Category: Optimize Your Resume

While researching resume length recently, I wondered when today’s resume standards were established and how resume advice has changed over the years. I uncovered something surprising: An article from a 1955 issue of Kiplinger’s Changing Times that, a handful of statements aside, seems every bit as modern as something that might appear on a career […]

Resume length advice hasn’t changed much over the past 60 years. A September 1955 issue of Kiplinger’s Changing Times advised job seekers to: Keep it short. One page is best. Two are okay; anything longer is likely too much for a prospective employer to plow through. But get everything important in. A skimpy outline that […]

Resumes can be scary to create, but just as horrifying to read. Recruiters and hiring managers are subjected to comic sans, puke green font, typos, inappropriate headshots, and other terrors! Before you submit your resume, really contemplate how you’re presenting yourself. Go a step further and get a second opinion from a friend or upload […]

Many websites offer advice on how to improve your resume via fancy fixes and attention-getting flourishes, but it’s the simplest details that make critical differences. Your resume’s path to the “yes” pile lies in your ability to master the fundamentals. Take a step back and ask yourself what is really necessary. Still getting your resume […]

The US federal government employs over 2 million people, not even counting military service branches. Federal jobs are highly contested thanks to great benefits, role longevity, and social importance. While USAJobs, the prime job board for federal jobs, is a great place to find opportunities, applying for federal jobs and writing a federal resume can […]

Whether you’re selecting a resume template or formatting your own, the way you structure your past work experience could make or break your your job search. So we asked 7 experts — job search strategists, resume writers, and recruiters — to weigh in on the best resume formats, worst formatting advice, and a few novel ways to […]

There are a number of considerations to weigh before deciding on a resume format and template, like your field or industry, depth of work experience, and skill set. Today, job seekers also need their resume to be compatible with applicant tracking systems (ATS). An ATS resume template can be the difference between getting noticed and slipping […]

Using the same resume to spam open jobs is a great way to rack up rejections. A better approach is to craft a targeted resume based on the specific skills requested in the job description. Unfortunately, the targeted resume approach relies on a job description that provides actual guidance through a comprehensive list of skills […]

The work experience resume section can make or break your job application. It’s where recruiter’s eyes spend the most time, meaning every detail about how you describe past experiences is critical– right down to the formatting. Here are 6 things you need to know about writing your resume experience. Resume work experience order Regardless of […]

Many job seekers put their resume writing energy into creating the bulk of their resume: the experience and skill sections. As a result, the education section becomes a bit of an afterthought. But with applicant tracking systems parsing resumes and analyzing for job description requirements, more attention (and better formatting) should be paid. We’re here […]

How to write a military-to-civilian resume Get started by creating a master military resume Consult your VMET and fitness evaluations for ideas and resume content Translate your military titles and skills for civilian readers Focus on experience that is relevant to the job for which you’re applying Top-load your resume with targeted keywords and accomplishments […]

Whether you’re trying to catch a recruiter’s eye or rise to the top of an applicant tracking system‘s rankings, seeding your resume with relevant resume keywords should be a top priority. One simple way to do this is through a resume skills section. A designated skills list is an optional resume section and not part of a […]

Before focusing my business solely on soft skills solutions for companies and organizations, I offered resume writing services and worked with hundreds of individual job seekers. I created a soft skills resume section for my clients who received excellent feedback from employers and began landing interviews and job offers. Of course, I recommend revising your […]