Spring Cleaning Your Resume

We are a little late this year in sharing these recommendations…in fact, Amy and I just completed our outdoor spring cleaning about two weeks ago! 

Bottom line: the tips and tools described below are simply timeless!

Please review all of these best practices; please share this blog with others that may be active (or considering) a career change or job search.

#1 - Rename your file – Make sure the title of your resume is your first and last name plus “Resume” so employers (and you) can easily find it in their files, their Applicant Tracking System (ATS), or proprietary database.

#2 - Professional email address – Contact information is a crucial data point on your resume. Make sure your email address uses your actual name. Make it simple and easy to read to avoid confusion. Other contact information should include your phone number plus your city, state, and zip code. Street address is too much information and only takes up more space. 

#3 - Grammar – Since your resume is covering your past experience, it only makes sense to put it in past tense. Make sure your verbs end with -ed – this is the standard protocol for all resumes. Be sure to use tools such as Grammarly…if not a professional writer!

#4 - Powerful wording (active word choices) – Revising your resume is the perfect time to utilize a thesaurus. Using more advanced vocabulary is a sign of intentionality and purpose – don’t sell yourself short by using simple words to describe your professional experience.

#5 - Irrelevant experience – As time goes on, it’s only natural for some of your professional experience to become less relevant as you progress in your career. Save your interviewer some time by keeping only the information that truly matters when it comes to your job applications. Good rule of thumb is to list at least two accomplishments per job shown; most recent roles should have three or four specific accomplishments. 

#6 - Remove abbreviations or acronyms – It’s important to remember that not everyone has been where you’ve been. Abbreviations might make sense to you, but to the employer reviewing your resume, it could like hieroglyphics. 

#7 - Limit to two pages – Spacing can make a huge impact on the layout and first impression of your resume. Too much white space is never a good thing; it may appear unprofessional or lacking sufficient detaill. Only put a single space in between sections; it helps tremendously in terms of getting rid of white space and adding to the overall look.

We want to wish you all the best in the next chapter of your career journey. Feel free to learn more about our firm and how we might serve you in the future. Our website: www.plumleeassociates.com

Martin Plumlee, MBA, CPC distinguishes himself professionally as a subject matter expert in Talent Acquisition & Talent Retention strategies based on over 17 years of partnering with mid-size and Fortune 1000 companies. In 2012, he founded Plumlee & Associates LLC. The firm begins its’ 10th year of successful operation in June 2021. Plumlee & Associates has two practice areas:

·      Talent Acquisition: Executive Search, Interim Talent Solutions, Research and Souring Services

·      Military Career Services: Permanent Placement and Client Leadership Development Programs

Functionally, the firm specializes in HR, Finance, Accounting, Sales, and Marketing roles. In terms of industry expertise, financial services, public accounting, and supply chain form the nucleus of the firm’s client portfolio.