Although we’re halfway through 2024, the job market continues to rapidly evolve, making it essential for job seekers to keep their resumes up to date and relevant. A well-crafted resume can make the difference between landing your dream job or being overlooked. If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, now is the perfect time to revise it for the current job market. Let’s look at some practical tips and strategies to make your resume stand out.
Why is it important to update your resume?
The job market is more competitive than ever. According to one report, 75% of recruiters use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen resumes. This means that if your resume isn’t optimized for the ATS, it may not catch the attention of humans. Additionally, studies have found that 42% of recruiters spend less than 60 seconds reviewing a resume. First impressions matter and your resume needs to make an immediate impact.
Start with a strong summary
Your resume summary is like your personal introduction. It should be a concise sentence that highlights your skills, experience, and career goals. This section should be tailored to the specific job you’re applying for.
example: “Dynamic marketing professional with 10+ years of experience in digital marketing, social media strategy and content creation. Proven success in building brand awareness and driving online engagement. Hoping to apply my expertise in a challenging role at XYZ Company.”
Highlight relevant skills
In 2024, the skills you have on your resume will be more important than ever. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2025, 50% of all employees will require reskilling as technology adoption increases. Highlight both hard and soft skills that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Hard Skills:
- Data analysis
- SEO/SEM
- project management
Soft skills:
- communication
- leadership
- problem solving
Quantify your success
Recruiters love numbers. Quantifying your achievements goes a long way. Instead of saying “managed a team,” say “managed a team of 10 people and increased sales by 20% in a year.” This will clearly demonstrate your contribution and impact.
example: “We developed a social media campaign that improved brand engagement by 35% and increased website traffic by 25% in a six-month period.”
Customize your resume for each job application
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all resumes. Tailoring your resume to each job application will increase your chances of getting noticed. Use the job description as your guide and highlight your most relevant skills and experience.
Tips: Use keywords from the job description to help your resume get through the ATS. For example, if the job description says “project management,” make sure you include that term in your resume.
Update your design
A modern, clean design will make your resume stand out. Use professional fonts, ample white space, and bullet points to make it easy to read. If design isn’t your forte, consider using a resume template. According to one study, recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds on their first review of a resume. A clean, uncluttered design saves you seconds.
Pro Tip: To make your resume visually appealing and highlight important sections, use a two-column layout.
Include relevant keywords
With the rise of ATS, including relevant keywords has become crucial. Research industry-specific keywords and incorporate them naturally into your resume. This will increase the chances of your resume making it past the initial screening process.
example: If you’re applying for a digital marketing role, include keywords like “SEO,” “content marketing,” “Google Analytics,” and “PPC campaigns.”
Focus on continuous learning
In today’s fast-changing job market, continuous learning is highly valued. According to LinkedIn’s Workplace Learning Report, 94% of employees say they would stay with a company longer if it invested in their career development. Highlight any courses, certifications, or training programs you’ve recently completed.
example: “I completed my Data Analytics certification through Coursera in 2023.”
Add a professional profile photo
While not required, including a professional profile photo can add a personal touch to your resume. Make sure it’s a high-quality, professional photo that reflects your personality.
Tips: For consistency, make sure your LinkedIn profile picture matches the photo on your resume.
Proofreading and editing
Nothing will make you look more professional than a resume full of typos and grammatical errors, so take the time to proofread and edit your resume. Consider asking a friend or using a tool like Grammarly to catch mistakes.
Keep it simple
Although it’s important to include all relevant information, keep your resume concise: aim for 1-2 pages depending on your experience level. Research shows that 77% of employers prefer a one-page resume for entry-level positions, while 50% prefer a two-page resume for experienced applicants.
Incorporate a verb
Using strong action verbs makes your resume more dynamic and engaging. Words like “led,” “implemented,” “designed,” and “optimized” can help you communicate your contributions more effectively.
example: “We implemented a new CRM system and our customer satisfaction has increased by 30%.”
Final thoughts
Revamping an old resume for the job market is more than just updating dates and titles. It’s about strategically presenting your skills, experience, and accomplishments in a way that’s in line with current industry trends and recruiter expectations. Following these tips will help you create a resume that not only gets through the ATS, but also makes a lasting impression on recruiters.
Remember that your resume is a living document, so by updating it regularly you will always be ready for new opportunities.
Good luck with your job search!
