Resume Writing Tips to Get You Ahead in 2023

Writing a resume can be tedious. Deciding on the information you want to present can take time, but it can be your ticket to the direction you want your career to go in.


Your resume is quite possibly the only encounter that an employer may have with you, so I’ve given you some resume writing tips focused on being organized, intentional, and relevant so you can stand out in the sea of thousands of other people.

 

  • Keep it concise:

A resume should be one to two pages long, depending on your level of experience. For roles with more technical experience, it may be appropriate to have a longer resume. Don’t include unnecessary or irrelevant information, try to keep it simple. Not everything has to be explained in a whole sentence, many things can be condensed to bullet points to tighten up the length of your resume.

  • Be smart with your formatting

Try to organize your information in an easily digestible format so that potential employers see the information you want them to see. The formatting of your resume shouldn’t be the reason you weren’t considered. Take some time to look at resume templates or completed resumes to get an idea of what works and what doesn’t.

    • Do:
      • Use bullet points to break up information so that it is easier to review
      • Use formatting like bolding to bring attention to important information and establish some organic separation between sections.
      • Choose a clean, professional resume template. (If you have an existing Indeed resume, great! Move the information over to a resume template for a more attractive, professional resume.)
    • Don’t:
      • Present your experience in one big paragraph
      • Choose resume templates that have many graphics, unless your experience is relevant to their use.
        • You want to avoid a “busy” resume where there’s too much going on.
  • Tailor your resume to the type of work that you want

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experience and identify what direction you would like to go in. Identify the skills and qualifications that are important for the type of work you are trying to get into. Make sure to showcase your strongest skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the position that you want.

A resume is not only a view into your past experience, but is also indicative of your future potential. If you have experience that success is measured in certain ways, be sure to include data that shows you know what you’re doing.

  • For example, if you have increased sales year over year, bring some numbers in to demonstrate your skill in a way that is directly relevant to employers.

Consider looking at a resume of someone who is in the job role you are seeking, to see what they considered important to highlight in their skill set, but also to identify any gaps in your experience.

  • Use keywords that are relevant

How are employers finding your resume? Employers use sites like Monster, LinkedIn, and Indeed to find potential employees.

To find you, they have to search for either Job Titles or keywords that describe your experience. Look at a job description for your desired role, and see what skills and information that are relevant to you that you can include in your resume. You want to be easy to find and a relevant candidate.

If you have used particular software or interacted with certain products for your duties, make sure to mention the program/product type in your resume.

  • Proofread

Great! Your resume is complete. Or is it? Check over your resume to confirm that you have

    • Correct information
    • Your contact information
    • Proper grammar and spelling
    • Clean formatting

Get another set of eyes on your final draft, someone else may see something you missed.

All done? Get out into the world and be sure to upload your resume everywhere you can.
You want to be visible where employers are searching resumes, so be sure to visit Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Linkedin and more.

Stay tuned for more tips!

Using References in your Bellevue Job Application Process

Your job references are important in confirming the skills, motivation and attitudes included in your resume and demonstrated during your interview. Ideally, your referee is someone you have reported to in a professional capacity.

Choose a job reference who can confirm

  • Your employment and responsibilities
  • Your strengths and possible areas for development
  • The type of people you work well with
  • The management style that suits you best
  • Your ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team
  • Your capacity to take direction, and most important
  • Your suitability for the role you are seeking

Job reference tips

  • Always have your job reference’s permission before giving their contact details to a prospective employer. Your referee should never be caught off guard by an unexpected phone call, as this can work against you.
  • Make sure your referees know about the role you have applied for so they can focus on your relevant skills and strengths.
  • It’s good practice to contact your referees after the interview and let them know how it went. This way they can emphasise your key strengths or skills relevant to the job.
  • Every time you change employers, make an effort to ask for a reference from your manager or co-worker. This enables you to create a file of recommendations from people who you may not be in contact with in the future.
  • Keep your job references up to date and let them know where your job search stands. This keeps them on guard and be better prepared for a potential call. When you become employed, send a thank you note to anyone who provided you with a reference.
  • Keep your business network up to date, LinkedIn is a great way to do this. Maintain continual contact with your references and if you feel it’s appropriate ask them to write you a reference that you can post to your LinkedIn profile too.

What to put in your Resume in 2022

1. Don’t Put Everything on There

Your resume should not have every work experience you’ve ever had listed on it. Think of your resume not as a comprehensive list of your career history, but as a marketing document selling you as the perfect person for the job. For each resume you send out, you’ll want to highlight only the accomplishments and skills that are most relevant to the job at hand (even if that means you don’t include all of your experience).

2. But Keep a Master List of All Jobs

Since you’ll want to be swapping different information in and out depending on the job you’re applying to, keep a resume master list on your computer where you keep any information you’ve ever included on a resume: old positions, bullet points tailored for different applications, special projects that only sometimes make sense to include. Then, when you’re crafting each resume, it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting relevant information together. Think of this as your brag file.

3. Put the Best Stuff “Above the Fold”

In marketing speak, “above the fold” refers to what you see on the front half of a folded newspaper (or, in the digital age, before you scroll down on a website), but basically it’s your first impression of a document. In resume speak, it means you should make sure your best experiences and accomplishments are visible on the top third of your resume. This top section is what the hiring manager is going to see first—and what will serve as a hook for someone to keep on reading. So focus on putting your best, most relevant experiences first—and then check out these five other marketing tricks to get your resume noticed.

You need a killer resume, make sure its ready for the job you want.

1. Find a Professional Font

As fun as it might look on the page, now is not the time to use weird fonts. Unless you are working in a creative field where you should be showing off your style, stick to something classic. Times New Roman is great go-to, or try a serif font with a little more individuality, like Book Antiqua or Lucida Bright.

2. Put the Good Stuff First

The real secret to a good resume is focusing your reader’s attention. In an ideal world, recruiters would read every word on your resume. In reality, that rarely happens. I’ve screened hundreds of resumes, and though I’m more meticulous than most, I’ve been surprised by how many I nearly tossed, only to find something truly interesting buried at the bottom of the page.

Also, the biggest mistake is to use chronological order. Why lead with “Babysitter in High School” when you could lead with “Strategic Planning Analyst?” Even reverse chronological order (which is more common) may not give you the flexibility you want to highlight your best and most relevant accomplishments.

3. Be Specific

You increased recruiting? Give us the percent increase. You raised money for charity? Tell us how much you raised! This can turn average-looking experiences into impressive head-turners and help distinguish you from other candidates. The flip-side of that is that specifics can also make some accomplishments look worse. If you only raised $150, you might want to think twice before including that—it’s unlikely to impress a billion dollar company.

Hint: This is true of your classes as well. Mentioning relevant coursework can help catch a recruiter’s eye.

4. Vary Your Verbs

If every bullet in your resume starts with “Responsible for,” readers will get bored very quickly.

5. Make Every Word Count

Unless you’re a tenured professor who needs to list every book and article you’ve ever published, your resume should be one page. While this limits the space you have to share your experience, think of it as a blessing in disguise: It forces you to focus.

You don’t need an equal number of bullets under each experience. You should be spending more words on your most impressive set of experiences. Moreover, if a job isn’t relevant anymore, take it out! You don’t need to prove that you’ve been employed since 1997.

Can’t make things fit on one page? Keep cutting it down. You can play with margins and font sizes a bit if necessary—but don’t overdo it. The point is to choose the right experiences, not squish them in. Plus, a dense resume is harder to read. And the harder your resume is to read, the more likely people will just skim it.

Hint: You can make the font size of the spacing between text smaller without losing legibility

6. Proofread

Grammar or spelling errors in a resume can be the difference between the “keep” pile and the “trash” pile. At best, you look sloppy. Enough said.

7. PDF, PDF, PDF

This one is simple: PDFs look the same on any computer. Word documents, on the other hand, can show up with wacky formatting or spill onto a second page if opened with a different version of Word or on a PC vs. a Mac. Make sure companies see what you wanted them to see.

How to add Education to your resume

Experience First, Education Second

Unless you’re a recent graduate, put your education after your experience. Chances are, your last couple of jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job than where you went to college.

Also Keep it Reverse Chronological…

Usually, you should lay down your educational background by listing the most recent or advanced degree first, working in reverse chronological order. But if older coursework is more specific to the job, list that first to grab the reviewer’s attention.

But Skip the Dates

Don’t list your graduation dates. The reviewer cares more about whether or not you have the degree than when you earned it.

Highlight Honors, Not GPA

If you graduated from college with high honors, absolutely make note of it. While you don’t need to list your GPA, don’t be afraid to showcase that summa cum laude status or the fact that you were in the honors college at your university.

Include Continuing or Online Education

Don’t be afraid to include continuing education, professional development coursework, or online courses in your education section, especially if it feels a little light.  “Online courses are a more-than-accepted norm nowadays, and your participation in them can actually show your determination and motivation to get the skills you need for your career.”

Miscellaneous Resume Tip’s

Essential Resume Tips to Stand Out to Hiring Managers

A polished, professional resume can make a big difference in the hiring process. Here are some tips to help your resume make a strong impression and avoid common pitfalls.

1. Skip “References Available Upon Request”

Hiring managers assume you’ll have references if needed, so there’s no need to state the obvious. Leaving this phrase off your resume allows you to use the space more effectively for relevant skills and experience.

2. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

Typos and grammatical errors can make a poor first impression. Don’t rely solely on spell check—ask a friend, family member, or a professional to review your resume. A fresh set of eyes can often catch mistakes you may have missed.

3. Save Your Resume as a PDF

If emailing your resume, always send it as a PDF rather than a Word document (.doc or .docx). PDFs preserve your formatting, so your resume will look exactly as intended when the hiring manager opens it.

4. Name Your File Appropriately

When saving your resume, use a clear file name like “Jane Doe Resume” rather than a generic “Resume.” This makes it easy for hiring managers to locate your file and keeps things organized on their end.

5. Regularly Update Your Resume

Set aside time every few months to review and refresh your resume. Add any new skills, responsibilities, or accomplishments so you’re always prepared if an opportunity arises. Keeping your resume current can also serve as a valuable reflection on your career growth, even if you’re not actively job searching.

Following these simple yet effective tips can help you create a resume that stands out and represents your qualifications in the best possible light.

Pointers to improve your resume in Bellevue

It’s deceptively easy to make mistakes on your resume and exceptionally difficult to repair the damage once an employer gets it. So prevention is critical, whether you’re writing your first resume or revising it for a mid-career job search. Check out this resume guide to the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them.

1. Typos and Grammatical Errors

Your resume needs to be grammatically perfect. If it isn’t, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-flattering conclusions about you, like: “This person can’t write,” or “This person obviously doesn’t care.”

2. Lack of Specifics

Employers need to understand what you’ve done and accomplished. For example:

A. Worked with employees in a restaurant setting.
B. Recruited, hired, trained and supervised more than 20 employees in a restaurant with $2 million in annual sales.

Both of these phrases could describe the same person, but the details and specifics in example B will more likely grab an employer’s attention.

3. Attempting One Size Fits All

Whenever you try to develop a one-size-fits-all resume to send to all employers, you almost always end up with something employers will toss in the recycle bin. Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position in a specific organization.

4. Highlighting Duties Instead of Accomplishments

It’s easy to slip into a mode where you simply start listing job duties on your resume. For example:

  • Attended group meetings and recorded minutes.
  • Worked with children in a day-care setting.
  • Updated departmental files.

Employers, however, don’t care so much about what you’ve done as what you’ve accomplished in your various activities. They’re looking for statements more like these:

  • Used laptop computer to record weekly meeting minutes and compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based file for future organizational reference.
  • Developed three daily activities for preschool-age children and prepared them for a 10-minute holiday program performance.
  • Reorganized 10 years worth of unwieldy files, making them easily accessible to department members.

5. Going on Too Long or Cutting Things Too Short

Despite what you may read or hear, there are no real rules governing resume length. Why? Because human beings, who have different preferences and expectations where resumes are concerned, will be reading it.

That doesn’t mean you should start sending out five-page resumes, of course. Generally speaking, you usually need to limit yourself to a maximum of two pages. But don’t feel you have to use two pages if one will do. Conversely, don’t cut the meat out of your resume simply to make it conform to an arbitrary one-page standard.

6. A Bad Objective

Employers do read your resume objective, but too often they plow through vague pufferies like, “Seeking a challenging position that offers professional growth.” Give employers something specific and, more importantly, something that focuses on their needs as well as your own. Example: “A challenging entry-level marketing position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience in fund-raising for nonprofits.”

7. No Action Verbs

Avoid using phrases like “responsible for.” Instead, use action verbs: “Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff.”

8. Leaving Off Important Information

You may be tempted, for example, to eliminate mention of the jobs you’ve taken to earn extra money for school. Typically, however, the soft skills you’ve gained from these experiences (e.g., work ethic, time management) are more important to employers than you might think.

9. Visually Too Busy

If your resume is wall-to-wall text featuring five different fonts, it will most likely give the employer a headache. So show your resume to several other people before sending it out. Do they find it visually attractive? If what you have is hard on the eyes, revise.

10. Incorrect Contact Information

I once worked with a student whose resume seemed incredibly strong, but he wasn’t getting any bites from employers. So one day, I jokingly asked him if the phone number he’d listed on his resume was correct. It wasn’t. Once he changed it, he started getting the calls he’d been expecting. Moral of the story: Double-check even the most minute, taken-for-granted details — sooner rather than later.

 

Simple Formula to great cover letters for jobs in Seattle

1. Identify the Problem

55% of hiring managers don’t read cover letters. Why should they, when we write like modern-day Oliver Twists, begging them to please, sir, give us the job?

News flash: The hiring manager isn’t here to make your dreams come true. They’re in it for themselves. OK, that’s harsh, but the truth is that they’re looking for an awesome candidate to come in and do a kick-ass job that’ll help them run their department (or company) more efficiently and successfully.

When you’re writing your own cover letter, start with the list of responsibilities and ask yourself, Why? Why is this task important to this company? Keep digging until you can’t go any further. The true need is usually the one at the end of a chain of whys.

2. Agitate the Problem

Now that you’ve identified the problem, here comes the fun part.

Because no hiring manager has ever said, “I just love paying employees thousands of dollars every year!” your challenge now is to remind him or her how painful the problem is, and by default, how valuable a solution could be. Don’t be afraid to twist the knife a bit, like I did in my second paragraph:

If you’re looking for someone who can not only keep up, but also deliver that SEO-friendly, 75-page street style slideshow five minutes ago…

Notice I didn’t say, “If you’re looking for someone who can turn around projects quickly…” I was specific, and I made sure to use an example I knew would resonate with a stressed-out web editor.

And if you’re new to the industry or the role? Just ask. This is exactly what informational interviews are for. Find someone on the team you’re applying to, let your interviewer do most of the talking, and pay close attention to how he or she discusses the company’s challenges.

In conversation, we instinctively trust people who mirror our body language. On your application, you won’t get the chance—but you can do the next best thing: Pick up on your interviewer’s subtle cues and phrases and then mirror their speaking language in your cover letter.

3. Offer the Solution

By this point, you’ve got the hiring manager squirming at the table. Now, deliver the solution. Hint: It’s you.

Think about what makes you incredibly qualified to solve the problem. In my case, I knew I wanted the hiring manager to think of me and say, “Lisa? Oh, she’s the one who knows our backend systems and seems like a real go-getter.”

4. Close With Confidence

After all that work, you aren’t going to dash off a breathless “Hope to hear from you soon!” right? Instead, seal the deal with a sentence that displays confidence, competence, and a genuine interest in the company:

“I’d love to learn more about your production needs and how I can help!”

Boom. That’s it.

Learn valuable leadership skills on the job in Redmond

When you’re in college, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the unknowns of your future career. What if you never get a job? What if you get one and hate it? How are you going to build a career you love?

It’s all too easy to feel bewildered, running in circles trying to chase the perfect position. But at this stage in the game, a better approach is to think about the skills you want to gain. And what should be on your short list? Leadership skills.

Although there’s no one way to become a leader, entry-level job programs—structured programs for interns or new grads that help acclimate you to the working world—are designed to help you build the skills you’ll need to become the next Sheryl Sandberg or Elon Musk. And these fundamental leadership skills will help you no matter how your career unfolds!

Here are some awesome leadership qualities you can get through these types of programs, plus some real-life examples of young professionals who became leaders on the job.

1. Confidence

To build a thriving career, you need confidence—after all, believing in your own skills and abilities will help you take risks, tackle challenges, and put yourself out there for new opportunities. But that’s pretty hard to do when you’re starting your first job and you don’t even know where to make a cup of coffee.

Experts agree that the best way to build confidence is stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things, both of which are actively encouraged in most entry-level job programs.

 

2. A Willingness to Ask for Help

As counterintuitive as it seems, humility is just as essential for leaders as confidence. As a leader, you won’t know everything so it’s important to be approachable and open to new ideas and ways of doing things. But, because many cultures emphasize self-reliance, entry-level professionals often start their first jobs feeling like they should already know everything. Organizations create these job programs specifically to help new professionals learn the ropes, offering built-in support to make it easy to learn how to learn.

3. Clear Communication

When you think of the quintessential leader, you probably imagine them standing at a podium. The most impressive leaders stand out because of their ability to communicate clearly and professionally, especially in front of groups.

If the mere thought of this makes your palms sweat, know that the best entry-level job programs will give you regular opportunities to get comfortable relating to and inspiring other people. You’ll be immersed in nearly every form of communication, from drafting everyday emails to leading big presentations in front of your peers.

4. Relationship Building

You’ve heard the term “networking” countless times before—and for good reason. The ability to build relationships across teams and pay grades is essential to becoming a leader. That said, reaching out to pick someone’s brain over coffee can feel artificial and forced—especially when you’re the low person on the totem pole. When companies successfully incorporate interns into their company culture, they create the ideal environment for people to build organic relationships.

5. Problem-Solving Skills

Every career has challenges that require serious problem-solving skills. Successful leaders don’t buckle under the weight—they overturn conventional thinking and come up with solutions.

But learning how to solve problems in a corporate environment, rather than the classroom, doesn’t come naturally to most of us, which is why the best entry-level programs give participants a range of experience solving problems in multiple situations.

In short? By participating in an entry-level job program, you cultivate leadership qualities that will serve you through your entire career. And the sooner you get started building these must-have skills, the quicker you’ll stand out as a young leader ready to tackle the next challenge.

Writing Cover letters for Sales jobs in Seattle

Essential Tips for Writing an Effective Cover Letter

Crafting a cover letter that stands out can feel intimidating, but a few key strategies can make it both memorable and effective. Here are some practical tips to help you write a compelling cover letter that resonates with hiring managers.

1. Focus on the Employer’s Needs

Your cover letter shouldn’t just be about you—it should be about how you can benefit the company. Show that you understand the organization’s challenges and goals, and explain how your skills and experience make you a valuable asset to their team.

2. Write with Confidence

Imagine that the hiring manager already appreciates your potential. This mindset can help you write with confidence, showing enthusiasm without sounding desperate.

3. Adapt Your Tone to the Company Culture

Treat getting to know a company like getting to know a person. Is the company serious, quirky, or innovative? Tailor your tone to reflect the organization’s style. This can help your cover letter feel like a natural fit.

4. Imagine You’re Writing an Email

To ease any nerves, think of your cover letter as a friendly yet professional email to the hiring manager. This can help you keep your tone conversational and engaging.

5. Complement, Don’t Repeat, Your Resume

Your cover letter should add depth to your application, not just repeat what’s on your resume. Use it as an opportunity to highlight specific achievements or skills that are especially relevant to the role.

6. Avoid Overly Formal Language

Phrases like “To Whom It May Concern” can feel impersonal and outdated. Whenever possible, address your letter to a specific person. If you don’t know their name, use a warm, professional greeting like “Dear Hiring Team.”

7. Keep It Professional, Not “Salesy”

While it’s important to advocate for yourself, avoid a sales pitch tone that might come across as pompous or aggressive. Let your qualifications and enthusiasm speak for themselves without overstating your case.

8. Don’t Apologize for Gaps in Qualifications

If you’re missing a specific qualification, don’t draw attention to it by apologizing. Instead, focus on the relevant skills and experience you bring and how they align with the role’s core requirements.

9. Show Genuine Interest Without Overdoing It

While expressing enthusiasm is great, avoid over-the-top statements about how the company’s mission is your lifelong passion unless it’s genuinely true. Authenticity is more persuasive than forced excitement.