As the weather and the market heat up once again, it’s a good time to review and refresh your resume as needed. For most hiring managers or recruiters who find you through a LinkedIn search, your Bio, resume, or portfolio will be your best chance to make a first impression. Have a look now at your resume and profile to make sure it meets all the important criteria.

Does your resume tell a Story?

Resumes tell a story of your career trajectory, competencies, interests, and aspirations. Read your resume thoroughly to make sure it tells the story of your career progression and what you’ve learned from your experience(s). It’s a good time to review your employment patterns and work history.

Your social media presence should complement the resume and continue in the same narrative and brand voice. Whether it’s your social media, blogs you’ve written, or portfolio you’ve created, ensure they all present a consistent sense of your brand, your values, and your expertise.

Does your resume address gaps in work history?

If you’ve been impacted by a layoff due to Covid, make sure your resume still speaks about accomplishments, leadership, or any mid-stream projects you were involved with prior to the layoff.

In the interim, list any volunteer work, continued education, or pro-bono work you’ve done during this time.

Does your resume include ROI, ATS, and SEO?

Be mindful of changing trends and keywords in your industry and update your resume for Search Engine Optimization, as well as making it friendly and searchable for the various Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

You are your own marketing department, so familiarize yourself with the latest SEO tips and techniques that marketers use to boost visibility and apply this to both your resume and online profile.

As you review a job description, make sure your resume speaks to the must-haves (Minimum requirements) and nice-to-haves (preferred requirements) of a role, and that you are able to list key metrics and deliverables that speak to each.

For example, if a role is asking for account management, list the number of accounts handled, responsibility for volume, and share specifics for account wins, (I managed 3 accounts and 5M book of business. I grew accounts by 25% in 2019 and oversaw a team of 4).

At Artisan Creative, we know that building your dream career isn’t just about attention to detail – it’s about knowing which details matter.

We hope you’ve enjoyed the 585th issue of our weekly a.blog.