6 Résumé Writing Tips

Crafting an impeccable résumé is crucial to standing out amongst other job seekers. It can make or break an employer’s first impression of you. Before creating or updating your résumé, check out these 6 tips!

  1. Make it skimmable. Keep in mind that hiring managers don’t dedicate a significant amount of time to reviewing résumés and will appreciate a résumé that’s easy to read. Consider using bullet points under each job title. Paragraphs often cause important duties to get lost in the middle and looked over. Likewise, be concise when listing specific duties and avoid using fluff words.  
  2. Tailor it to fit the position. Résumés should be altered to best meet the needs of the specific position you are applying for. For instance, if you have a background in sales and are applying to an administrative position, highlight your transferable skills/duties in each job.
  3. List your experience section first. The top portion of your résumé is what hiring managers see first, and they are typically more concerned with your experience than your degree(s).
  4. Use reverse chronological order. Always list your jobs and experiences in order of most recent to oldest position. Though it can be tempting when tailoring your résumé for the position, avoid switching to a skill-based order. The good ole reverse chronological is still the best way to go.
  5. Keep it recent and relevant. Stick to listing positions from the last 10-15 years. There’s no need to list jobs far beyond that unless one specifically meets the needs of the job you are applying to.  If you have extra space on your résumé, consider including more details about your current role rather than listing your first summer internship.
  6. Don’t dismiss details.  Always include dates and job locations. With your dates, be sure to include both the month and year so those reviewing your resume’ know how long you actually worked in those jobs. Also, changes in job locations can explain an otherwise short period of time spent in a job. Though these details can seem nonessential, where and how long you held a specific job can be an important factor to recruiters and hiring managers.

By applying these simple, but effective résumé writing tips, your résumé is sure to catch the attention of the hiring manager.

ITAC Solutions is a recruiting firm headquartered in Birmingham with additional offices in Atlanta, Huntsville, Mobile and Nashville.  ITAC specializes in the temporary, contract and direct placement of accounting, information technology, corporate and administrative professionals.