Designing A Successful Resume: Build It, Send It, Land It (The Job!)
The first thing you’ll hear as a Contemporaries job seeker, when posing the question, “How do I get a job?” is start by sending your resume.
This is the initial step. Then, as some of you reading this may know, we check with our team on jobs we are tasked with filling and determine whether your knowledge, experience, education, and skill sets match any of our open positions. If you are compatible, the potential placement process begins. It goes without saying that a resume is fundamental, not always easy to prepare, but still an important job tool which should be taken seriously.
There are several reasons why some resumes help candidates land interviews and others don’t. Here are some ways to build a good resume and help us help you get your foot through the door:
• Longevity. We like to see consistency. Were you at a job for a while? That’s great. This shows commitment, reliability, and growth. Of course, when you’re just starting out, or in college, employment timelines can be in shorter spurts, but keep this in mind when constructing your resume. You can also include any volunteer work or internships especially if your resume is light on work experience.
• Use choice keywords. Try to avoid buzzwords (trendy, slang, etc.) or vague language and instead, choose words that are included in the job description. Choose words that get to the heart of what task/role you performed and summarize succinctly, i.e.: coding, strategic oversight, client outreach, Kronos, schedule management, risk analysis, budgeting, etc.
• Formatting should be well organized for easy reading and delivery.
• Cut the clutter. This one is self-explanatory.
• Include “skill-sets” (and accomplishments and achievements), but make sure they’re applicable, current, and not extraneous. Don’t be afraid to “brag” a bit but be choosy. While it indeed may be great that you were an Honor Roll Student or received an award in community service, it may be more beneficial to include that you are fluent in social media programs, HTML, or Microsoft Office Suite.
• Be Explicit, not generic. If you are going for a job in marketing, instead of saying, “Marketing Professional” try “Market Research Lead or Director.” Fine-tune and pinpoint the specific roles of your last job. It shows you know your industry, too.
• Clean it up and follow industry standards. Use active language, pick a single professional font (Calibri, Times New Roman, Arial, etc; 10-12 pt. font), spellcheck, use standard margins, and keep it to one page. These tips should get you started.
While resumes are undoubtedly important, they are only one part of the process. We don’t want you to stress too much, but by following these simple guidelines you’ll be closer to making your way to the next career door. Content, style, and substance all matter. Make it easy to digest, be confident, proofread and edit, review other successful resumes (you can find examples on the Internet!) and press Send. We believe in you and will be waiting to meet you via your resume.
This posting is brought to you by Contemporaries Inc., one of the best temp agencies in Boston MA. Also available for payrolling employees in Boston and Greater Boston
Recent Posts
Feel Good Friday: Day by Day
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the work week--again! Taking things day to day, week to week, is a helpful way to take the overwhelming task of living in these unprecedented times and break that experience down into smaller, more manageable chunks, much...
Staying Mentally Present at Work Each and Every Day
Given our focus this week on taking things day to day, our suggestions today offer up ways to help you stay mentally present in your workplace, one day at a time. We know that it can be easy to lose focus. Take a moment to acknowledge that. The world offers up plenty...
Monday Mood Booster: Day by Day
Welcome back! As our unprecedented times continue, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the circumstances we’re currently facing. Which is why it’s best to do what we advise doing in your workplace: break obstacles down into smaller pieces. Writing...
Feel Good Friday: Hope
Happy Friday! Today is a great day to find something to celebrate, even something small. Spring is truly here. You can always find inspiration in the changing of seasons, especially now as the sun shines longer and longer each day. Know that it’s okay to find joy...
Navigating New Paths In Your Professional Environment
Part of having hope is being willing to lean into the unknown, knowing you’ll come out the other side. We know you can do it, too! While living in unprecedented circumstances may mean navigating uncharted territories, don’t lose hope. We know that you have the ability...
Wednesday Wellness: Hope
Happy Hump Day! You’ve made it to the middle of the week and you can make it through the rest of what your work week has in store--and anything the world throws your way, in your workplace and beyond. Just as spring provides a chance for new growth after the cold and...
How To Keep Having Hope In Your Workplace
Given our theme this week, today we’ll be examining thoughts from the pros on the value of having hope, both in and out of the workplace. These experts provide methods for moving through your fears, skills you can develop more fully now and bring with you into any...
Monday Mood Booster: Hope
Welcome back! Spring is in the air. Birds are chirping, fresh breezes are blowing, and sunset grows later and later. While there are a lot of changes happening around all of us, it’s important to take time to enjoy these familiar comforts, to find hope amongst the...
Feel Good Friday: Endurance
Happy Friday! You’ve made it to the end of your work week and have just a little bit further to go before you can rest up and recharge over the weekend. Remember that resting is just as important to persevering as engaging in measured action itself. Make sure to also...
Wednesday Wellness: Endurance
You’ve been working hard, whether remotely or on-site (or in seeking new opportunities), throughout the past year as we’ve navigated these unprecedented times. As the time has passed, continuing onwards through more uncertainty might feel overwhelming, but you have...
How To Persevere In Any Work Environment
Today we’re continuing our theme of maintaining your sense of endurance within any professional environment, on-site or remote. As we continue navigating the year mark of our unprecedented times, we know that you might be feeling blue. But you have the strength to...
Monday Mood Booster: Endurance
Welcome back! With the need to adjust to daylight savings time happening alongside tackling a year of unprecedented circumstances, right now it may feel like you’re running a marathon. Remember that life is always a marathon rather than a sprint, and that just as...
Feel Good Friday: Communication
You’ve made it to the end of the week! As work draws to a close, be sure to continue thinking about how your clear communication can serve as a source of inspiration and resilience. Know that it’s okay to not be a perfect speaker right off the bat; it’s a skill to be...
Say What You Mean To Say
Now that you’ve learned to listen, you’re ready to speak! The key to working collaboratively is making sure everyone is on the same page. Our focus today is on ways to ensure you’re getting your message across in a variety of workplace environments.Taking a nuanced,...