Millennial Career Post #2: Please Format Your Resume, Correctly.

The second installment of the Millennial Career Post series designed to help you take that next step in your career.

Happy New Year everyone! I always love the smell of a fresh start, whether a new job, fresh stationary for a new school year or even the start of a brand new January. I’m finally continuing this series which proved to be pretty popular last year: a series of quick, how-to articles to give you the tools to build your best career.

Photo courtesy of Sidekick: Resumes don’t have to be boring — but know your audience and make sure you’re creating something that reflects your best skills and your best YOU.

And this year, I have an exciting announcement — I’m open for career questions, virtual interview prep, career planning help and advice for transitioning in your career! Leave me a note and we can talk about how I can help you build a career you love!

Now, on to the good stuff.

I’ve read countless resumes in my life, both as a first review and as a interviewer. There are a few key things that a lot of people seem to forget that might seem basic. Remember, a resume is a first impression, so aim to be memorable and clear.

1. ALWAYS spell check. Triple check. Have your friends read your resume. Have your mom read your resume. But make sure when you submit your resume, you’ve spelled public relations correctly.
2. Dress for the job you WANT. Tailor your resume to the job you want, not the job you have (or had). A lot of resumes I’ve seen are written as though the applicant is applying for the job they have. I want to see what skills you bring to the job you’re applying for, so help me draw the connection without too much effort.
3. Make CONNECTIONS. It’s easy to think that because I’m reviewing your resume, that I’ll draw connections that seem obvious to you. But often times, I’m skimming for very specific qualities or skills, many of which I’ve probably hinted at in the job description. Be sure to tell me how being a preschool teacher and wrangling 3-year-old’s all day will help you be a great administrative assistant.
4. Use DATA to tell your STORY. There are so many ways to tell a story and one of the most effective, especially for communications jobs, is to use data. Instead of telling me that you increased engagement, show me:
   6 months into executing my new strategy, engagement increased by 23% YOY — more than 120,000 more people were commenting on our content.
5. Keep in SIMPLE. With so many resume formats available , it’s easy to want to create something unique and individualized — and I highly recommend you build a resume that reflects you. But consider leaving the head shots, unicorn pink and script fonts to your journal. Remember that we’re skimming 100's of resumes a day and often print the ones we want to move forward. Make sure your resume is easy to read with plenty of white space and a font that everyone has installed on their computer so you avoid the dreaded symbol translations. And consider submitting it .pdf form if you can.

BONUS: Always include a cover letter! It’s an extra step that will set you apart from every other applicant. Many organizations now require you to apply online through a portal where you can upload resources. Including a cover letter with your resume (or separately) will often get you a second look. I’ll cover (ha!) those in next week’s post.

Enjoy this series? Leave me a note or a clap, and share with your friends. I’d love to hear what else you’d like me to cover this year!