How can you identify industry expectations for resumes?

The job description is a treasure trove of information and will help you figure out what is needed and what you need to know about the position and industry. If you aren't familiar with the industry, become familiar with it. The employer wants to know that you know what it's about. If you are trying to break into that industry, do all the research you can to become very familiar with it. The more prepared you are, the more knowledgeable you'll sound in the interview.

Job postings are a goldmine of information! Analyzing content and tone is a great way to gain insights into overall industry expectations, but also to uncover individual variations between companies—for example, a startup isn’t likely looking for the same qualities as a larger, more established organization.

I echo what others have said about mining job postings for intel. My advice, though, is to scroll toward the bottom third. This is where companies tend to list their "must-have" requirements. Some even go the extra mile to list them as "Required" and "Preferred."

Former senior executive recruiter's perspective: 1) Many job descriptions are just pulled from the archives with no updating. 2) Some job descriptions are written based upon intense conversations with the hiring team. I've written hundreds of job descriptions and the "sweet spot" is the words following "responsible for", not as most people think "qualifications". When I work with my clients, the FIRST thing I do is ask them to pull 8 to 10 job descriptions and we walk through them as I identify which postings fall into 1 or 2. But, whatever category "responsible for and then "hard" qualfications, e.g, CPA.

One key thing to remember here is how creative will your job be? When applying online for most jobs I recommend a simple layout for a result, however, send direct and you can be more interesting. For example if you're wanting to be a graphic designer you need to showcase some of that creativity in a CV ideally, plus link to a portfolio of work. Marketing roles could also arguably be an area where you might want to do something more interesting to show your skills, IF it suits your style. Remember that CV sent on a cake? Most certainly match the culture of the company as well. If they are young and relaxed then make sure you use that style of language on the resume.

????'?? ???????????? ?? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???? ????-???? ?????? ???????????????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ????????. I'd suggest opening up an Excel doc and tracking the following: 1) Requirements met consistently, 2) Requirements met some of the time, 3) Requirements not meet. This may lead to a slight pivot if there is experience, education or certifications that are needed. Candidates may have to take on a lesser job while working towards the qualifications that will ultimately land them their targeted role.

Former 25 year recruiter here: The industry standard is simple. Can the recruiter quickly identify your specific qualifications for this role. Keep the format clean (no infographics, no colors..all that stuff is useless.) The best test is to have someone who is not in your field or function read your resume and then tell you who you are and specifically what makes you qualified. And, I emphasize specific. Vague terms, adjectives aren't qualifications.

LinkedIn is an amazing resource that can provide some valuable insight. Check with connections you have in your network that are already in your desired industry. Send them a message and see what resume tips they have. In fact ask to see their resume for great insight and information. Pay attention to not only the content and experience, but how they wrote it. Their resume will speak to the industry in a unique way, that would be wise to mirror.

There are definitely some niche resume requirements to consider. For example, roles in Academia and Science often require a formal CV with an extensive list of your experience, publications, credentials, and more. Government is yet another example. There is a very specific format when applying for a government role. If you miss anything, you risk being rejected altogether, regardless of your qualifications.

When you reach out to people in the industry, you're starting to build and expand your network. This works well for you because, not only are you gathering information and insights about the position and the industry, but you're also making inroads with people inside the industry. This can lead to them becoming champions and advocates of you and your work. "I met John last week. He's keen to learn about the industry. I think he'd be a great fit at company ABC."

From day one of your career, you should acknowledge this: Your agenda is not the world's priority. If you will be asking for people for help with reviewing your current resume and all future ones (and there will be future ones!), develop a network of recruiters in your field who evaluated thousands of resumes per year. The best ways to start: 1) Comment on their hiring posts on Linkedin. 2) Contact them and offer to be a "source" on their searches, e.g., say you'll be happy to contact anyone you know who might be a fight. 3) Join the Linkedin groups which have recruiters in your field. This way, when you need an opinion you have the opinion of those who have to advocate for you to a hiring manager.

It's definitely good to get feedback from people in the field. However, just remember people in your field are not recruiters. Find a balance between industry expertise and recruiter/professional resume writer advice.

This practice is also known as "informational interviews". They are informal conversations with people working at the companies and in the fields in which you want to work, or people who are within a few degrees of separation from them. It's not a job interview and these people do not hold the reins on any particular jobs. Actually asking for a job is never part of the conversation. Your mission is to gather information for your due diligence and to determine whether that company, the role(s) and you will be a mutual good fit.

Reach out to professionals who work in the field you are interested in and ask them about their experiences, the skills they value, and what they LOOK for in a resume. Their insights can provide valuable guidance for tailoring your resume effectively.

Former 25 year recruiter here: 1) A successful approach is to always have one working "core" resume. 2) You can create a "core" resume on Linkedin using the "more" button and hitting resume. 3) So, you needn't create a resume from scratch if your Linkedin profile is complete (and a complete Linkedin profile is about 1 hour of time.) 4) Keep a running list of your accomplishments, in the following categories: created, managed, executed. When you learn of a role, take your Linkedin resume, and your list, and select those accomplishments which accentuate your qualifications. From that use a template you can find on any number of resume websites, but chose the traditional or classic one. Fancy formats make recruiters' eyes bleed!

This is true to some degree. However, the resume alone will rarely get you the role. It is imperative that your LinkedIn profile is optimized and that you are networking heavily. Afterall, according to Hubspot and CNBC 70-85% of jobs are never posted online. It's all about who you know and connections.

Former senior level recruiter here: Create a target list of your ideal companies using Bard (or another AI), go to the career's page and apply if you are qualified. Network into the recruiters by supporting their activity as outlined previously. Apply through the site, not Linkedin, which is not the quickest way to get into the candidate pool. Work your network, but bear in mind if you focus on networking only you are ignoring the fact that the world has changed since company's hire someone's Daddy's nephew!

I agree that researching job postings across multiple platforms and analyzing industry trends is a great way to find keywords, skills and expectations for positions. It is also important to research a targeted company and look for ways to demonstrate alignment with values, culture and mission. A targeted, customized resume, not only for the job but for the organization as well, demonstrates interest, commitment and effort.

LinkedIn can be a goldmine of information. Look at profiles of individuals who have jobs similar to the one you're targeting. Observe the language they use to describe their skills and experiences, the certifications they highlight, and the accomplishments they showcase. This can give you a sense of the industry's preferences and help you align your resume accordingly.

While you utilize multiple resources to identify industry expectations for your resume, you should also be prepared for feedback that will challenge your assumptions and "set you in motion." Every feedback you get is an opportunity for growth, and a quick tip to fully utilize this is to categorize it in the SWOT framework. Note your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Work on how to make those threats become opportunities and how to transform the weaknesses into strengths. That way, you are fully aligned with industry-specific expectations for your resume.