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#ResumeWriting : 8 Tips To Optimize Your Resume For Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Updated your Resume But Haven’t Received any Interviews? MUst REad!

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Have you been working hard to update your resume but haven’t received any interviews? More employers are using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter resumes. Yours could quickly be sorted away if the right keywords or format are not there.

As International Update Your Resume Month is celebrated in September, it’s time to re-think your resume with AI in mind. As companies are relying on Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to streamline their hiring processes, these systems scan resumes for keywords and rank them based on relevance to the job description, meaning your resume needs to be optimized to pass through these filters and land in front of a hiring manager.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) often use AI (Artificial Intelligence) and machine learning algorithms to enhance their functionality. These technologies help ATS analyze and rank resumes more efficiently by:

  1. Keyword Matching: AI helps ATS identify relevant keywords and phrases in resumes that match job descriptions, making it easier to filter out unqualified candidates.
  2. Resume Parsing: AI-powered ATS can parse and structure data from resumes, such as work experience, education, and skills, allowing for more accurate candidate screening.
  3. Ranking and Scoring: AI algorithms can rank and score resumes based on how well they match the job criteria, helping recruiters quickly identify top candidates.
  4. Bias Reduction: Some AI-driven ATS aim to reduce unconscious bias by focusing on skills and qualifications rather than names, gender, or other personal information.
  5. Automated Communication: AI can also automate communication with candidates, such as sending acknowledgment emails or scheduling interviews.

Before starting to update your resume, make sure you define precisely the role or title you want to apply for. Once you are clear on the role you want, optimize your resume for ATS to increase your chances of getting more interviews.

1. Use Relevant Keywords

One of the most important aspects of optimizing your resume for ATS is incorporating the right keywords that match the job description and the skills, qualifications, and experiences the employer is looking for. Carefully read the job posting and highlight the key skills, qualifications, and responsibilities mentioned. These are the keywords you should include in your resume.

 

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Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

2. Use a Simple and Clean Format

ATS can have difficulty reading complex resume formats. Use clear section headings like “Experience,” “Education,” “Skills,” and “Certifications.” Avoid creative section titles that might confuse the ATS. Use a standard font, like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid using script or decorative fonts, images or tables.

Use bullet points and quantify your achievements by including numbers demonstrating your impact, such as “increased sales by 20%” or “managed a team of 15.”

3. Do Not Include A Picture On Your Resume

Including a picture on your resume is generally not recommended, especially in the U.S., Canada, and other countries where anti-discrimination laws are strict. Adding a photo can inadvertently introduce bias into the hiring process.

4. Choose the Right File Type

The file type you choose can affect how the ATS reads your resume. Use Word Documents or PDFs. Some ATS may have trouble reading text in headers and footers, so keep important information out of these areas.

5. Taylor your resume for every job application

Customize your resume for each job application to match the specific requirements and keywords of the job posting. according to FlexJobs’ Career Experts, “Resumes have evolved over the years, moving away from a generalized document to a single tailored document for each individual job application.”

This may sound time-consuming, but focus on customizing particularly the title and the summary section or BIO to match every job application.

6. Include a Core Competencies Section

When creating your resume, including a core skills section can improve the chances of your resume being recognized by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). In this section, list your most relevant skills, ideally aligning them with the keywords from the job description. If you aim for a one-page resume, consider dividing it into two halves: use the left half for skills and personal information and the right half for experience, education, and awards.

7. Check Your Resume with ATS Tools

Before submitting your resume, you can use online tools to check how it will perform in an ATS.

8. Focus on Relevancy

Finally, trim unnecessary details or irrelevant past experience. Remove outdated or irrelevant information that doesn’t align with the job you’re applying for. Your resume should highlight your most recent and pertinent experiences.

Optimizing your resume for ATS is a critical step in the job application process. By using relevant keywords, maintaining a clean format, choosing the right file type, and balancing ATS optimization with readability for human eyes, you can significantly increase your chances of getting noticed and landing more interviews.

Start implementing these strategies today to make your resume stand out in a crowded job market.

 

Forbes.com | August 29, 2024 | Luciana Paulise

#JobSearch : 4 Must-Have Items In Your Resume To Get A Remote Job. The More you Have These Items, the Better your chances.

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For a lot of people, remote working is the dream. The benefits of remote work include no longer dealing with traffic and long commutes, greater flexibility in managing your schedule, and the comfort of working from home.

But even more importantly, remote work can also open avenues for professional growth as it allows you to work for companies across the globe without having to relocate. If this sounds like an excellent deal to you, you’re not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, at least 65% of workers prefer to work remotely full-time, and 98% would like to have the option to work remotely at least part of the time.

With many CEOs calling their employees to return to the office, you may need to exert more effort to get a remote role, at least compared to the pandemic years. That being said, the demand for remote roles is still high in many industries, and with the right tweaks, your resume should help you get the remote role you want.

 

Here are four must-have items in your resume if you want to get a remote job today.

Previous Remote Work Experience

As with any job, you want to show previous related work experience to prove that you are qualified for it. With remote jobs, you want your future employer to see how well you fare with working unsupervised and what results you achieved in such setups.

But even if this is your first time pursuing a fully remote role, you can still highlight past experiences where you successfully collaborated with co-workers or stakeholders in different states or even overseas to accomplish set goals.

It’s particularly helpful to think about projects where you coordinated across time zones, managed communication remotely, or relied on digital tools such as Zoom or Slack to get the job done.

To make your resume even more attractive to employers, try your best to quantify your results and show how your work improved the company’s processes or contributed to the bottom line.

For example, you might mention how you implemented a new project management tool that streamlined workflow and resulted in a 25% increase in task completion rates, helping the team consistently meet deadlines. You could also cite a time when you managed a remote team across different time zones, which allowed your team to operate more efficiently and cut overhead costs by 15%.

The more you can show your ability to deliver good results in a remote setting, the more attractive you’ll be to potential employers. The key is to highlight your successes and show that distance will not hinder you from creating stellar results.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Collaboration Skills

At the heart of any successful remote working experience is effective collaboration with your peers and managers. Employers value collaboration skills because you don’t see each other face to face; it’s easy to work in silos and lose touch with the team’s overall goals.

Including collaboration as part of your skills is crucial, but to truly stand out, you’ll want to demonstrate that you were instrumental in getting the team to work collaboratively, even when you’re all miles apart.

Don’t forget to mention your experience in using specific project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com — this is important because it demonstrates your proficiency with the tools that help you assign tasks, track progress, and ensure timely deliveries, especially as a remote worker.

Excellent In Presentations

Presentations are a crucial skill for anybody to master, but it’s even more important for people working remotely. Because you’re not in the office, your best opportunity to make a good first impression is during meetings, and having excellent presentation skills will help you clearly communicate your ideas, engage your audience, and establish a professional presence.

You’ll want to cover the basics first. Ensure your slides are clear, concise, and visually engaging. Focus on structuring your content logically and practicing your delivery to maintain a confident and professional demeanor.

Once you have your content down, you’ll also want to be adept at using the tools. Remote presentations come with unique challenges, so also familiarize yourself with tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet. Learn how to use their features effectively, and find out how you can maximize them to achieve your goals.

Mastering the tools helps you maintain command of the room and avoid technical glitches as much as possible. You already spent a ton of time polishing your slides and delivery, so the last thing you want is to fumble around trying to share a screen or get a video playing!

Data & Numbers

From tracking customer behavior to optimizing supply chains, data allows companies to predict trends, personalize experiences, and stay ahead of the competition. But while we’re all practically up to our ears in data, it takes people with actual data analytics skills to find patterns and create actionable insights that companies can use to inform their operations.

If this is you, then you’re in luck. With Quanthub estimating the demand to have grown 650% since 2012, your skills are highly sought after, and companies will want to hire you, even if you’re on the other side of the globe.

But first, you’ll want to ensure that your data analytics skills and experience are highlighted in your resume. For example, if you’ve led projects where data-driven decisions led to increased efficiency or growth, you want to detail that impact in terms of numbers.

Mention specific tools that you’ve mastered and how you used them to uncover trends or optimize processes. Did you create a predictive model that saved your company thousands or even millions? Again, don’t just mention it—quantify it in terms of how it has benefited your company and its bottom line.

The more you can do this, the better your chances of getting hired for remote roles. It might be a bit more challenging, but the effort will pay off. So polish up your resume, highlight those key achievements, and get ready to seize the opportunities that come your way. Rooting for you!

Forbes.com | August 23, 2024 | Sho Dewan

#ResumeWriting : Top 10 Resume Trends In 2024: What You Need To Know To Stand Out. Question: Sent Out a Dozen Resumes with No Response?

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Job hunters wonder about how to improve their resume. Mary, a director at a large company, called for help with resume writing because she was losing her job. She said, “I’m sure my resume doesn’t represent me very well. I want it to be impressive, but I’m stumbling on how to create it. I hear people say they send out dozens of resumes with no response, which makes me very anxious. How must I differentiate myself to get an employer’s attention?”

For most people, resume writing is a daunting task. The stakes are high. Yet, you may be unaware of the current resume trends you need to consider. Here are the ten resume trends to understand to help you showcase your uniqueness and capabilities and stand out to an employer.

Self-Marketing. Self-analysis is essential to do before you start writing. Think of your resume as an advertisement trying to get an employer to buy the product, and that product is you. Outline what you are best at doing. Note your top strengths. What are relevant credentials and experience to emphasize? Identify your best accomplishments.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – May24 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.6 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

Article continued …

RESULTS. Employers hire you based on your previous achievements and the belief that you can repeat those if they hire you. Each work description must focus on sharing measurable results and outcomes. Be specific. Employers value concrete accomplishments. Emphasize if you made the company money, saved money, started something, made an innovation, or created a new tool, process, system, or program. Incorporate numbers and percentages into your bullet descriptions. Have your most impressive accomplishments and best experience near the top of the description.

Prioritize. Target what is most important to employers. Determine the key elements they seek and tailor your resume to their needs. To identify the key points to highlight, review several relevant job openings. Focus on the top three to five qualifications and duties they advertise for. Incorporate that information into your resume to demonstrate that you have what a potential employer values.

Highlight. Showcase your success. Under your work history, you should use bullet points to create each statement. The most effective way to develop these is to use the formula: Actions = Results, noting what you did and its impact. For example, “Developed and executed a new email fundraising campaign, and the results increased donations by 21%.” Or state the dollar amount if that is impressive.

Keywords. Research the job description, paying close attention to the required skills and qualifications, and align your relevant skills accordingly. Identify the more critical tasks, such as project management or process improvement, and sprinkle these sparingly throughout the resume, especially in the work descriptions and in the summary section. Include any relevant industry terms, too. Don’t try to “keyword stuff” throughout the resume, as the ATS may reject your resume, and a recruiter may disregard it, viewing it as being too generic or lacking.

Action verbs. Under your work descriptions, start each sentence with an action verb. Use words highlighting the skill or accomplishments, such as Led, Drove, Analyzed, Designed, Originated, Implemented, Established, etc. Avoid repetition, and don’t use that same action verb to start a statement within a particular work description. Write the sentence in the past tense, even for your current position.

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). ATS is a human resources software that works as an online database or a digital filing cabinet when you submit a job application. It’s not very sophisticated and requires search engine optimization. Avoid any creative resume style. Simple formatting is the key to getting through the system’s filters. Eliminate columns, tables, text boxes, headers, footers, graphics, color ink, or PDFs (unless specifically requested).

Qualifications. Employers hire someone with the skillset necessary to succeed in that advertised job. They want a person who is not underqualified or overqualified. Carefully evaluate the role before you hit “apply.” Assess your skills, education, and experience to ensure the job closely fits your background. Refrain from applying for a job if you don’t have 80% of the qualifications required.

Soft skills. These traits help show how you fit into the job role and match the company’s culture. Include appropriate ones to supplement your hard skills. The top soft skills employers value beyond excellent oral and written communication are collaboration, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.

Competencies. Employers find no value when you list a lot of competencies, such as project management, team leadership, results-driven, etc., in one section since you aren’t demonstrating exactly where you used these abilities. Avoid creating this section. Instead, inserting these competencies into the work history and summary of qualifications is much more effective. That way, you illustrate how you have that skill and apply it on the job.

 

Forbes.com | August 14, 2024 | Robin Ryan 

 

#ResumeWriting : In a Hot Job Market, Forget A.I. – Get in the S.H.A.D.E. … Caution: Recruiters are Using Programs to Weed Out AI Resumes. GReat REad!

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In the week ending June 8, 2024, seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims for benefits were ~242,000, an increase of 13,000 from the previous week of 229,000 (according to the USDOL). Going into the hot summer months, it will get harder for job seekers to find work. Job seekers need every advantage to get noticed by hiring managers. With more applicants per position, employers can be picky.

Interestingly, the ‘hot trend’ of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to write resumes seems to be picking up steam. Unfortunately, using AI may hurt versus help job seekers. Over the last year, I have noticed AI-generated resumes focusing on ‘high-dollar words,’ glorified and subjective descriptions, and trendy buzzwords, and unfortunately, do NOT explain what the job seeker physically did nor achievements for current or past employers.

Job seekers are paying third-party platforms to create resumes for them. These resumes look and sound impressive on the first read. After the initial glance, recruiters may have difficulty deciphering the ‘fancy language’ used by the AI generator. There is a term used by computer programmers – GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out). Artificial Intelligence gathers thousands of resume samples from the web to learn. Still, AI cannot discern the difference between a poorly written resume and a keyword-packed, metric-rich resume that recruiters seek. So everything gets lumped together – the garbage and the gold.

Increasingly, recruiters are using programs to weed out AI resumes and auto-reject those applicants. AI-generated documents have an almost recognizable style and tone, and the ‘anti-AI’ software is trained to identify and reject those. Recruiters want to see a human-written resume.

Job seekers must show why hiring them will increase the employer’s revenue, reduce overhead expenses, and answer why this job seeker is the best hire?’ against job-seeker competitors. When writing a resume, there are specific elements hiring managers want to see in a resume: 

Skill Capabilities

Hard (vs Soft) Skills

Achievements & Accomplishments

Diversity (broad job skills)

Education & Training

 

Like this Article?  Share It!You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

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Best Daily Choice: Follow the Best of FSC Career Articles/Blogs  @

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Question: Searching for ‘the Best Daily Career Search Articles/Blogs on the web’ on Job Search, Resume, Advancing/Changing your Career, or simply Managing People?

Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type(Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

The worst thing job seekers can do is copy and paste the job description announcement from a public job notice. Adding AI-generated job descriptions is a second worse scenario. The best resumes have unique language that describes specific Skills (capabilities). The resume needs to list job-related Hard skills or unique technologies used in current or past jobs. (The job seeker can showcase their soft skills [personality, speaking capabilities] during the interview.)

The resume job descriptions should showcase Achievements and accomplishments and the monetary or positive organizational results. What sales revenues resulted? How many manufacturing units were completed in a record time?

The job seeker should include a Diversity of tasks and responsibilities (not only performing their job but backup co-workers’ responsibilities). What cross-training tasking can the job seeker perform? Does the job seeker have a broad range of skills (e.g., accounting, budgeting, sales, presentations) from previous jobs they can perform? Did they supervise others?

Education and training demonstrate knowledge of a specific industry and experience in training others. What computer skills are the job seeker bringing to the table? How many certifications do the job seeker have in the industry or field?

Job seekers should showcase how they have been ‘leaders’ – team lead, supervisor, or oversight to coworkers. What projects did they volunteer for, or did they lead others in accomplishing company strategic goals? How successful were the project achievements in metrics (e.g., sales increases of $XXX; reduction of XX man-hours)?

The resume should be a richly-worded document of ‘what the job seeker has done’ and ‘capabilities’ for hiring consideration. A vague or poorly written resume can easily be ignored (or marked as insufficient experience in the ATS software platform).

The goal is to get enough rich ‘teaser’ information into the resume that the hiring manager wants to call the applicant in for an interview to find out more. Artificial Intelligence programs have not yet reached the pinnacle of compiling information into a practical document. If the job seeker focuses on the S.H.A.D.E. in writing their resume, they will increase their success of catching the eye of recruiters.

 

FSC Career Blog Author:   Dawn Boyer, Ph.D., owner of D. Boyer Consulting – provides resume writing, editing, publishing, and print-on-demand consulting. Reach her at Dawn.Boyer@me.com or visit her website at www.dboyerconsulting.com.

Bio: Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D., has been an entrepreneur and business owner for 20+ years, with a successful business and consulting firm (CEO) in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, Dahlgren/Colonial Beach, and Gloucester, VA. Her background experience is 24+ years in the Human Resources field, of which 12+ years are within the Federal & Defense Contracting industry. She is the author of 1,022+ books on business, human resources research, career search practice, women and gender study, genealogy and family lineages, quotes for motivation and self-improvement, and Adult Coloring Books. Her books are on Amazon.com under her author’s page for Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.

FSC Career Blog – June 19, 2024

 

 

#JobSearch : How To Tailor Your Resume/CV For The Executive Job Market. Great REad!

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Recruiters in search of their next executive-level candidate have high expectations. They are looking for someone who can make an impact and add real value to the business. With that in mind, you need to successfully prove that you’ve got what it takes.

Your CV is your first opportunity to impress them, so an entry-level application won’t cut it.  As you enter the executive job market, your CV needs to reflect not only your skills and experience but also your expertise and achievements.  Here are five key enhancements you can make to your CV to help you navigate the executive job market and secure your next exciting role.

Level up your skills

It’s time to go through your CV and remove entry-level skills and cliché phrases that no longer add value to your executive application.

Recruiters will assume that you have the basic skills as you’re applying for a more senior role, so don’t waste pressure space on simple transferable skills. Instead, emphasise core competencies that reinforce your suitability for an executive position.

For example, skills like team leadership, strategic planning, change management, decision-making and business development.

Of course, you should also do your best to match your executive skills to those listed on the job description as this will enable the recruiter to quickly determine that you’re a good match for the job.

Communicate your unique value

Before you begin writing your CV, take some time to think about what makes you stand out from other candidates; what you would consider your unique selling point (USP)? Once you know what it is that makes you special, you can market yourself more effectively on your application.

This enables you to build your personal brand and through keywords, facts and figures, you can communicate your unique value.

Start doing this right away in your personal profile, outline the experience or achievements that are most impressive. You can then build on this in your employment history.

Identifying your USP and focusing on this throughout can help you to stand out in a competitive job market and prove your executive-level competencies.

 

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

New- FSC LinkedIn Newsletter– Daily articles/blogs on Today’s Job Market & Seach. Subscribe Today!

https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/fsc-linkedin-network-7081658661743308800

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What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Prove that your impact with results

It’s not enough to merely list your daily responsibilities, instead, your executive CV needs to prove that you can deliver results. You can do this by providing examples of achievements from your past roles and quantifying these wherever possible.

For example, you might have increases productivity by 25% within 6 months, or maybe you reduced department spending by £10,000 per month.

Whatever results you’ve achieved in each role, make sure you highlight them clearly to ensure that you prove the return on investment that a company will make from hiring you.

Add professional affiliations and credentials

As you grow and develop in your career, it’s likely that you’ll start adding professional affiliations, memberships and industry associations to your name.

So, as you update your CV, make sure to include information about these affiliations, for example, The Chartered Institute for IT or CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma.

These can help to show your professional development and credentials, as well as your dedication and involvement in your industry. This can also help you to stand out from other candidates, as roles become more competitive at an executive level.

If your professional credentials are particularly relevant, you might wish to put them alongside your name at the top of your CV or mention them in your profile.

Otherwise, you can include these in your employment section or even create a dedicated section for affiliations and memberships. But only do this if you have space.

Rethink your format and structure

Finally, in the early stages of your career, your CV might have been just a page long and it’s likely that you placed more focus on your education, hobbies or interests.

But at an executive level, your CV format should be two pages long, placing more focus on your experience and achievements in past roles. It also needs to be professional and polished and most importantly, easy to read.

Avoid choosing a design that is too colourful or ‘quirky’ and make sure you use a clean, easy-to-read font. You should also improve readability by utilising headings, sub-headings and bullet points, making it easier for the hiring manager to scan through and find the key information. And with 70% of businesses using ATS to filter out unsuitable CVs, be sure that relevant keywords are easy to spot for both robots and humans.

If you follow these steps to enhance your executive CV, you can increase your chances of standing out from the competition.

By choosing your content, keywords and power verbs carefully, you can showcase your unique value and effectively demonstrate your executive skillset, improving your chances of securing an interview.

 

Forbes.com | June 4, 2024 | Andrew Fennell

 

#BestofFSCBlog : Over 26K Read- How Job Seekers Can Get Ahead Of The Summer Slowdown. Steps to Maximize your Chances of Finding a New Job. Great REad!

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Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer in the United States, and while hiring may slow down a bit, it does not mean you have to put your job search on hold.

There are action steps you can take during the summer season to maximize your chances of finding a new job.

Job Search Basics

The shifting attitudes, schedules and seasons do not diminish the value or necessity of tried-and-true job-hunting methods. Proven strategies like networking, tailoring your résumé and cover letters, researching companies and practicing for interviews remain crucial regardless of the temperature outside.

Ensure that your résumé is up-to-date, highlights your most relevant skills and achievements and is tailored to specific job descriptions. Craft compelling cover letters that showcase your enthusiasm and qualifications for each position you apply for.

Polish your LinkedIn profile, ensuring it accurately reflects your skills and experience. Consider having an optimized website or online portfolio showcasing your work, especially if you are in a creative field.

Reconnect with old colleagues, friends or classmates in person or on LinkedIn for potential job leads. Attend industry events or online webinars to expand your network and make new connections. Reach out to people in your desired field for informational interviews to learn more about their roles and companies.

Anticipate frequently asked interview questions and practice your responses. Research the companies you’re interested in and prepare insightful questions to demonstrate your genuine interest.

Set up alerts on job boards for positions that match your criteria. Consider working with a recruiter specializing in your industry who can connect you with relevant opportunities.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Job Hunting Strategies For The Summer Months

While maintaining your job search momentum, it’s okay to adjust your pace during the summer. Prioritize high-quality applications and focus on companies that resonate with you. Even if you don’t hear back immediately, do not ghost recruiters or hiring managers. Send a follow-up email after a week or two if you haven’t heard anything, as this demonstrates continued interest and professionalism. Summer can be a great time for informational interviews. People might be more relaxed and have more time to chat during the upcoming months.

Take advantage of the potentially slower pace to take online courses, attend workshops or gain new certifications relevant to your field. This can enhance your skill set, making you a more attractive candidate to employers.

Additional Career Advice

Job hunting can be a marathon—not a sprint. Stay positive, focused and don’t get discouraged if you do not land your dream job right away. Hiring managers can pick up on a candidate’s level of enthusiasm and positivity during the interview process. Project confidence in your skills and your ability to contribute to the company. Be open to new opportunities or roles that might not have been your initial target. You might discover a great career path you hadn’t considered before.

Be Better Than You Were Yesterday

Dedicate time to improving yourself. Read books about your industry, watch or listen to relevant career related and motivational podcasts.

Plan out what you want to do to make an impact once the summer is over and it’s back to business as usual, and design a strategy to achieve these goals. Write them down and follow up on a daily basis.

Focus On Your Wellness

Take a break from the constant emails and work notifications and allow your mind and body to truly relax and recharge. Catch up on sleep or establish a regular sleep schedule. Feeling well-rested can significantly improve your mood and energy levels.

Engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga or spending time in nature. Since the weather is nice, venture outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Go on a hike, jog, run or walk to maintain mental clarity, as well as your physical health.

Pursue activities you enjoy, whether it’s reading, writing, listening to music, playing games or creating art. Focusing on hobbies can be a great way to de-stress and express yourself creatively.

Spend quality time with friends and family. Engage in face-to-face conversations, share meals or participate in activities you all enjoy. Strong social connections are essential for emotional well-being.

Take time to reflect on things you’re grateful for in your life. Keeping a gratitude journal can be a helpful way to cultivate a positive mindset, which will be critical to your job search success.

 

Forbes.com | May 24, 2024 | Jack Kelly 

#ResumeWriting : Don’t Flub The One-Pager- 6 Resume Mistakes To Avoid. Great Quick Read!

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In today’s ultra-competitive job market, crafting the perfect resume is akin to unicycling—very hard. Your resume is your first (and sometimes only) shot at making a good impression, so it’s crucial to get it right.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the six resume mistakes to avoid:

Excessive Length

A common faux pas is turning your resume into a memoir. Hiring managers have about as much time to read your resume as you do to decide if you want to swipe right on a dude on a dating app who lists his job as “Consultant at Consulting.” Stick to one page if you’re early in your career, and only venture into a second if your experience justifies it.

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Not tailoring it to the job

Tailoring your resume for each job application might sound as fun as a root canal, but it’s just as necessary (or even more so, because in America, you need a job in order to get the dental insurance to get the root canal). Customize your resume to match the job description, highlighting the experience and skills that make you the perfect fit. It shows you’re not just looking for any job—you’re looking for this job.

Too Many Keywords

Stuffing your resume with keywords until it reads like a spam email won’t endear you to human readers. Use keywords wisely, ensuring your resume is still coherent and engaging to the real-life humans who will (hopefully) read it after the AI does. And definitely don’t have a large chunk of white text at the bottom. Even if employers can’t read it, it’s just so…2004.

Typos

My first resume said I was attentive to detials, so listen, I get it. But please triple-check for typos. It’s the equivalent of having spinach in your teeth during a first date; it’s all anyone’s going to remember. Use spell check, read your resume backwards, have a friend review it, etc. You know what to do.

Unquantified Metrics

Saying you “significantly increased sales” is nice, but it’s like telling someone you’re “really funny” without cracking a joke (I believe you though, don’t worry). Quantify your achievements. Did you increase sales by 20%? Save your company $10,000? Grow your team by 50%? Write it down.

Too Much History

There’s no need to detail every job you’ve ever had since your high school paper route (unless you were really fast at delivering those papers). Focus on recent and relevant experience. Think of your resume as a highlight reel, not a documentary.

Forbes.com | April 23, 2024 | Virginia Hogan

#JobSearch : 30 Powerful Resume Keywords To Beat ATS (application tracking systems) In 2024. How Effective is Your Resume?

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More than 90% of employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to initially filter out or rank middle-skilled and highly-skilled candidates for job postings, according to a 2021 global study conducted by the Harvard Business Review.

This means that there is at least a 90% chance that your resume will not make it past the screening software.

Applicant tracking systems rely on keywords to assess candidate suitability—and these keywords are the ones that are located within your resume. The problem is, many candidates do not know how to make a resume effective because they fail to include the most appropriate keywords for their industry and role they are applying to. Consequently, they never (or hardly ever) make it past the screening stage to secure an interview.

While there are several factors that determine whether your resume makes it past the ATS or not (although a few are beyond your control), knowing what skills to put on your resume and which resume keywords to include a few of the most critical steps you can take to ensure your resume beats ATS.

 

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Why Use Resume Keywords?

“A recruiter will never see that candidate’s application, even though it might fill all of the employer’s requirements,” continued the HBR study. Therefore, being the perfect fit for a role is not good enough. You might tick every box and fulfil all the requirements listed on the job description, yet fall short of being shortlisted for the role, all because your resume did not effectively evidence the criteria and skills the employer is looking for.

Here is a simplified example of how an ATS works from a recruiter’s point of view:

  1. You send your resume through a job portal.
  2. When the recruiter is sifting out 1,000 applications, they’ll enter a skill such as “project management,” “Power BI,” or an education requirement such as “MBA,” from the job description.
  3. This filters available resumes to 300 candidates.
  4. If your resume is optimized to include the keyword they are looking for, it will show up; if not, it will never be seen and you’ve just lost the potential to land a career-boosting opportunity to an AI-powered gatekeeper—ATS.

Where To Find Keywords To Put On Your Resume

There are number of sources you can use to find keywords for your resume. The first and most obvious of them is the job advert itself. Taking a careful look at the job description, and the key requirements/person specification/ideal candidate section, carefully identify what are the core requirements that the employer is asking for.

You might find it useful to undertake a keyword highlighting exercise by copying and pasting the entire job description and person specification into a Word document, and highlighting the technical and soft skills that stand out to you the most, which are relevant to what you already have to offer.

For example, take a look at this sample job description from Workable for a cost analyst role:

“We are looking for a cost analyst to help us audit our expenses and find ways to make our operations more cost-efficient. You’ll be the go-to person for cost analysis and you’ll get to prepare reports to help management make better decisions. To do this job well, we’d like you to be well-versed in data and financial analysis, and have strong attention to detail. Ultimately, your job will be an integral part of our efforts to ensure profitability and business success.”

It then proceeds to list the following responsibilities for the cost analyst role:

  • Gather and analyze financial data
  • Determine standard costs and investigate variances with actual costs
  • Prepare detailed reports, both periodically and ad-hoc
  • Help management make important decisions based on costs and benefits (e.g. investments, market growth, pricing changes)
  • Create and manage budgets, and monitor spending
  • Conduct audits on financial processes and transactions
  • Monitor changes in processes or methods to calculate effects on overall costs
  • Estimate product costs for existing and new products
  • Forecast and analyze costs of processes, labor and inventory
  • Suggest cost-reducing or profitable solutions
  • Conduct market research to support future business planning

 

And then the advert proceeds to list requirements and skills for the role (pay close attention to this):

  • Proven experience as a cost analyst, cost specialist or similar role
  • Experience in data, operational and financial analysis
  • Knowledge of accounting processes and software
  • Strong analytical skills
  • A business acumen
  • Great attention to detail
  • Good communication aptitude
  • Degree in Finance, Accounting or similar field
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred

 

 

With the above job advert, how many keywords can you easily identify?

Considering the above data, some of the likely resume keywords and skills used for the job posting above, which you would want to incorporate into your resume for a cost analyst role, include:

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Good communication
  • Attention to detail
  • Cost analyst
  • Accounting processes and software (and name a few)
  • Financial analysis/Analyzing financial data

 

You can incorporate these keywords into your professional summary, skills highlights, and work experience and education sections.

How To Use ChatGPT To Find Resume Keywords

One time saving method you could employ to find keywords from the job advert and interspersed them throughout your resume, is to solicit the help of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an AI-powered chatbot developed by OpenAI, that has millions of users around the world—with one of the fastest, unprecedented technology adoption rates in history.

It uses LLM (large language models) to engage with you as any other human being would,, providing you with timely information and shortening the length of time it takes to accomplish administrative and content writing tasks. While it is not wise to use ChatGPT to draft an entire resume for you on its own, it certainly can be helpful at key junctures in the resume writing process, for example, when analyzing and inputting keywords.

To use ChatGPT to find the best keywords to include in your resume, follow the below steps:

  1. Provide ChatGPT with a copy or excerpt of a job description for the role you want to apply for, and then prompt: “I am tailoring my resume to apply for this role. Please select and suggest keywords and phrases from this job advert that I can put into my resume. Include any technical skills, software tools, certifications, industry terminology, and soft skills listed in the advert.”
  2. Now that ChatGPT has provided you with a list you can then begin incorporating these words and phrases throughout your resume, ensuring you proofread with each edit so it reads naturally and doesn’t give the appearance of meaningless keyword stuffing.

 

Powerful Keywords To Include In Your Resume

Now that you have this background understanding, here is a sample list of some of the most common and essential keywords you should consider adding to your resume, for three specific industries—information technology, healthcare, and sales. These are categorized for ease of navigation and will provide you with an idea of what to look out for, as relates to your industry:

Resume Keywords For The Information Technology (IT) Industry

  1. Programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, C++)
  2. Cloud computing
  3. Network administration
  4. DevOps
  5. Agile methodologies
  6. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library)
  7. Artificial intelligence (AI)
  8. Machine learning
  9. Data analytics
  10. IT project management

Resume Keywords For The Healthcare Industry

  1. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
  2. Clinical research
  3. Medical billing and coding
  4. Telemedicine
  5. Healthcare compliance
  6. Health informatics
  7. Medical imaging
  8. Healthcare quality improvement
  9. Health insurance
  10. Healthcare technology

Resume Keywords For The Sales Industry

  1. Business development
  2. Account management
  3. Client relationship management (CRM)
  4. Lead generation
  5. Prospecting
  6. Sales cycle
  7. Pipeline management
  8. Value proposition
  9. Sales forecasting
  10. Competitive analysis

Using the right keywords can help you effectively sell yourself and shine as a star candidate to employers, ensuring your skills and experience do not go to waste or escape their notice. Through highlighting your expertise in this way, you increase your chances of securing an interview.

Forbes.com | March 26, 2024 | Rachel Wells 

#JobSearch : Avoid These 5 Common Resume Pitfalls. Hadn’t had an Job Interview in a While? Chances are it’ your Resume. MUst REad!

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If you’ve been on the job hunt for a while now and you’ve barely received a reply, let alone an interview, the likelihood is your resume is letting you down.  Sure, you could be the most experienced and accomplished professional in your field, but if you’re making basic resume mistakes, your application will still be ignored.

The good news is that if you’re aware of the common mistakes that too many professionals are making, you can tackle these issues head-on.  So, here are five of the most common resume pitfalls you need to avoid.

Not Writing An Engaging Summary

One of the biggest resume mistakes you can make is not writing an engaging and persuasive summary.

This is your chance to introduce yourself to hiring managers and this section appears right at the top of your resume. So if you get this wrong, you’re going to lose their attention instantly.

You should avoid long, wordy summaries that are full of vague pufferies like “talented marketing professional looking for next exciting career opportunity.”

Instead, you need to keep it short and sweet, using specific keywords and giving examples of your most impressive achievements.

Remember, the recruiter will skim through this section, so you need to make it as easy as possible for them to pick out those important details.

Like this Article?  Share It!    You can now easily enjoy/follow/share Today our Award-Winning Articles/Blogs with Now Over 3.5 Million Growing Participates Worldwide in our various Social Media formats below:

Updated NEWS: #BestofFSCBlog – Aug23 we hit Two Milestones: #1– Hit over 1.2 million impressions on our FSC Career Blogs within 7 days on LinkedIn……. #2– Over 3.5 Million participates on our FSC Career Blog page below within three years!  Both the Team/myself want to thank you all for participating! …… Chris G. & Team,www.firstsun.com

Daily FSC Career Blogs/Articles: Articles/blogs on today’s Job Search (Over 8K Daily Readers)- Go to ‘Blog Search’ & type in updated info on resumes, job search, networking, social media job search, etc.

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Answer: Simply go to our FSC Career Blog below & Type (Jobsearch, Resume, Networking, etc) in Blog Search:  https://www.firstsun.com/fsc-career-blog/

What Skill Sets Do You Have to be ‘Sharpened‘?

 

Did you know?  First Sun Consulting, Llc (FSC) is celebrating over 32 years in delivering corporate & individual outplacement services & programs to over 1200 corporate clients in the U.S., Canada, the UK, & Mexico!   Visit us @ www.firstsun.com  OR Ask for a Quote for Services at  info@firstsun.com

We here at FSC want to thank each of our corporate partners for the opportunity to serve & moving each of their transitioning employee(s) rapidly toward employment!

 

Article continued …

Creating (And Submitting) A Generic Resume

The sole purpose of your resume is to prove to the employer that you can do their specific role and that you are genuinely interested in working for their company.

If you submit a generic resume, no matter how impressive you think it may be, you’re not going to give them the information they need. So, in a matter of seconds, they’ll put your application aside.

Although it might feel like a lot of work when you’re applying for multiple roles, you need to make sure that you do your research to determine exactly what the employer is looking for.

You can use the job description to highlight the relevant keywords and skills they require.

You can then make these keywords and requirements more prominent on your resume.

This will help hiring managers as they scan through your application, to easily determine if you’re a good fit for the role.

Not Showing How You’ve Made An Impact

One of the simplest but most damaging mistakes you can make is not showing your impact, particularly in your work experience section.

It’s not enough to just list your daily responsibilities. Employers want to know how your efforts contributed to the business and made a real impact on the team and bottom line.

The best way to do this is to use powerful action verbs, as well as facts and figures, to showcase your skills, biggest achievements, and how you made a real difference.

Essentially, you need to prove to the employer why having you on their team will benefit the business.

Lying Or Making Bold Claims

While it’s important to show that you’ve made an impact and use facts and figures to impress the recruiter, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is to lie or exaggerate.

It can be tempting to embellish the truth in order to stand out from other candidates, but wild and unproven claims will actually backfire. For example, referring to yourself as “the best car salesperson in the U.S.”

This type of claim is usually impossible to prove and can come across as arrogant and even a little embarrassing.

Similarly, you don’t want to get caught out in a lie. This will make you look untrustworthy and although you might hope to get away with it, if the employer doesn’t work it out whilst reading your application, they certainly will when they interview you.

Spelling And Grammatical Errors

Last but not least, spelling and grammatical errors can stop your application dead. They look unprofessional, and frankly, a bit lazy.

It’s so important to read and reread your application before you submit it and if you’re still worried about your spelling or grammar, have someone else look over it for you.

You can also make use of free online spell checkers just to make sure that your application is free from basic errors and spelling mistakes.

After all, attention to detail is an important skill, and spelling and grammatical errors don’t look good. So always make sure to double, even triple-check your resume before you submit your application.

This might seem like such a small, innocent mistake, but it can cause the employer to immediately reject your application; as can generic, boring, or exaggerated resumes.

So make sure to avoid these five common resume pitfalls and ensure that you always take your time to tailor and perfect every job application you submit.

That’s the key to job-hunting success.

Forbes.com | March 11, 2024 | Andrew Fennell

#JobSearch : Top 5 Résumé Trends For 2024, With AI Prompts To Reshape Your CV. Here Are the Top 10 Trends for Asking your Résumé Stand Out.

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In a competitive job market, where AI and cutbacks can jeopardize numerous career paths, it’s crucial to have a high-quality résumé. According to ResumeGenius, there are some top trends emerging in 2024 as must-haves on your CV (curriculum vitae, another word for résumé). Resume.io, one of the top online tools for AI-generated résumés, says that only 2% of résumés make it past the initial screening. What are you doing, right now, to make sure you get past that threshold? As recruitment evolves, and HR departments become more and more selective, it’s crucial that your résumé rises to the occasion. Talent cloud company iCIMS says that 47% of college seniors are already using AI to write their résumés – and chances are 100% that AI will be used to read them. In 2024, here are the top 10 trends for making your résumé stand out – with some AI prompts to help you create a message that matters.

One. Résumés Are Becoming More Skills Focused

Rapid advancements in tech have created an ever-expanding digital skills gap. However, both hard skills (like computer programming, product management, and electrical engineering) are not the only story that makes a difference in your résumé. AI Prompt: inside of ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini, or your favorite résumé-focused AI tool, enter all or a portion of your résumé and ask for a summary of your demonstrated hard and soft skills. (Some good AI tools include KickResume, Resume.io and Teal). What skills will make you stand out? Are your skills matched to the opportunity, and the job description? Think about skills as keywords: what experience(s) need more amplification?

Two. Hard Skills Matter on Your Résumé

Do you have experience in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, machine learning, digital marketing or cybersecurity? These hard skills are top of mind for recruiters, according to ResumeGenius.com. LinkedIn Learning reports that 64% of L&D (learning and development) pros say that reskilling the workforce is more of a priority than ever before. Showcase your skills, and make things easier for the L&D folks, by showing what you know. As they say in Texas, “It ain’t braggin’ if you can do it.” AI Prompt: after entering a section of your résumé, ask for an evaluation of demonstrated skills. What stands out, and how can you clarify/quantify your hard skills?

 

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Article continued …

Three. Soft Skills are Crucial for 93% of Hiring Managers, on Your CV

Forbes contributor Monique Danao says that “Soft skills—also known as “people skills” or “interpersonal skills”—are a set of personal attributes and abilities that allow individuals to effectively interact with others in a professional setting. At their core, these include the ability to collaborate effectively, manage time and communicate with clarity, among others.” Indeed, even getting the most out of AI tools requires effective communication. AI Prompt: after entering a section of your résumé, ask where soft skills can be highlighted. But don’t stop there: ask the AI to see what soft skills emerge, based on your work experience. If the AI doesn’t have good ideas based on what you feed it, consider how you can talk about skills like critical thinking, curiosity and flexibility. Extra credit if you write it in such a way that the recruiter says, “Tell me more about this particular experience.” Because, after all, the objective of the résumé is a simple one: having the conversation that really matters, in the job interview.

Four. Be Social Media Savvy

Resident rockstar recruiter, Jack Kelly, says that you would be wise to post important career milestones on social media – even if you’ve lost your job. But Kelly doesn’t suggest that you “spray and pray”, littering the internet with every ounce of pathos and self-expression you can muster. “Social media offers individuals the opportunity to build and showcase their personal brand and engage with industry-specific content. It can also help individuals stand out to potential employers and recruiters,” Kelly writes. Recruiters are looking at your socials, and the presence you create online (especially LinkedIn, but also on the Gram and TikTok) will be seen. Heard. And scrutinized. Let people know that you are available for work – and share the service that you know you can provide. Don’t waste time trashing your bad boss, or your previous employer – save that for Facetime, or a conversation at the pub. Make sure you send the right message at the right time. AI Prompt: if you were laid off or let go, even if you were fired, ask the Chatbot for ways to discuss your departure. What are best practices for talking about your last experience, even if it wasn’t necessarily a good one? While you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, it’s a good idea to choose your words carefully – so that your résumé and your interview are both focused on service. You can’t fix the past, but you can delete dumb posts. And that can help you to create the future.

Five. Tailor Your Résumé to Each Specific Opportunity

A shotgun approach to the job market may look smart, on the surface. After all, isn’t the job search a numbers game? But how you play it is up to you. Consider the difference between a shotgun blast, and a sniper’s bullet. The sniper is focused on a single target, and zeroes in on exactly what matters. Can you find the time to “adjust your sites” (and tweak your résumé) to fit the opportunities that are really attractive? Ida Petterson, a career expert at ResumeGenius, says, “Adapting your resume for different positions doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming, especially if you’re applying for similar types of jobs in the same industry. Simply replace any bullet points that aren’t relevant to the specific company, or adjust them so they focus on showcasing the specific abilities that the employer seeks.” AI Prompt: Remember, you don’t always need to ask AI to fix stuff. Trust your instincts on this one. If you do turn to AI, feed in the job description, and ask the AI to give you a summary of the skills requirement. If you really want the gig, don’t spray and pray. Get specific – it doesn’t take long to tailor your message.

ResumeGenius has some other guidance as well, especially regarding your side hustle. If you’ve done contract work to fill in some gaps on your résumé, make sure you include that experience. But be careful: if you have multiple gigs during the same time frame, you may get questions around your priorities, and your ability to commit. Is that a bad thing? I hope not – my diverse interests and skills are part of what makes my career meaningful. Perhaps you feel the same way? Just remember: like every aspect of your résumé and the entire job interview process, whether something is good or bad depends on what you do with it. Skills are skills; how you communicate your abilities is what separates your résumé from the rest of the herd. Ultimately, if you’re not sure how to talk about your experience, or if you’re still stuck on aspects of your résumé, remember: you don’t have to go it alone. An investment in a career coach – someone who’s there to listen to your goals, and focus on your success – can be a powerful one, at any stage in your career.

 

Forbes.com | January 23, 2024 | Chris Westfall