5 Tips for Resume Success in 2024

Looking for a new job in this New Year? Here are 5 tips to review when preparing your resume which will help set you up for success in securing interviews.

1. Focus on responsibilities, not achievements. Hiring Managers want to know what you do on YOUR job! They are looking to hear about specific functions that you carry out such as: preparing budgets, communicating with customers, selecting vendors, approving and auditing invoices...etc. Achievements on the job are best shared during the interview process. Such as, saving 10% on costs, reducing spending by 20%, or increasing sales are better discussed with the Hiring Manager directly.
2. Proof Grammar. Double check for consistency of tenses (past or present) in bullet points or sentences describing your work experience. For past work experience, make sure your resume is formatted in the past tense. For your current employer, use present tense!
3. List Hard Skills. Terms such as team player, organized, and detail oriented have lost impact and should not be written on a resume. Instead, list your hard skills such as: software, industry specific software proficiency, and multi-lingual skills.
4. List Months of Employment with Years. Add months along with the year listed on your resume to show the transparency and integrity of your work history at each job. For example, list 06/2022-8/2023, instead of 2022-2023. You will be saving the Hiring Manager time by providing this up front.
5. Match your LinkedIn Profile and Resume. Proof your resume dates and LinkedIn profile to ensure they provide the same information. This is a great check and balance when preparing your resume. Some employers will pass on your resume when they see your profile dates or work history does not match the resume provided.

Developing a winning resume and standing above the rest can feel overwhelming in today's current job market. However, these 5 steps will help set you up for resume success! Best wishes for a wonderful 2024!