Sara Curto
  • Work With Me
    • Private Coaching >
      • 1:1 Career Coaching
      • Executive & Leadership Coaching
      • Career Transition & Outplacement Coaching
    • Resume Writing >
      • Resume Writing for Leaders
      • Resume Writing for Professionals
    • Group Coaching: Career You Love Academy
    • Courses >
      • Resumes that Get Interviews Digital Course
      • Master the Interview Digital Course
  • Meet Sara
    • Blog
    • Let's Connect
  • FREEBIES
    • FREE RESUME TEMPLATES
    • How to Answer Tough Interview Questions
  • MEMBERS ONLY

Written Words

Modern day resume rules

8/15/2017

3 Comments

 
Are you still clinging to the old fashioned resume rules? Read on as I rewrite the olden days rules to fit this modern world of job hunting!

I remember when I first learned to write a resume there were a few "rules" I was taught that I must adhere to in order to secure that interview - but I can tell you after screening tens of thousands of resumes over the past 15 years that many of those "rules" are completely false.  And the worst thing is that I still see them recommended all the time now.  I want to use the experience I’ve gained plus the knowledge gained from industry professionals to reframe these old fashioned rules to fit into our modern day.
Picture

1. Resume Length

The standard for so long now is 1-2 pages, but that standard was created back in the day when a recruiter or hiring manager had to go through paper resumes.  But now?  Most resumes are only looked at online so scrolling through the pages is nothing.  That's not to say you should submit a 10 page resume if you are a new grad!  But it does give you a little more flexibility.  I think of it in terms of level of career.  If you are new to your career then stick to that 1-2 pages, if you are experienced you can go up to 2-3 pages, and if you are an executive or seasoned professional than 3-5 pages is completely acceptable and in fact would be preferred. 
 
The key here is to make sure the resume gives a good picture of who you are and how you match the job requirements -  you don’t want it to be too short (or too long) where that message is lost.
 
2. Need a strong "Objective" statement

Now I'm not opposed to the objective statement, but 80% of hiring managers or recruiters do no read the objective or professional statement, me included. When I’m advising clients I advise them to include a shot succinct and tailored objective statement giving an overview of who they are as a professional. What I like about the objective is it gives the resume writer a focus to grow upon.  To be honest thought, the main reason I like it?  It isn't for the content but more for the layout and look of the resume!  
 
The key here is to include one that makes sense for who you are and what job you are applying to but don’t spend more than a minute or two on it!

3. Resume must be black and white.

This is another rule from the old fashioned job search era.  But now, a little bit of colour goes a long way in getting your resume noticed, especially if the role is creative or there is anything in the posting about looking for innovative, thinking outside of the box, or creative problem solving.  There are a couple of ways I've seen color used right - in the formatting (blue lines, coloured headers) or in the content (name, position titles, company titles in colour).  
 
The key is to use the colour sparingly and in an intentional way to ensure it, and therefore you, will really pop!

4. Two Resume Types - Reverse Chronological or Skills Based/Functional

There is only one choice - the reverse chronological.  I have a strong dislike for the Skills Based/Functional and toss it aside when one comes across my desk - a sentiment shared by many hiring managers and recruiters.  We typically spend 10 seconds for an initial review of a resume looking at the following:
  • Name
  • Education
  • Current/Last job title, company and dates of employment
  • Previous job title, company and dates of employment











If you don't attract a hiring manager or recruiter with that information then you will not get an interview.  With a skills based/functional resume, where is that information?  It is hidden and too difficult to find.  And even if it is easy to find and you pass that first 10 seconds, in my next 30 second pass through I want to know at which job you used those skills.  How do I know that those skills were used in the past year, 5 years or 25 years?  Or only in an educational setting?

The key here is simple, use the reverse chronological resume format!  If you have gaps of employment, don’t worry.  If you work experience doesn’t contain your relevant experience, there are other ways around that (posts for another day!) 

5. Your Resume gets you the Interview

​Yes, in some cases you resume alone does get you the interview.  But in this modern age of job hunting chances are there are some other factors at play.  A lot of hiring managers and recruiters check out your social media accounts.  So please check your Facebook - what is the privacy, do you have a "professional" profile pic and cover photo (make sure they are appropriate, something you be comfortable with your grandmother seeing!), same with your Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat feeds.  If you have a lot of inappropriate posts then make your feeds private.  Also update that LinkedIn!  Include a really nice photograph of yourself, just yourself, no one else.  Most importantly, make sure it lines up with your resume!  I have gotten a resume that fit exactly what I was looking for then went to their LinkedIn only to find a completely different story, that raised a major red flag and I questioned their honesty.  Needless to say those people do not get the interview.

Don't forget the leg work you did before applying, search LinkedIn to see who you may think the hiring manager is and if they are in your network maybe have someone introduce you to them.  If this is a targeted company you have been interested in then I hope you have already made some contacts with the hiring managers so reach back out with a separate email to your application with your resume reminding them on your initial conversation.  In these cases it is your networking that gets you the job interview!  

The key here is to take your job search seriously.  When clients and I work together to develop their job search strategy, I make sure to include the social media updates and the many different forms of networking.  I encourage you to do the same, that leg work goes a long way in securing you those coveted interviews!

​Like my Facebook Page to get alerts on any new articles and daily inspiration!

3 Comments
Jen Pavich link
9/7/2017 11:16:16 am

Totally agree that the objective statement needs to be succinct and tailored! This is your chance to sell yourself and make the person want to read your resume!

Reply
Susannah Elizabeth link
9/9/2017 04:37:50 am

At a time when I am working on my resume and really hating the 'old rules' I thought I had to stick to: This is insanely useful. Thanks so much. Great article to be book marked forever!

Reply
Laura
6/8/2018 10:09:41 am

I go years without using LinkedIn, should I just delete my profile if it's not up to date. I don't see why you would think someone was lying? Not everyone values social media the same way

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Sara Curto helps people find a career they love by teaching them a new way to job search.  

    The Secrets to finding a job you love

    Picture
    Click HERE to watch 

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017

    Categories

    All
    Career Change
    Career Development
    Coaching
    Confidence
    Create Connections
    Find Your Way
    Get Noticed
    Goal Setting
    Interviewing
    Interview Questions
    Interview Tips
    Introspection
    Introvert
    Job Search
    LinkedIn
    Marketing Plan
    MBTI
    Motivation
    Networking
    Q&A
    Resume
    Sara's Story
    Social Media
    Success Series
    TED Talks

    RSS Feed

sara curto, career management specialist


  • Work With Me
    • Private Coaching >
      • 1:1 Career Coaching
      • Executive & Leadership Coaching
      • Career Transition & Outplacement Coaching
    • Resume Writing >
      • Resume Writing for Leaders
      • Resume Writing for Professionals
    • Group Coaching: Career You Love Academy
    • Courses >
      • Resumes that Get Interviews Digital Course
      • Master the Interview Digital Course
  • Meet Sara
    • Blog
    • Let's Connect
  • FREEBIES
    • FREE RESUME TEMPLATES
    • How to Answer Tough Interview Questions
  • MEMBERS ONLY