Tag Archive for Résumé

Give Your Resume a Post-Pandemic Refresh for 2023

Give Your Resume a Post-Pandemic Refresh for 2023It is time to give your resume a post-pandemic refresh for 2023. You should make sure that your resume is focused on current job skills. To make your resume more modern, focus on current job skills instead of those that no longer are quite so relevant. Here is a list of things you should take off your resume. These obsolete skills take up space on your resume. FinanceBuzz says they may actually reduce your chances at landing a new job.

Packaging and shipping

Packaging and shippingIn the past, mail rooms that packed and shipped memo, reports and packages were important to keep business moving. In 2023 you can delete the packing and shipping skills from your resume. These have been replaced by email and online programs that can print labels and track packages.

Typing

Typing is a skill that has become ubiquitous in the modern workplace. In the past, typing proficiency was reserved for people who held positions in which typing was regularly needed. Now, most employees have computers on their desks.

Filing

FilingFiling is another office skill that computers have replaced. Files are no longer pieces of paper, to be managed, they are kept in computers. There is no need to boast of this skill.

Web browser use

Using a web browser is another skill employers assume your have. It is pointless to list web browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Google Chrome on your resume. Be sure to delete references to outdated browsers like Netscape or (gasp) AOL.

Data entry

College degreeWith the rise of technology in the workplace, most workers have some understanding of basic data entry.  You can skip mentioning proficiency related to data entry unless the job requires you to add large amounts of information to a database. In that case, mention a specific database entry program you understand thoroughly.

Online research

In 2023, online research can come off your resume. Online research is another universal skill for most workers. Most workers know how to use online search engines like Google or Bing to find the information they need. Save the space on your resume for more relevant skills.

Email

EmailIt used to be that understanding how to write, send, or receive emails was a new concept, but that’s obviously not the case anymore. You can also remove any references to your work with Microsoft Outlook, as well as web-based email such as Gmail.

Computer languages

You might have experience with multiple computer languages, but it’s probably better to limit your resume to mentioning languages specific to a job opening. Some computer languages are outdated now, so adding them to your resume might make you appear out of touch with today’s technology.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft officeMicrosoft Word has become so prevalent in the workforce that employers assume you know it already. Adding it to your resume might be seen as unnecessary bloat. Word isn’t the only ubiquitous application. You can remove other Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint from your resume.

Your address

City and state are really as granular as you need to get. These days, it can be dangerous to include anything more. “You don’t need everybody in the world knowing exactly where you’re living,” says CNBC. “A lot of people consider it a security concern, either for identity theft or because you don’t want someone showing up at your house.”  

College degree

College degreeDon’t overemphasize your degree. Harvard says employers might not be as interested in your college degree as they once were. Did you major in a field that doesn’t have much relevance to your current position? Did you graduate more than a decade ago?

If you’re an older worker and want to keep your college degree on your resume, remove your graduation date. Instead, highlight recent certification programs or continuing education classes that are relevant to your most recent positions.

 

How you can help Ukraine!

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Six Ways to Update Your Resume in 2021

Six Ways to Update Your Resume in 20212020 changed everything. The job search process is no exception. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic means you need to update your resume. These six simple resume updates can improve your chances of getting an interview. Do not submit your 2020 resume in 2021.

Some reasons the job hunt has changed in 2021 include:

  • 7.3 million workers are looking for jobs  due to COVID-197.3 million workers are looking for jobs due to COVID-19 layoffs, leading to a mass influx of job searchers in the employment market.
  • 33% of job seekers are willing to accept a lower salary than their most recent salary do to COVID.
  • 99% of Fortune 500 Companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen resumes.
  • Up to 75% of qualified applicants have been rejected by an ATS because the software could not read their resumes.
  • Recruiters spend about 7.4 seconds glancing at resumes before deciding if the applicant is a potential fit.
  • On average, a corporate job attracts 250 applicants, of which only 5 will be invited to interview.
  • During the pandemic, 63% of companies conducted remote interviews and onboarding, compared to just 12% before the pandemic.

With job search odds stacked against you should make some COVID-19 changes to your resume to increase your odds of getting an interview for your next job.

Update your resume with work from home

Update your resume with work from homeMore and more employers are embracing remote work. Therefore, you should include any work-from-home skills on your resume. Look closely at the job description to see if the company mentions any remote work collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, Trello, Google DocsSlackZoom, etc. Include these keywords on your resume where applicable.

Now is the time to widen your search. Look beyond the suburbs around your home. Instead, consider remote work with organizations where you can offer value.

Add resiliency to your resume 

Next, make sure to highlight how you worked through COVID-19. The fact you got through the pandemic shows you are resilient. Highlight your achievements during the lockdown. How did you continue building on your experience? Or how did you help your business stay afloat? What new skills and tools did you learn?

Appear younger on your resume

Age discrimination is a serious issue that impacts job seekers over 45 more often than they realize. Unless the job you are applying for specifically wants 15+ years of experience with a particular skill delete it. Listing dates on your resume prior to 2005 is only going to age you. Remove outdated software versions or skills too.

Update your resume to be smart enough

If you are applying for a job requiring a bachelor’s degree but you are listing your advanced degrees (e.g., master’s or doctorate), you may be disqualified as overqualified or too expensive. Adjust your Education section to target the job posting.

  • Remove your high school & graduation date.
  • If you graduated from college more than five years ago, remove college graduation dates.

Be reachable on your resume

You need to use current communications channels during your job search. It makes the search easier and you can appear younger on your resume.

  • Sanitize your address – a city and state are good enough – especially if you 3rd parties are involved – your safety is important.
  • Dump that aol.com or yahoo.com email address. Use a Gmail or Outlook account. Careerbuilder says that 35% of hiring managers view an unprofessional email address as a deal-breaker.
  • Put a LinkedIn link on your resume. A report by Jobvite says that 87% of recruiters regularly use LinkedIn.

Update your resume keywords

Update your resume keywords34% of hiring managers told Careerbuilder that missing quantifiable results on a resume is a deal-breaker. You should include keywords in your results bullets. To identify which keywords should be used in your resume, check out a free word and phrase frequency tool like Online-Utility.org’s Text Analyzer. All you need to do is copy and paste the job description and Text Analyzer will return the terms that are regularly used throughout the JD. If you possess these skills or qualifications, incorporate these terms into your resume.

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You need to update your resume with these new best practices forced on use by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. These resume changes will tilt the job search odds in your favor. 

Stay safe out there!

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Passed Comptia Security+

I passed the CompTIA Security+ test this week!  Another item for the resume.

Comptia Security+

 

 

 

Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.

Twesume is Resume on Twitter

Whats A TwesumeSean Weinberg, COO, and co-founder of RezScore, a free web application that reads, analyzes, and grades resumes instantly, says that a 140-character Twitter resume could land your next job.  He calls it a Twesume.

Just like it sounds, “Twesume” unifies Twitter and your resume. The RezScore COO explains that a Twesume is a short bio or resume condensed into 140 characters or less. Sometimes paired with the #twesume hashtag, the Twesume can be tweeted, messaged or emailed to potential employers.

Mr. Weinberg told Mashable the great thing about the Twesume is that it’s a completely flexible, living document. Did you get promoted? No problem, just tweet the addition to your resume. Relocate? Totally fine.

Twesumes help job seekers get noticed by companies who use social recruiting. With the Twesume, a job seeker can introduce himself and engage with an employer in less time (and space) than a traditional resume and cover letter could ever manage.

If you’re interested in jumping on the Twesume bandwagon, all you need is a Twitter account and something to say. Once you have your Twitter account squared away (be sure to have a picture, bio, and some followers/followees), write your very own Twesume. While the Twesume can be anything you like, try to include this information: what you do, an accomplishment, a goal, skills, and/or a link to a detailed profile or website.

Santa Claus: World traveler and toy expert. 300+ years of management experience. Looking for a position in the entertainment industry. http://tinyurl.com/c9ursdp #twesume

Tweet this to your followers, DM to a specific employer, or use it as your Twitter bio. It really is as simple as that.

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Ralph Bach has been in IT long enough to know better and has blogged from his Bach Seat about IT, careers, and anything else that catches his attention since 2005. You can follow him on LinkedInFacebook, and Twitter. Email the Bach Seat here.