets should not just be a list of responsibilities, but what was over and above responsibilities - What makes you stand out or what did you do that others in that role have not.
6. Resume should be no more than 2 pages (They actually said they stop reading)
7. Submit your own version of your resume; do not submit the one that is offered through Indeed, LinkedIn, and other sites (They stated it was an opportunity to stand out from other applicants
The recruiters did not agree on the necessity for a cover page, but those who like a cover page thought the cover page was really the place to draw the recruiter to your personality and highlight what makes you stand out.
Dawn Walker-EldersNovember 15,2021 at 2:03PM UTC
Thanks, Nicole! This is helpful--clear.
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 5:15PM UTC
Nicole, you have some excellent tips! As a professional resume writer, I'd like to clarify and add a few more thoughts. :)
~ Don't stress about the page length. It's the quality that counts, not your quantity.
~ ALWAYS edit your resume for EACH job you apply to. This increases your chances of passing the applicant tracking system (ATS) scanning process. (For example, you'd want to change Daily Operations to Day-to-Day Operations/Activities, or Project Management to Project Lifecycle Management, or Case Oversight to Case Management).
~ Each job should have no more than 6-7 bullets. Each bullet should be no more than 2 lines long.
~ Don't include references on your resume.
~ Reverse Chronological resumes are best, then the Combination/Hybrid resumes are 2nd best. These resumes are skills-based and are a Combination of a Chronological resume and a Functional resume. ATS does ok, with Functional resumes but they rank last.
~ I tell all of my clients to send a cover letter with each resume even if the job posting doesn't as for one. I applied for a resume writing job a few years ago and was told that I got the job because I was the only applicant who submitted a cover letter. Besides, the cover letter is an extension of the summary on your resume. It serves as your "sales pitch" to the potential employer.
~ The reason why recruiters prefer 1-page is because they don't have time to read everything. But this is why it's important to have sections titled so that they can find pertinent information quickly (like your skills, achievements, and education/certificates). Recruiters may know about the industry and titles that you're looking into, but they do not know how to write a resume. So, keep that in mind when working with one.
I hope this helps. Feel free to reach out if anyone has any questions, I'll be glad to help!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:27PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Sabrina. This was very helpful! I stopped writing cover letters if the position didn't require one as I heard that recruiters are spending such a limited time reviewing resumes that it wasn't read. I appreciate knowing that it can make a difference.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:31PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Nicole. I appreciated your tips! I like the idea of having a master resume that you can extract meaningful bullet points for each job. That helps highlight what's important rather than reading through superfluous information that doesn't' relate to the role. Do you have any advice regarding if you've received a few title changes under the same company. Should it be separate positions or create a company heading?
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 7:24PM UTC
The different title changes under the same company can be highlighted separately if they're within the last ten years, as this shows advancement through the organization. First, you'll list the employer and total years there. Then list each title with corresponding dates and list the results/solutions-oriented bullets under each one.
Nicole ChristensenNovember 15,2021 at 10:19PM UTC
When I had that happen, it depended on if the change was relevant to what I was applying for or not if I listed it as 2 or 1. It also depends on if the title change was due to a reorg or acquisition alignment versus a promotion.
Julie ENovember 15,2021 at 8:28PM UTC
Love #3 and I'm going to start doing that. I can see having all possible bullet points in one document being a timesaver when tailoring your resume.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 1:34PM UTC
ATS systems are evil. Especially for those of us with a non linear path.
You may have better luck with a recruiter presenting you. Someone that you can walk through your work history.
You may also want to have resumes that focus on different parts of your experience.
Cover letters may also be a place to focus vs your resume. Explain where and how you meet the requirements.
Also your network - this may be the best avenue. Catch up with people that can promote you. Ask for help.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:39PM UTC
Original Writer: I'm facing that situation as although I've advanced in titles, they've been in different companies, positions and sometimes even countries.
It's hard to get across to a computer how my roles worked together especially if some crossed over in terms of dates and locations. Some roles continued for a few months even after taking on another position overseas.
Looking back, the roles I've received were by sending directly to a recruiter or someone that valued my experience helping me get a foot in the door. Nowadays, I hear that you still need to go through the system before someone at the company can assist. I'm normally screened out before that can happen.
I like the idea of going back to cover letters. Thy might be more work but I'd have the opportunity to explain how my experience would benefit that role. Thank you!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 1:36PM UTC
Do the functional format. Any potential employer obsessed with your chronological history as opposed to your talent raises a red flag of what they will be like to work for.
Amy GeffenNovember 15,2021 at 1:44PM UTC
i agree with Nicole's answer. You must change your resume for EACH job - that is, the top of page one with key skills and accomplishments. Don't waste time answering ads on the internet. The two best ways to find a job are through networking and writing directly. Start with people you know and then ask for introductions. Connecto to alumni through LinkedIn. Second, write directly to hiring managers (NOT HR) at companies to get meetings.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 6:43PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Amy. I've been asking for introductions and networking. I have a lot of connections on LinkedIn and from past positions. I'm trying to utilizing them but still hearing that their companies policy is to use the dreaded systems. If it was simply uploading a resume that would be fine but my background, (I've tested) gets taken completely out of context when parsed through a system. One time, I received back that they wanted more than two years of experience.
GirlBossanova161544November 15,2021 at 1:49PM UTC
I just did the free resume evaluation offered at indeed.com. It was really helpful, in addition to current trends, they told me to update my resume's core competencies and header with buzz words from each job posting so that the resume makes it past the initial software scan and to the eyes of a person.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:02PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you GirlBossanova! With everyone's comments, I'm adding in keywords and headers. I wish I knew this information months ago but appreciate everyone's advice and learning from my past mistakes!
Michele MaviNovember 15,2021 at 2:07PM UTC
Hi there. Resumes can be frustrating. I've worked for most of my career as a recruiter and I've written countless resumes writer. Even still it's not my favorite thing to do. But getting advice can be hard to implement on your own. I have a totally free online self paced course that will guide you through your process of creating your baseline resume and then shows you exactly how to tweak it for each job (yes you need to do that!). If you're interested you can sign up at https://www.michelemavi.com/p/the-revitalized-resume
I hope it helps.
I still coach job seekers on interview skills but I've moved into broader personal and professional development coaching overall.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 2:30PM UTC
I share your eclectic boat! I resigned from a beloved job, where I was at the top, to care for two elder family members. That was four years ago. I took an hourly job in an unrelated field, to pay expenses and, like you, moved up rather quickly, and became salaried, albeit very low comparatively.
In this job-rich climate, I'm applying to maybe 15 jobs a week. My resume is getting views but the last four years of work in an unrelated industry is creating a non-sequitur for recruiting teams, and have to show I worked.
My resumes(s) vary based on the position requirements, and each application is accompanied by a fresh cover letter. No work is positioned before 2005, though I agree that a lot of my earlier work speaks volumes.
Friends say, if you could get real facetime with recruiters, you would get hired. You are so experienced and almost magical. Who wouldn't want you!
I am hoping a real recruiter, not an ATS system, will have eyes on my resume and really read my cover letter. Returning at mid-level, to re-enter my previous space is what I'm going for. May the eyes in talent acquisition see me for real.
Karen GongawareNovember 15,2021 at 2:47PM UTC
I teach resume writing. A quick tip, if earlier work speaks volumes, put it under a Heading that states that particular skill set and list the skills you used. You don't have to put it under a work section, a skill section lets them know you have these.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:07PM UTC
Original Writer: Anonymous, wishing you all the best and that the right recruiter sees the value in your experience. From all comments and support displayed here, we need to connect with more recruiters like these in our industries.
Joycelyn M. SiameNovember 15,2021 at 2:40PM UTC
You may want to turn to a professional writing service, like Top Resume. They are pretty affordable and will help you with your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile.
I've used them, and they are fantastic.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:08PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Jocelyn. I haven't used Top Resume but it sounds like a great resource. I appreciated your tip!
Karen GongawareNovember 15,2021 at 2:43PM UTC
It is called a functional chronological blended resume. The functional part highlights your experience, skills, strengths. The Chronological part is of course your education/training/certifications and your work history. Here is a brief outline on how you might set it up.
Your name, email, and phone number across the top., No address as do you really want that out there on the web?
Next a Header titled Professional Summary where you answer the ad in 3 to 5 well crafted sentences.
Next a Header titled Something Skills or Something Knowledge (ex: IT might say IT Skills). Now put out the ones that pertain to the job.
Next a Header titled Work Experience. Put your jobs down in reverse chronological order (most recent first and move back to oldest) You only need to go back 10 or 15 years. Just put the name of the company, the city and State, the month and year your started and left, and your job title.
Next a Header titled Education/Training and again the name of the school of institution, city, and State, dates attended and degree awarded. No high school if been out over 5 years. If did externship add that. If had to do a project add that.
If you have Military Experience you may want to put that above Work Experience.
Finally put a Header titled Certificates and list those.
Tip: Put all your Headers on the left side of the paper. Recruiters read left to right and this makes it easier to read.
Make sure you change your resume to fit each job and yes get the dang key words in there. Answer the ad!
Shelby CNovember 15,2021 at 3:45PM UTC
I was in HR for years and Karen has done an excellent job! The system will should accept this format as well. As a general rule, the companies I worked with do not like pdf formats for that reason. We have to scan and then completely reformat. We had one employee whose entire day was reformatting only.
I would like to add some things to what Karen stated.
If you are in a tech heavy field, it is helpful to list all of the software that you use at the bottom and your skill level. This is mine from 2008. :p For example, it could say something like this:
SOFTWARE
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Oracle, and Outlook.
Experience with Costpoint, Quicken, Quickbooks, Microsoft Publisher, WinZip, CARMS, Prophesy, Access, Crystal, DBase, Adobe PhotoShop, CICS, CDM, Visio, and Application Extender.
The Professional Summary can also be called a Career Profile. It is your preference.
If you have a security clearance, or it has been active within the last two years, list it at the bottom in its own section; however, if you were "separated" and your clearance was deactivated twenty-four months or more, leave it off. You will have to have a new SF-86 and SSBI with OPM. It should be faster, but do not bet on it. If you had additional "special" clearances, please leave those off as they can and will likely make you a target for identity theft. Also, as those programs are declassified, people can tell who you worked for. For example, if you listed that you had Yankee White clearance, that used to be classified. Now you can Google it or even ask Alexa and find out that it grants you access to the POTUS. Special access is not exactly the thing we should broadcast to the outside world where anyone can see it - just like our home addresses.
I also recommend setting up an email for job searches only. I can't tell you how much spam I get from my last search which was over a year ago.
Best of luck!!!
Julie ENovember 15,2021 at 8:22PM UTC
I was told to always put your resume in PDF because if you upload it in Word, you can get funky formatting. Plus with Word people could change your content. Word is better than PDF?
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:10PM UTC
Anonymous for a day, I always used Word until I heard that PDF is the desired format. I'm sticking with PDF unless a site doesn't accept it as I have more control of the formatting. I made the classic mistakes like hidden charts etc. I could write a book on what not to do!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 8:51PM UTC
Original Writer:
Special shout out to Joan, Karen and Shelby for all your tips and everyone benefited a lot from your advice. Hearing directly from recruiters makes navigating the job market and perfecting resumes a lot easier. I appreciate everyone's advice and thank you for taking the time and making a difference.
Erica MNovember 15,2021 at 4:16PM UTC
This looks great. The only thing I would not do is put the year I graduated from college because then they can try to guess your age.
I've read that, right now, companies are looking for more senior-level people. But ageism is still there.
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 9:03PM UTC
Yes, I agree, don't add the year you graduated unless it's within the last year or two, or if your degree/certificate program is in progress.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 8:48PM UTC
Original Writer: Karen, your tips are extremely helpful. This type of resume affords adding in work history, skills per position while providing a tailored summary to tie my experience to the job description. The added areas such as training and certificates help as well so I don't need to add during my work experience bullet points. I feel hopeful attempting another resume.
Now that LinkedIn groups positions under a company umbrella is there a better way to list multiple promotions in a resume? Thank you!
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 9:03PM UTC
Yep, a Combination/Hybrid resume is great for this!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 3:20PM UTC
Same question here. I have been in the same industry and want to stay in it, but having tweaked it 137 times, I’m losing hope.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 15,2021 at 7:05PM UTC
What have you done so far in your job search? Are you getting responses? Interviews? Making it to second round interviews?
Where are you searching for jobs and where do you have your resume posted? How often are you updating those profiles? Is your LinkedIn profile up to snuff?
Caroline K Lenher, CMCNovember 15,2021 at 4:47PM UTC
I have note read all the comments so apologize if someone covered this...there is a great site called Top Resume where you can submit your resume for a free analysis. They are trying to get you to buy their services of course but the tool will give you feedback regardless that you can work from too...they also have other resources that might support and I see you have amazing feedback already here :) Good luck!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 7:09PM UTC
I used them and had an ok experience. I ended up using their 90-day guarantee and had them re-write it. I was never very happy with the service.
Caroline K Lenher, CMCNovember 15,2021 at 10:02PM UTC
Great input! I have not used their services beyond the free audit which I found helpful for rewriting...good to get first-hand experience beyond that, thank you for adding!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 5:11PM UTC
Tiresome isn't it!
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 5:19PM UTC
As a professional resume writer, I'd like to clarify and add a few more thoughts. :)
~ Don't stress about the page length. It's the quality that counts, not your quantity.
~ ALWAYS edit your resume for EACH job you apply to. This increases your chances of passing the applicant tracking system (ATS) scanning process. (For example, you'd want to change Daily Operations to Day-to-Day Operations/Activities, or Project Management to Project Lifecycle Management, or Case Oversight to Case Management).
~ Each job should have no more than 6-7 bullets. Each bullet should be no more than 2 lines long.
~ Don't include references on your resume.
~ Reverse Chronological resumes are best, then the Combination/Hybrid resumes are 2nd best. These resumes are skills-based and are a Combination of a Chronological resume and a Functional resume. ATS does ok, with Functional resumes but they rank last.
~ I tell all of my clients to send a cover letter with each resume even if the job posting doesn't as for one. I applied for a resume writing job a few years ago and was told that I got the job because I was the only applicant who submitted a cover letter. Besides, the cover letter is an extension of the summary on your resume. It serves as your "sales pitch" to the potential employer.
~ The reason why recruiters prefer 1-page is because they don't have time to read everything. But this is why it's important to have sections titled so that they can find pertinent information quickly (like your skills, achievements, and education/certificates). Recruiters may know about the industry and titles that you're looking into, but they do not know how to write a resume. So, keep that in mind when working with one.
I hope this helps.
I'd be more than happy to give you a free resume review to get you headed in the right direction. Feel free to reach out if you (or anyone else) has any questions, I'll be glad to help!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:16PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Sabrina! Your tips are very much appreciated. I'm looking forward to taking in everyone's advice and updating my resume. This time, I feel better equipped to do so.
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 11:15PM UTC
Wonderful! It's so tough out there, especially in these challenging times. You're wise to reach out and seek advice. There's wisdom in many "counselors." The best part is you can decide what works for you and what doesn't! Best of luck to you! <3
Krystin MorganNovember 15,2021 at 5:29PM UTC
An ATS system is essentially like a digital filing cabinet - it doesn't "not accept" any type of format. What can happen is if your resume has a lot of unusual formatting like tables, graphics, etc., the parsing might not work - meaning instead of the resume auto-filling out the fields when you apply (name, email, so on), you'll have to pay attention and make sure you fill it out manually.
That said, a lot of recruiters don't really love that skills-based or functional resume; it makes it difficult to tell when and where you used the certain skills, which can make a difference! Doing XYZ at a five-person company twenty years ago is potentially different than doing XYZ at a giant tech company last year.
I think your first resume - with two pages, a summary, and key words/verbs - is probably your best bet. Don't worry about getting it to one page unless you have <5 years of experience. Something else you can think of that is sort of a mix of functional + chronological is creating a Relevant Experience and Other Experience section. If you want to be a paralegal, for example, your Relevant Experience would be chronological with just any legal-related experience, and then Other Experience would be chronological with everything else.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:19PM UTC
Original Writer:
Thank you, Krystin. The hybrid resume sounds like my best bet. I can make sure I addressed the job description while adding in what I can bring to the company to stand out from other applicants. I feel job searching is in a way a game in which, it's easier if you have the instructions to read ahead of time rather than trial and error.
Tami L CannizzaroNovember 15,2021 at 6:31PM UTC
Hi! Wanted to add a few items that *may* not have been shared yet (professional career coach/resume writer here AND someone with dozens of years of corporate experience prior): Top of the Resume is the most read portion so I'll make sure you have this nailed.
Name, then underneath include your phone, professional email (first name, last name@...com), and LinkedIn url.
Underneath this, your professional Title. If you don't have this, add one. It should be related to the job(s) for which you are applying.
Right below your professional title: A 2-3 sentence summary that will tell the reader "who you are" as a professional. It's akin to the old "elevator speech" we all groan about. Yet if they read NOTHING ELSE they will have an idea of what you can do for them.
Just below this, you may add a few bullets outlining your skills, such as Project Management, Data Analysis, Training and Development, etc.
For what it's worth, a 2018 eye-scan study by The Ladders revealed that recruiters/hiring managers spend 7.4 seconds on the initial screen of a resume. The study indicated that resumes that succeeded in capturing recruiters attention featured simple layouts with clear sections and heading titles.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:21PM UTC
Thank you, Tami! Appreciated your advice and experience.
Amy GeffenNovember 15,2021 at 7:07PM UTC
Be areful of online services - the templates have several columns, graphics and your photo - NOT acceptable. Your resume needs to be in plain Microsoft word text, or a PDF, if that is what is requested. No photo. No street address. No dates of education. Include key words that are taken from the job descritpion. Include accomplishments tht are relevant. You need to change your resume for EACH job. Do not waste alot of time answering ads for online job postings - most are thrown out by the AtS (Applicant Tracking system) Instead spend your time networking and writing direclty to hiring managers.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 7:10PM UTC
Quick question - I cannot tell if cover letters are still preferred or not. I continue to get conflicting answers…..
Do you happen to know?
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 9:36PM UTC
Cover letters are preferred
Nicole ChristensenNovember 15,2021 at 10:07PM UTC
Honestly, it depends on the recruiter. However, those who prefer them may not send on your resume if it is not provided. Those who don't like them, usually just don't open them, so there is no negative impact of adding one.
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 10:14PM UTC
I always recommend a cover letter even if they don't as for one. I was applying for a job once and I was the only one that sent in a cover letter and it's one of the reasons why I got the job. :)
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 16,2021 at 1:13AM UTC
Recruiter with 20 plus years experience here. I get blasted every time I post this but I virtually never read cover letters. Most hiring managers do not read them either.
Cover letters are opinion pieces. Resumes are factual documents. I'm interested in candidate's work experience.
Some companies do request them and yes, you should send one if it's requested.
A cover letter is never going to make someone who is not a fit for my position be a fit.
AnonymousNovember 16,2021 at 8:37PM UTC
Thanks guys! I see your points; send it, and if it helps = great, if not = nothing lost.
Thank you all!
AnonymousNovember 17,2021 at 12:11AM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Joan. That's what I've heard regarding cover letters and previously submitted one for every job. In the past year, I've switched to providing a cover letter if it's requested and spend more time tailoring my resume. If recruiters are only spending a few seconds scanning resumes, I would rather have that get the most attention.
I appreciated your advice regarding headers and professional summaries. That affords having those sections stand out and I submitted my first updated resume today to reflect your suggestions. Thank you again!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 17,2021 at 5:42PM UTC
THE number one most important section of a resume and of your LinkedIn profile IS THE EXPERIENCE SECTION.
It is what recruiters look at first. It is what hiring managers look at first.
Good luck with the updated resume!!
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 16,2021 at 1:15AM UTC
An ATS does NOT THROW OUT RESUMES.
As a recruiter with over 20 years experience, I can tell you that there is NO "gaming the ATS". Resumes are also not screened out by the ATS.
The ATS is basically an electronic filing cabinet. It's a data base. It stores resumes.
Occasionally, they are set up with "knock out" questions. Those questions were set up by humans. Like if the position requires a specific degree. If you respond that you do not have that degree, you will be "knocked out". Even you are knocked out, your resume is still stored in the ATS and still very much visible to any and all recruiters.
I look at every single resume that gets submitted to my jobs. With my eyeballs.
You know what gets a resume noticed? Being qualified for the position.
AnonymousNovember 16,2021 at 9:05PM UTC
I tell my students all the time there is a misconception that it will "get thrown out"......The one we use sorts them by most matched skills to least matched skills but as you stated we can visibly see all applicants unless they have what you called a "knock out" question on it.
Joan Williams, Senior Talent Acquisition SpecialistNovember 17,2021 at 12:00AM UTC
I can still see any that didn't make it through the knock out questions.
AnonymousNovember 17,2021 at 2:18PM UTC
Ours takes a little more digging to find those, we actually had to look up instructions on how to find them. They are in a separate folder like five pages deep. It's possible to do they just don't make it easy to do.
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 7:13PM UTC
I am so frustrated with this too! I have had my resume re-written 4 times (I always buy the package with a cover letter and LinkedIn update) and I'm still not very happy with it. Each company bad-mouths the prior company's work. I've come to a point where I don't believe any of them. It's so tiring.
Sabrina CortesNovember 15,2021 at 10:11PM UTC
I'm so sorry to hear about your frustrating experiences with the previous resume companies!
AnonymousNovember 15,2021 at 10:14PM UTC
Original Writer: Thank you, Anonymous. I made the mistake of having a lot of resumes per type of role but customizing my cover letter rather than my resume. Looking back, the resumes that I tailored had better results. I love this group and appreciate everyone's advice. It makes navigating the job market easier.
Stephanie BowensNovember 16,2021 at 3:55AM UTC
There’s no standing out in terms of formatting ATS resumes. Your skills are your tools and they either will or will not fit the position. You most definitely will have to edit (not change) resume per application, but it should be 2 primary areas: skills and relevant work experience. Summary/objective statements are usually a waste of time-focus on your resume fitting the job description. Impact statements in your experience are essential. I highly recommend Google’s “x,y, z” format I.e “ implemented x, using y skills, resulting in y impact to department.” Action verb, quantitative information, and results all in one sentence. No copy and paste-
Kayla PolancoNovember 17,2021 at 1:47AM UTC
what does KSA's mean again?