By Sam Ast, Re-Entry Workforce Development Specialist, Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas
Many components are necessary to effectively secure employment and earn a stable income. In addition to strong interviewing skills and the possession of job-related competencies, another critical aspect of the process involves drafting a quality résumé. This can be a cumbersome task. However, if you are interested in learning about successful formatting techniques, determining what content to include or how to incorporate elements that can help draw positive attention to you and your experience in creative ways, continue reading.
Why Are Résumés Important?
A quality résumé is an essential element to securing paid work opportunities. There have been many changes in hiring practices, advances in technology and an increasing diversity in job offerings. Because of this, there is greater importance attached to clearly and purposefully detailing your professional experience, accomplishments, education and relevant skills. That said, there are a few things to keep in mind while drafting a résumé.
Creating a Strong Résumé
Firstly, try to avoid using too much jargon that people outside your field of expertise would not understand. You may be working with people familiar with the jargon, but an HR professional or recruiter might not know the details of the specific field. Concise and clear language is always better in this context. There are often multiple ways to say what you intend to say, so spend some time researching synonyms for words and developing alternative phrases where needed. During this process, it can also be beneficial to use keywords that will stand out or that are included in the job description. For instance, if you are applying for a mechanic role at an auto shop you could consider using words and phrases like “proficient at diagnosing automotive problems” or highlighting competency with certain tools or car parts.
Secondly, make sure to clearly outline your skills and experience. For relevant work experience, start with your current or most recent job at the top and list others in descending fashion. While this is not set in stone, for this portion of the résumé try listing only three to four jobs so that your resume does not get too long or convoluted.
Additionally, it is smart to include any education, accomplishments, certifications and achievements. This is a spot where bragging is encouraged. Make sure others know about the training you took, the degree you obtained or the award you won. Some individuals decide to include hobbies, as well. If you do this, make sure they are professional and relevant. For example, it may not be a good idea to connect your love of art to your passion for illegal graffiti. Instead, try mentioning your visits to local museums or other art shows and exhibits.
Next, make sure your résumé includes your name and a professional email. Do not use an email address that includes profanity or inappropriate content. Generally, your résumé should be one page and have consistent formatting throughout. This includes font and size as well as paragraph spacing and overall organization.
Lastly, keep your résumé updated. This is a living, breathing document that will need to be edited on a regular basis. Some people find it helpful to have multiple résumés related to different occupations that are sought.
Stop By Goodwill® for Résumé Support
Goodwill personnel are experts at helping individuals craft résumés and find employment. With hundreds of career centers providing essential resources and personalized support, Goodwill can help people overcome challenges and find meaningful work. Our career navigators are committed to helping you make your dreams come true by offering career guidance, résumé assistance, skills certification, application help, interview prep and ongoing support, including financial assistance that can help to enable you in your journey to find work.
Remember, you are not alone on this journey. If you need assistance with career readiness, developing marketable job skills or overall counseling regarding any of your employment needs or questions, we are here for you! Please stop by a Goodwill career center to learn more about how Goodwill can help you.
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