I’m so excited to bring you all this blog post! I’ve been on a mini-hiatus from blogging, but with great intention. Blogging is a journey and along the way, I’ve been trying to understand what works best and how I can be the best possible vessel of motivation and inspiration to others! With that being said- I bring you this blog post! I get so many questions about resumes and while I have a decent amount of knowledge, I thought it’d be best to get the facts from someone who does this for a living.
We all claimed to secure the bag in 2019 and having a high-quality resume is one of many tools that you need in your toolbox to do so. Regardless of your career field, your resume is meant to portray your skills, qualifications, and experience. I consider it to be the document that makes people want to learn more about how you can add value to their company, school, business, etc.
The gag is that anyone can have a resume. However, having a resume that will land you an interview and filter through applicant tracking systems is the real bag.
I seriously DO NOT miss the days where someone would ask me to send them my resume and I would scramble to update it with everything I’ve done since the last time I needed it. Or better yet, the pain of trying to remember everything I’ve done since the last time it was used. And in turn, still not feeling confident about the format, font, and wording used on my resume. My resume was a hot mess until I decided to dead the days of being unprepared for opportunities. Do not sleep on an up-to-date resume and the comfort in knowing that you have a high-quality document that will impress anyone who puts their eyes on it.
So here’s the thing… Whatever I’ve said up to this point of the post you can take with a grain of salt, but I highly recommend you swallow the rest of the post whole. I got answers to common questions that most people have about resumes but also got the chance to dive deeper into the technicalities of resume do’s and don’ts. As a Human Resources (HR) professional, Elizabeth Fletcher offers free game on this post and provides you with (almost) everything you need to know to have a popping ass resume.
A Little Bit About HR Bae
HR Bae has over ten years of experience in resume writing and human resources experience and works passionately in her field. She’s even taken her skills and expertise and applied them to her own business, Wordsmith Resume Writing & Interview Prep, LLC. Her business focuses solely on getting people what they need by providing services that give them the necessary tools needed to secure the bag. HR bae provides career coaching, resume writing, interview preparation, salary negotiations, and LinkedIn optimization services through Wordsmith Resume Writing & Interview Prep, LLC. When she’s not tending to her company, she is either cooking Louisiana dishes or serving her community. Regardless of what she is doing, she is always about that mom life. Elizabeth is definitely out here living an unprocessed life and helping others get in their bag in the process!
Let’s get into these resume tips. It’s a whole lot of free game being provided.
What are three major resume red flags that make recruiters pass on resumes?
(1) Spelling, grammar, and punctuation, (2) obvious white lies, and (3) not following the directions of the posting.
What are must have components of a resume that recruiters see as eye catchers?
A professional summary is a must-have since it sits at the top of the resume. It should be a synopsis of yourself, which would be similar to an overall “elevator pitch” that sells who you are, what you have accomplished, and what you want to accomplish.
I’ve heard mixed messages about including your address on your resume, do you recommend including it? Why or why not?
I absolutely do NOT recommend including the address; it is not a necessary resume component. Save it for the application, which is a legal binding contract. Most applicants share their resumes on job boards, such as Indeed, and those subscriptions may be purchased by anyone. Who wants creeps stalking them? No one right? Save the personal information for the official application.
How often should someone update their resume? And how do you recommend them keeping track of what accomplishments they’ve achieved during said amount of time?
Update your resume typically every 6 months and/or when a position has changed. Remember there is no one-size-fits-all resume, but you should have a running resume up-to-date. I recommend have a special email folder with all of your accomplishments and contributions to keep up with easier. Like a “brag folder”
There are so many unique resume templates that are now offered. They consist of a variety of colors, unique designs, and sometimes even a professional head shot. As someone who sees various resume styles, would you recommend a clean, classic, minimalist resume or a creative, chic, modern resume?
Unless you are in the entertainment business, a professional head shot should not be included on your resume unless directed per the position posting. Colors and unique templates are becoming more and more popular and creative; however, keep it as clean cut as possible to be understood by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). The information is more important than the graphics and design.
What advice do you have for people who don’t know what font, font size, or format to use?
Keep it super simple; 12 point font, Times New Roman and a classic resume is perfectly fine.
Is there still a need to include a “professional summary” or “goal summary” statement at the top of resumes? Why or why not?
Professional summary is indeed needed; not an objective though. Imagine flipping a red box movie over to read the synopsis. As you read the movie you’re considering if it entices you enough to want to watch without revealing the climax. The resume gets you the interview, the interview gets you the job. All accolades can’t fit on the resume so put your best foot forward for the absolute best first impression.
How far should your experience date back?
Typically do not go past 7 or 8 years; if you feel the experience is still relevant I suggest having a “Earlier Work History” section. From there, simply list the titles and companies with dates. This is not where you list your contributed functions and contributions. If needed, those can be stated in the interview.
Is there a recommended page limit for a resume? Is there a such thing as too long or too short of a resume?
A typical professional resume is 2 pages. The one page rule is so 1999. As long as it is relevant and effective then do not overthink it; however, do not write a thesis. The human attention span isn’t going to read all of that.
If someone is seeking a job in a field where they have no experience, what recommendations do you have for them to stand out to potential employers?
Utilize transferable skills from jobs that needed similar experiences
Can you tell us a bit about wordsmithing and how important that it is, or is not, to having a stand out resume?
The resume is extremely important. Everyone doesn’t know people that can just pull their application (speaking to the “it’s all about who you know” saying). Many applicants rely on the point structure/ranking of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to get them a call for the interview. Utilizing the right verbiage is very important to ensure that your application finds it’s way through the system.
There are a ton of misperceptions surrounding catch-all resumes versus tailored resumes. Is it important to have resumes tailored to your field/experience or is a comprehensive resume okay?
The resume should be tailored to the specific job that you are applying to/for. Customizations make the applicant look prepared and show the Hiring Manager that you took time out for that job because it means a lot.
If nothing more, what is one resume takeaway that you want Unprocessed readers to walk away from this post knowing?
“Be as selective as you are with your selfies with that of the resume you use to apply for your dream job.”
Resume Special for the Unprocessed Tribe!
I have yet to do anything for my readers to show my appreciation for your support. I am SUPER excited to offer something, for the first time ever, through Wordsmith Resume Writing & Interview Prep, LLC. Elizabeth has generously offered to run a special for $120 y’all! An investment of $120 gets you a thorough resume edit for any industry and any amount of experience. This special saves you approximately $60. Take it from someone who didn’t get the opportunity to take advantage of a special – this is an amazing price. It’s all about perspective – spend $120 on a professionally done resume and make it back 10-fold or spend $120 on clothes/shoes/drinks/dinner/etc. and never get it back.
With that said, if you are interested in making a small investment towards your BIG future, please email her and let her know. Upon emailing her, please include “UNPROCESSED RESUME” in the subject line. Be kind, be courteous, and be as professional as possible when you are emailing her. We are unprocessed and unapologetic, but we are NOT unpolished and unkind to others for no damn reason. This deal will end on June 26, 2019 so be sure to take advantage while you can!
Thanks, HR Bae!
Major shouts to Elizabeth Fletcher of Wordsmith Resume Writing & Interview Prep, LLC for taking the time to give some free game to the Unprocessed Lifestyle tribe. We appreciate you and your expertise SO much!
How To Get In Touch with HR Bae:
Instagram: @wordsmithresume
Facebook: Wordsmith Resume Writing & Interview Prep, LLC
Website: www.wordsmithresume.com
Email: Resumewordsmith365@gmail.com