Ready to start a new career but need some advice on writing your résumé? Are you looking to get a diploma to prepare you for that new career?
Your résumé is the first impression an HR or hiring manager will get of you. Your résumé should be formatted with wide margins, clean type, and clear headings. If you are early in your career, your résumé should reflect that and shouldn’t be longer than one page. If you have more to show the hiring manager, include a link to your LinkedIn profile.
Target Your Résumé
Make sure to learn about the company you are applying to and the job description you are applying for. Use this information to shape your résumé and target it to that specific employer. Don’t just create a stock résumé and blast it out to everyone. Take the time to tailor your résumé to best suit the job you are applying for.
Contact Information
Right at the top of the résumé, be sure to include your contact information so it is easy for the HR or hiring manager to get in touch with you and set up a phone interview. Include your name, address, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile.
The Job Objective
Take the time to craft a persuasive message that talks to the hiring manager about what job you are looking for and what you bring to the table. Be specific. Include the job title and list of skills that make you a good fit for the position.
Work Experience
This section of the résumé will include all your “appropriate” work experience for the job you are applying for. Explain any gaps in your work experience, as this will raise red flags. Include the job title, company name, dates of employment, primary responsibilities, and key accomplishments. List all employment in reverse chronological order.
- Use bullet points to explain your primary responsibilities.
- Quantify your key accomplishments (e.g., increased revenue 10% with business mailer).
- Instead of saying what “I did,” use action verbs to describe your primary responsibilities (e.g., achieved, assigned, planned, etc.).
Education
Include a short list of the colleges attended and the diplomas awarded. Include any continuing or online education that supplements your college education.
Honors and Skills
Try to resist the urge to put everything you have ever accomplished on your résumé. Make a small list of honors that pertain to the job to give more evidence why the hiring manager should set up a phone interview. Also, create a quick list of skills that pertain to the job you are applying for (e.g., software programs, industry skills, etc.).
References
Save references for the end of the hiring process. If a hiring manager asks for references after a final interview, this is a good sign that he/she is interested in hiring you. The hiring manager will call your references only if the company is truly interested in hiring you. The hiring manager will contact your references to corroborate your job history and skills.
Before submitting your references, ask permission from the people on your list to use their names. This way, references are prepared ahead of time to give positive feedback about you.
PayScale Career Research Center
The PayScale career research center is a great resource to better understand the activities of a specific job and what the hiring manager will be looking for in the description of your résumé’s work experience section. The PayScale tool will help you understand salaries, job demographics, common job skills, and pay variance by time and between geographic locations.
LinkedIn Profile
LinkedIn is a dedicated social media vehicle for business and networking. In April of 2017, LinkedIn had over 500 million members and listed more than 10 million active job posts at more than nine million companies, according to Fortune magazine. LinkedIn is also a great resource to research jobs and companies.
A major part of your résumé is your LinkedIn profile. Make sure to include your employment history without gaps, education, featured skills, and interests. Don’t forget to network with colleagues and business professionals in your industry to broaden your circle of influence. Once you connect with colleagues and former bosses, ask them to endorse you for a skill or give a recommendation about your work ethic. Don’t forget to include a link to your LinkedIn profile on your résumé.
Are you thinking about starting a new career but need additional career services? Hunter Business School offers graduates placement assistance after graduation.
Hunter Business School also offers assistance with résumé writing, cover and thank you letter writing, interview skill development, networking skills, and effective job search training.
Contact us today to learn more about how we can help assist with job placement after you graduate from Hunter Business School.