While it is true that the job-hunting process has changed over recent years, with the added complexities of Internet applications and networking sites, your resume is still your best tool to finding a new job. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced engineer, a resume is your biography. It tells prospective employers who you are, where you have been, and the great things you are capable of accomplishing. Here are four tips you can use to spruce up your resume.
What to Focus On
The most valuable qualifications you can highlight on your resume are those based around skills you have gained working on other projects over the years, your accomplishments to date, and the quantifiable results you have provided for past employers. When an employer or a recruiter reads through a resume, they are most interested in learning what services and skills you can provide their company as a new hire. Focus on what you as an employee can bring to the table.
Relevance is Key
As a more experienced professional, it’s likely that you can fill many pages with valuable information about your skills and achievements. But remember that a resume should be short and to the point. Employers who see over-long resumes often move on to the next one simply because they don’t have time to wade through the minute details of every candidate’s history.
Keep your resume focused on the most important and most relevant skills, achievements, and qualifications that make you right for the job you are applying for. That likely means revising it for each new job you apply for. Consider that a good thing. By trimming down your resume, you’re not negating the achievements that don’t make the cut. Rather you are bringing attention to the most relevant aspects of your work history.
Frequent Updates
It’s easy to let a resume get out of date, especially for those who are currently employed. Experience builds over time, projects come and go, and unless you are making frequent updates to your resume, some of those valuable qualifications might be forgotten when you do get around to revising the document. It’s a good idea to keep a master resume, which can be as long as it needs to be to list all the accomplishments and skills you have developed over time. Then, when you are applying for a specific job, you can revise and trim the list down to a more manageable size based on the job description you are provided.
Finishing Touches
The effectiveness of a resume is based entirely on whether or not it gets you an interview. If you are having trouble getting a foot in the door, consider the overall impact of your resume. Is it formatted well? Are you confident it is written clearly and free of all grammatical or spelling errors? Are your references up to date? Does your work history include any unexplained gaps that might be a red flag? Take a final look at your resume as if you were an interviewer. Make sure your resume is clear, clean, and makes you look like the best applicant for the job.
Energy Services Group International, a leader in energy staffing solutions, can help you find your next job through our experienced and talented recruiting team. Find out how we can help and get started today!
