How do you write a resume that stands out in the AI era?

In my experience, most hiring managers/recruiters prefer the reverse chronological format because of its easy-to-follow style. The reverse chronological starts with your most recent role and then goes back to your earlier ones. Just be careful not to go too far back as it may age you. Ten to fifteen years is perfect (you can summarize the earlier info with an Early Career Summary).

I suggest a Skills and Accomplishments based resume. Lead with the skills and accomplishments necessary to do the job, and follow with a reverse chronological listing of your experience for the last 10-15 years. Highlighting skills and accomplishments at the top of the resume immediately draws the reader's eye, and highlights what you can do for THIS job. Following with your experience, and including the relevant bullets under each job, demonstrates what you have done elsewhere, and provides the back-up and the history. Leading with the relevant skills and experience demonstrates your fit for the role for which you are applying.

Keywords are so important on a resume. When a company has an opening for a role they may get hundreds or even thousands of applicants. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are a must for them. ATS looks for the keywords the position requires. Not sure where to find those keywords or keyword phrases? Check out the job description. It's a treasure trove of keywords. Does your resume have those keywords on it? If not, look for the ones you see listed over and over and make sure (if you did these things) those keywords are on there.

Keywords are vital on a resume, both for the human eye as well as for the ATS. Just remember that future employers don't care about everything you have ever done -- just what you can do for them! Make sure that the skills/keywords you are adding fit the job.

Want to grab the reader's attention? Use numbers or percentages wherever possible. In a sea of words on paper, numbers and percentages jump out. Instead of, "Drove sales and grew territory.." consider something like, "Transformed the company’s legacy direct sales approach into a robust, partner-first model. Grew pipeline 75% in Y1 and 252% in Y2, with Y3 forecasted at 347%, resulting in..." See the difference? Quantifying your accomplishments draws the reader in and gets them interested in you.

What are some of the most in-demand skills right now? It's not what you think! The pandemic made companies value stress management and emotional intelligence (EI) as some of the most sought-after skills. While AI and technology can do much of the heavy lifting, they are lacking some common things that are needed today in just about any profession. Things like: human emotion, reasoning, problem-solving, empathy, relationship development, teamwork, and patience. Companies are seeking employees who put equal emphasis on their emotional intelligence and soft skills. If you do these in your daily work life, add them.

Editing is a crucial part of crafting a resume, and it often involves refinement and multiple drafts to achieve the best results. Here are some tips to guide you through the editing process: Tip #1: Start with Your First Draft Don't aim for perfection right away; focus on getting your ideas down. Editing is easier than writing, so begin by capturing all relevant information and refine it later. Tip #2: Allow Time and Space While resumes often have deadlines, try to schedule time for editing. Taking breaks, even just a few hours, and returning with fresh eyes can significantly improve clarity and effectiveness.

You've probably heard it one hundred times but it has to be said that you can have the best resume or LinkedIn profile but if it's littered with typos and errors it will quickly end up in the "no" pile. Have a colleague or friend proof the documents you'll be sending out-- and if you are sending out several versions, have them review those as well. It's very possible to miss something that you've been staring at for days. Have a second (or third!) set of eyes read it before you hit send.