4 Keys to a KILLER RESUME 2022: Stand out with modern resume tips!

Resumes are like dating apps. You get a finite amount of space to sell yourself and convince the person on the other side that you’re worth having a conversation with.

Now, I’ve seen my friends pore over their tinder profiles. Spending hours on a Friday night curating a collection of their most flattering photos, thinking of a witty caption, and deciding which spotify anthem best represents them. Their tinder profile is prime real estate, and they don’t let it go to waste! It’s truly make or break in the dating world.

But in the career world? They’ll grab any old resume template off google, sub in a few key words, and then wonder why they’re not getting called up for the interview 🤦🏼‍♀️ The truth is, in today’s job market, you’ve got to put tinder-level preparation into your resume if you want to get the recruiters swiping right. Your resume is one of THE most strategic documents in your career tool kit - don’t waste it. 

Well today you’re in for a treat! If you want to know my four keys that’ll get recruiters to SWIPE RIGHT on your resume, just keep reading below, or check out my YouTube video!

KEY NUMBER 1: Decipher the Job Description

The problem with a bad resume starts with the fact that half the time the applicant hasn’t taken enough time to truly understand what the company is asking for. You need to STUDY that job description like you studied the lyrics to My Chemical Romance when you were going through your emo phase.

The best exercise for this is to create three columns and use the job description as a guide to fill them out with the following information:

1. What you understand about the needs of the company and requirements of the role.
2. How you align with their needs using concrete examples to back it up. For example if the company needs someone with great communication skills, think of a time when you showcased this.
3. Buzzwords and key phrases - you will want to weave these in throughout your resume. 

Having a thorough understanding of the job description will guide the rest of the resume writing process for you. It will tell you what main experiences, skills, and qualities you need to highlight to the recruiter in order to show you’re a good fit!

KEY NUMBER 2: Nail the Summary

A bangin’ summary is one that makes things super clear for the recruiter - it tells them who you are, what you can offer, and backs it up with proof points and key words. 

Avoid using cliche terminology - saying that you’re ‘goal driven’ or a ‘team player’ is like seeing a picture of a guy holding up a dead fish; very unimpressive. Rather than just reeling off a list of generic adjectives that anyone could claim, put your money where your mouth is and prove it to the recruiter by providing solid evidence. For example instead of just saying you’re goal driven, give a concrete example of a goal you've recently accomplished and the impact it had.

Need some inspo for your personal summary? Check this out.

KEY NUMBER 3: Make Your Experience Count

A mistake I see sooo many people make is they think they need to list every bit of work experience they’ve ever had, right down to the paper run they had when they were 12, and that’s just not necessary! Be picky about what experience you include and how you articulate it.

My old mate Aristotle discovered waaay back in the day that the best way to persuade someone is by using numbers and facts, and he’s right! Recruiters absolutely fizz when they see an experience section backed up with quantifiable achievements, rather than a flimsy list of responsibilities that doesn’t let them know if you were a high achiever or not, nor the tangible impact you had on the company.

When you’re listing bullet points under your experience section think “What was the action I took in this role + What was the impact this had?” Boom! 

KEY NUMBER 4: Have Some Other Eyeballs on Your Resume

The only way to make sure if your intended message is shining through in your resume is to get someone else to take a squiz! Think of the top 3 things about yourself you’d like the recruiter to take away with them after reading your resume, and see if this rings true for whoever you’re getting to take a look at it. If not, make some tweaks to see if it alters the impression. Don’t be afraid to get feedback from more than one person! We want to get it to that goldilocks level of perfection 😍

So to wrap up, maybe chill out on the tinder dates and instead make a date to revamp a key piece of your personal branding: resume of yours. Give it the TLC it deserves! You’ll be SO glad you did. If you need an extra helping hand, download my free Killer Resume Cheat sheet for some epic examples and tips!

Until next time, stay badass!

Rosie x