You spend a lot of time scouring job postings and applying for jobs, but you keep coming up empty. It’s discouraging to put so much effort into your job search and still be searching!
Maybe it’s time to give your resume a makeover. Use these tried-and-true strategies to improve your resume—now and in the future.
Include a summary statement to show your value
Not so long ago, it was common practice to include an objective section at the top of your resume. A resume objective might look something like this:
Objective statements have become passé. They’re a little bland, a little formulaic. They tend to focus on what you want instead of what you can offer.
As they review job applicants, employers aren’t looking only to add the requisite skills when they hire for a role. They are looking for a person who’s going to bring something unique to their company.
Enter the summary statement. Done well, a summary statement will make your resume stand out.
“A summary statement tells a recruiter who you are. You’re talking to me about what makes you unique in the workplace. If I hire you, what am I getting? What are you passionate about?” says Kimberly, Fidelity talent acquisition partner.
Kimberly says that even the adjectives someone uses to describe themselves can reveal a lot. For example, “enthusiastic and energetic” says something very different from “pragmatic and data-oriented.”
A good summary statement says something like: Resourceful and efficient [role] specializing in [area of expertise] Recently achieved [specific accomplishments including numbers and percentages] Committed to building [vision of successful results].
It’s a subtle but important shift. If your resume doesn’t have a summary statement, add one. This small addition can make recruiters sit up and take notice.
Commit to regular resume updates
“Keep your resume up to date—you never know when you’ll need it.” You’ve probably heard this advice before. It’s good advice, but it’s hard to follow when you’re gainfully employed. If you’re like most of us, as soon as you land a job, your resume starts collecting dust until you start another job search.
Kimberly echoes this advice. She says of all the resume strategies she can offer to job seekers, this is the most important one.
Imagine this scenario. You’re not actively looking for work, but you hear about a dream job. You haven’t kept your resume up to date. That means you haven’t included new information about your current job. This is bad news on two fronts:
- If you rush to update your resume to apply for the job, you won’t have time to proofread and make corrections. Spelling and grammar mistakes can land your resume in the trash.
- It’s very hard to remember all the things you should include when you’re under pressure. Are you going to remember the impressive work you did on that project two years ago? The one that matches so well with the dream job? If not, you miss out on showcasing your noteworthy skills.
Keep your resume up to date by tying it to something you’ll remember to do. Kimberly uses her own quarterly review to prompt her to revise and update her resume. As she’s compiling notes for her quarterly review, she reflects on her work. She assesses the results of her work and the skills she gained. Kimberly says, “While it’s still fresh in my mind, I’m adding that as a bullet on my resume.”
If performance reviews aren’t part of your work life, plug some time into your personal calendar for this practice. When that dream job pops up unexpectedly, you’ll be ready.
