Resume Content & Focus

Author: Liz Frome

Professional Summary: Replace the outdated objective statement with a compelling summary or a few bullet points at the top of your resume, highlighting your most significant accomplishments and value.

Achievement-Oriented Bullet Points: Focus on your accomplishments rather than just responsibilities. Use strong action verbs to describe what you did and quantify the results with data whenever possible.

Tailor to Each Job: Customize your resume for every application by using keywords and skills mentioned in the job description to align your qualifications with the specific role.

Skills Section: Create a dedicated skills section and list both hard and soft skills separately, tailoring them to the job you're applying for.

Digital Presence: Include links to your LinkedIn profile or online portfolio, especially if it contains relevant projects or further information.

Resume Formatting & Presentation: Use a clean, simple, one-column format to ensure your resume is easily scannable by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and human readers.

White Space: Use appropriate line spacing and white space to make your resume look less cluttered and improve readability.

Consistency: Maintain consistent formatting for font styles, sizes, and bullet points throughout the document.

Concise Language: Keep your bullet points short and to the point.

One-Page Rule (Mostly): Aim for a one-page resume for most experience levels. A two-page resume may be acceptable if you have over ten years of experience, but keep it concise.

Proofread Carefully: Check for any typos, grammatical errors, or inconsistencies before submitting your resume.

Save as a PDF: Save your final resume as a PDF file to preserve its formatting across different devices.

Include a Portfolio Link: If applicable, add a link to your online portfolio or LinkedIn profile to provide more details on your work.

Update Your LinkedIn: Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and consistent with your resume to offer recruiters a more comprehensive view of your qualifications.

Don't Forget a Cover Letter: Write a cover letter to further elaborate on your qualifications and express your enthusiasm for the position.

I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse. —Florence Nightingale

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