How to Write a Resume That Stands Out

Summary

This video discusses how to craft a resume that stands out in today’s competitive job market. It covers key tips such as avoiding outdated mission statements, using clear headlines, emphasizing relevant experience (even in unrelated roles), and considering the importance of AI-friendly formatting. The video also explores the rising trend of incorporating personal interests and addressing career gaps in resumes. Additionally, it highlights the need for two versions of a resume: one optimized for applicant tracking systems and another for human review. Overall, the advice aims to help job seekers navigate the complexities of modern resume writing.

Takeaways

• 📄 The modern resume should be tailored to catch a recruiter's attention within 10 seconds, highlighting key information concisely.
• 🔍 Recruiters first notice the name at the top, then the most recent experience, and required skills and education.
• 🚫 Avoid cliché mission statements; instead, use a simple headline that describes your specialty and role.
• 🎯 Emphasize achievements and responsibilities with bullet points to align with job descriptions effectively.
• 🏢 Include a brief description of your company's role if it's not widely recognized to provide context to your experience.
• 👚 Even seemingly unrelated past roles can offer transferable skills, which can be valuable for entry-level positions.
• 🤖 With AI technologies filtering resumes, ensure your document is in a standard format without ornamentation that could confuse systems.
• 💼 Having two versions of your resume—one for AI and one for human reviewers—can be beneficial for different application processes.
• 🌟 Personal branding is becoming more important, with resumes now including personal interests and causes, reflecting a more holistic view of the candidate.
• 📜 Recommendations or endorsements from others can be included on resumes to provide external validation of your skills and character.
• 📑 The length of a resume is flexible; it can be more than one page if it contains substantial and relevant experience, as scrolling is easy in digital formats.

Q & A

What is the average time a hiring manager spends reviewing a resume before making a decision?

Hiring managers typically spend less than 10 seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether to accept or reject it.

What should be the first thing on a resume according to the script?

The first thing on a resume should be the applicant's name, followed by their most recent experience.

Why is it advised to remove the traditional mission statement from a resume?

The mission statement is advised to be removed because it takes up valuable space on the resume and can be replaced with a simple headline that describes the applicant and their specialty.

What should replace the traditional mission statement on a resume?

A simple headline that describes the applicant and their specialty, such as 'Content Creator' or 'Marketing Specialist', should replace the traditional mission statement.

What is the recommended way to highlight one's achievements on a resume?

Using bullet points to list achievements, data, responsibilities, and specialties is recommended, especially if they mirror the job description.

Why is it important to include a brief description of the company under the job title, even if the company is not well-known?

Including a brief description helps provide context to the recruiter about the nature of the company and the role, which can be beneficial if the company is not widely recognized.

How can someone with limited work experience make their resume stand out?

By examining past project experiences, even roles that may seem unrelated, and identifying transferable skills such as customer service or public interfacing.

What impact do AI technologies have on the resume screening process?

AI technologies are used by 75% of employers to filter resumes, saving recruiters time and narrowing down candidates, but also making it crucial to avoid formatting or content that could confuse these systems.

What is the recommended format for resumes submitted through an applicant tracking system?

The recommended format is a standard Microsoft Word document or a PDF, free of ornamentation that could disrupt the applicant tracking system.

How has the approach to resumes changed in recent years to include more personal aspects?

Resumes now often include personal interests, causes, and even past career gaps, reflecting a shift towards a more holistic representation of the individual.

What is the current stance on the length of a resume, and how does it differ from traditional advice?

While traditional advice often limits resumes to one page, recent trends show that resumes can be two or even three pages if they contain substantial and relevant experience.