With unemployment rates skyrocketing this year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, having a solid resume is crucial for getting noticed and landing job interviews.
As someone who's been hiring and interviewing for more than 20 years, and the founder of a resume template and writing service, I've noticed several changes in what employers are looking for in a resume today.
Below is an updated resume template and example that can help boost your chances of landing an interview — along with a breakdown of why it gets an "A+" score:
1. Indicates telecommunication skills
Thanks to the pandemic, companies have been given no choice but to adapt to remote work — making telecommunication skills more valuable than ever.
Remember to use specific platform keywords, instead of wasting space with boring phrases like "I'm good at time-management" or "I'm tech-savvy." (In a recent survey of 277 hiring professionals, 43% named Zoom as the most-preferred video conferencing software.)
Where to put on your resume: At the bottom, in the "Skills" section
Examples:
2. Showcases the ability to adapt to rapid changes.
The way we work has changed dramatically this year. Companies are looking for candidates who can quickly adjust to new policies, workplace norms and shifting expectations.
This might mean mentioning how you've taken on new roles, worked with modified budgets, implemented new platforms or grew sales despite a downsized team — all during Covid-19.
Where to put on your resume: Under the "Experience" section, specifically for your most recent job
Examples:
3. Includes a resume title
Most candidates think that adding a resume title is just repetitive. But this will be an increasingly common practice for years to come.
Imagine a hiring manager reviewing dozens of applications to fill an accountant role. All it takes is a relevant title, in bold at the very top, to immediately grab their attention and show that the candidate is a potential fit for the job.
Where to put on your resume: At the top, as a header (beneath your name and contact information)
Examples:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Senior Staff Accountant
- Digital Marketing Manager
4. Includes URL to LinkedIn profile
Adding a link to your LinkedIn profile has been the standard for some time, but so many candidates still miss this essential step.
Recruiters want to learn more about your credentials, aside from what's already listed on your resume. In fact, a recent study showed that having a comprehensive LinkedIn profile can increase your chances of landing a job interview by 71%.
Where to put on your resume: At the top, beneath your contact information
5. Includes experience summary
Think of this as your one opportunity to summarize your professional life, core capabilities and experience level — free of job titles and start dates.
Use this space to highlight your career choices and most impressive achievements (or even to show off your personality). All of this strengthens your first impression in a way that no other resume section can.
Where to put on your resume: Above the "Experience" section, and beneath your resume title
Examples:
- Fiercely competitive sales manager with 7+ years of experience driving profitability through strategic growth, leading teams and quality control. Achieved $500,000 in monthly sales, while increasing customer satisfaction by 5% each year.
- Retail sales associate with 4+ years of experience communicating with and retaining clients. Achieved an average of 140% of sales goals for 6 consecutive months and provided recommendations that generated $13,000 in additional revenue.
- Science researcher of 10+ years working to better understand how neural activity motivates and shapes human behavior. Expertise includes project design and data analysis. My colleagues would describe me as a driven, resourceful individual who maintains a positive, proactive attitude when faced with adversity.
6. Includes brief description of companies
Unless you've held titles with major employers like Google, Apple or Amazon, it's important to include a short description of the companies you worked for (especially if they're small start-ups).
Mentioning the company size — in parenthesis — is also essential background information, because it gives managers an idea of things like your workload and the amount of support or resources that were available to you.
Where to put on your resume: In the "Experience" section, beneath each company name and position
Examples:
- Led marketing operations for gaming hardware company (45+ employees)
- Manager of a 4-person engineering team for web analytics service (70+ employees)
- Sales assistant for award-winning web design agency (25+ employees)
Peter Yang is a career expert and the CEO of Resume Writing Services, the parent company of ResumeGo. Before that, he worked as a hiring manager for nearly two decades. Peter has written for Business Insider, Inc. and Glassdoor. Follow him on Twitter @ThePeterYang.
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