Your resume is a marketing tool that, like any effective marketing tactic, should draw your reader in. In this case, your audience will be recruiters, hiring managers, and human resource specialists. A well-crafted resume should convey the following:
What you have to offer
Your resume should capture how many years of experience you have, highlight your relevant skills, and clearly state the position you are seeking. This information can be addressed in the “summary” or “professional profile” of the resume, which should be located at the very top of the document. The summary can be in bullet or paragraph form and should be six lines or less in length.
What skills you possess
Hiring managers need to know what skills you bring to the role and their organization. Technical skills are highly sought out due to COVID-19 and remote work. Be sure to include the systems and databases you are familiar with that are relevant to your industry. If you are unsure which skills you should highlight in your resume, use the job description to guide you. Skills should be under the heading of “skills”, “areas of expertise”, or the “core competencies” section of the resume.
What is your impact
For hiring professionals to see your individual contributions, consider adding quantifiable data. Quantify as much information as possible, meaning add experience that can quickly be understood through numbers, percentages, and dollar signs. Include this quantifiable data in the “professional experience” section of your resume.
What are your passions
If you are an entry-level professional, a recent graduate, or are transitioning careers, highlighting additional areas on your resume will be helpful. By showcasing your familiarity and passion for the field, you can highlight a different type of experience. Additional areas to highlight include achievements, honors, relevant coursework, special projects, volunteer or freelance work, professional organizations, training, and certifications.
How you are detail oriented:
Lack of attention to detail can come across as being lazy or careless, so be sure to check, and double check, your resume for spelling and grammatical errors, and make sure all information is complete and up to date. Provide all required documentation to create a tailored resume that highlights your relevant skills and experience.
A functioning resume should address all concerns and questions a recruiter may have. Your resume tells a story about you, so make sure it truly captures all you have to offer. Remember: you are creating your resume for the job you want, not the job that you have. Speak their language, don’t be shy, and let them know who you are.
What Does Your Resume Say About You Checklist:
- OFFER – What you have to offer
- SKILLS – What skills you possess
- IMPACT – What is your impact
- PASSIONS – What are your passions
- DETAIL ORIENTED – How you are detail oriented
This information was covered in the recent resume webinar, “What Does Your Resume Say About You”. If you need resume assistance, check out the career services resume tool, VMock. If you are still finding yourself overwhelmed by the resume process, UMGC’s Career Advising Specialists are here to help.
Isa’ Martinez is a Career Advising Specialist in the Office of Career Services at the University of Maryland Global Campus. She has over ten years of experience in Higher Education in various capacities: enrollment services, volunteer coordination, student support and faculty support. She has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from Bowie State University, where she practiced counseling for a year and discovered her passion for career counseling. Isa’ is committed to putting students first, educating students on career services and believes in the power of an education.
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