Resume Checklist for 2013

Even though the resume is still the main documents your potential employers or hiring managers requests to judge your qualifications, expectation has changed significantly. Given that the resume is actually not about you but about your prospective employer, it is important that you use your resume to convey your unique talents and specific skills, as well as how those talents and skills will benefit your prospective employer(Alleyne, 2012). This is the only way you can stand out from the competition in 2013. Here are a few tips that would help you to effectively present your experience and unique skills to a prospective employer in 2013 via your resume.

Your Professional Profile

You will need to create a professional profile that answers that problem of why a prospective employer should hire you. Creating a professional profile serves one important purpose, which is, to showcase your experience and key differentiators. For instance, if you are a financial planner, begin your resume by writing “Certified Financial Planner(CFP)” or “Accredited Investment Fiduciary(AIF)” under the title “Financial Planner.” This will tell the prospective employer who you really are and what you can do for the organization. Don’t forget to stay away from overused words or phrases like “specific expertise in”, “team player,” self-motivated,” and “attention to detail.” In addition, do not have an objective at the top of your resume. That method is now outdated. Recruiters see it as being “out of touch”(Alleyne, 2012).

Using the Appropriate Job Title

The Golden Rule here is to use a title that is close to the job you are seeking. This format tells the recruiter what you want. Generally speaking, the hiring manager may have hundreds of resumes that they have received in response to as little as, say, 10 jobs. So they want to be able to tell what your expertise is at first glance. They can do this if, and only if, the title you used in your resume is close to the job you are seeking.

Quantify Your Responsibilities

The 2013 workplace will be very competitive. Hence the need that you outline what you do. For instance, if your main responsibility is to create spreadsheets, you will need to state it quantitatively on your resume. Saying something like “…created four spreadsheets on quarterly budgets for review by senior management” is a powerful and eye-catching statement. This is because it explains how you have not only impacted but also improved your previous employer’s business(Alleyne, 2012).

Using Strong and Specific Language

Some of the great words to use in your resume include “led,” “managed,” and “directed.” However, you will need to avoid words like “assisted,” and “participated” for one important reason: they are passive language.

Appearance Counts

Another Golden Rule here is this: Your resume must look crisp and clean. To do this, it is best to create an attractive, conservative design that is appropriate for the industry. In addition, there cannot be errors in your resume. So proofread your resume very well(Alleyne, 2012).

As a concluding remark, I will state here that your resume should be a living document that is updated regularly. Do not forget to keep an electronic file of your resume in which you updated your professional progress. This is because it can be difficult to remember your accomplishments.

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