Talent Tabloid - June 2023

The Recipe for a Perfect Resume

7 Key Ingredients to Look For

In today's rapidly changing business environment, finding top talent can be a challenging task. Paired with the competitive job market, it can be challenging for candidates to stand out from the crowd. The hiring process can be time-consuming and costly, and selecting the right candidate for a position is critical to the success of your organization. With the unemployment rate being at 3.4% there is an influx of resumes pouring into job boards. Hiring managers and job seekers alike face the challenges of seeking out the perfect resume, and what it takes for it to land on the right desk. A resume is often the first opportunity to make a great impression on potential employers. At ParkerBeth Search Partners, we have seen countless resumes and have identified several key components that build a stellar resume, and what increase the chances of it being seen by decision-makers.

1. Clear and Concise Formatting: Executives and decision-makers are busy people, and they do not have time to sift through long and convoluted resumes. A clear, concise, and well-organized resume is more likely to catch their attention. A well-formatted resume that is easy to read will help the executive quickly assess a candidate's qualifications, experience, and suitability for the position. Personal touches can add some flair to an otherwise simple format. For example, a small professional headshot with the applicant’s name and contact information, or using an eye-catching color for headings can make a resume more memorable.
2. Relevant Work Experience: Highlighting a candidate's work experience that is most relevant to the position they are applying for is critical. An excellent resume should showcase a candidate's accomplishments and responsibilities in previous roles to help the hiring manager understand how they will fit into the organization. Candidates should highlight their experience in similar industries and the same or similar job functions. If a candidate has experience in multiple fields, a tailored resume that highlights the most relevant experience for each job application is best practice. Details should be included for the recent job experiences, as they are the most relevant. A resume is only bogged down by including excessive information from over 10 years ago.
3. Accomplishments, Not Just Responsibilities: An executive or hiring manager wants to know what a candidate can bring to the table, and that goes beyond their job responsibilities. Providing examples of the candidate's success in each role, such as achieving sales targets, implementing successful projects, successfully launching a product, or receiving awards or recognition, will help the executive understand the value the candidate can bring to the organization. Accomplishments are what set top talent apart from other candidates, and demonstrate their ability to exceed expectations and deliver results.
4. Quantifiable Data: Numbers speak louder than words, especially for hiring managers and decision-makers. They want to see numbers and metrics that demonstrate a candidate's achievements. Providing quantifiable data, such as “increased sales by 20% in six months” or “reduced expenses by 15% through process optimization,” demonstrates the candidate's ability to deliver results. The inclusion of this data can emphasize that keeping a detailed account of success with a company is valuable to the candidate. Adding specific metrics to their accomplishments helps showcase the impact they can bring to an organization.?
5. Keywords: Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes for specific keywords. Candidates should ensure they include relevant keywords from the job description in their resume to increase their chances of getting past the initial ATS screening. They should also include the technical skills, software, and industry-specific terminology mentioned in the job posting if applicable to them. Taking the extra time to add these keywords can catch the eye of a hiring manager, even without the help of an ATS system.?
6. Customization: Customizing a resume for each job application shows the talent acquisition team that the candidate has taken the time to understand the position's requirements. Candidates should tailor their objective statement, skills, and work experience to match the requirements of each job posting they apply to. Customization demonstrates the candidate's interest in the position and their dedication to their career. It can also increase their chances of getting an interview.
7. Professionalism: Candidates' resumes should reflect professionalism, which is especially important when applying for management or senior-level positions. Candidates should use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation throughout their resume, and avoid using slang or overly casual language. Luckily, technology is to job seekers’ advantage, as there are many reliable editing tools and browser extensions that make polishing a resume a quick and easy process. Candidates should use a professional email address and phone number on their resume, and ensure that the information is up-to-date. A helpful organizational hack for candidates who are actively applying for numerous positions is to make a professional email address only to be used for their resume. An interview opportunity will never get lost in their crowded inbox again!

Identifying top talent can be a difficult and time-consuming task, but focusing on these key components of a candidate's resume can make the process more efficient and successful. A perfect resume is one that effectively communicates an applicant’s relevant experience, accomplishments, and skills in a clear and concise manner. By following these tips, job seekers can increase their chances of standing out to potential employers and securing their dream job. Remember, a resume should tell a story that highlights a person’s unique value and sets them apart from other candidates. Look for these 7 qualities of a perfect resume, and hiring managers will surely be able to quickly identify top candidates for their organization.

Need help processing resumes for an open position? Perhaps you need additional support with first-round interviews? ParkerBeth is here to help you with all of your hiring needs! We have an amazing team of expert recruiters and talent sourcers who can get the job done efficiently. Contact us today and see how we can help alleviate some of the stressors that come with hiring your next great employee.

Straight from the Horse's Mouth— Interview with an Industry Leader

We asked Jennifer Quinonez, VP of Marketing at IKIN, to give us her valuable insight as a woman leader in the tech industry.

Q: What piece of advice do you have for other women leaders in the tech industry?

A: Speak up! It's likely you're in the room with a lot of men who are used to having the floor, so to speak. I always say "Harness the confidence of a mediocre man" when heading into interviews, presentations, etc., not because I think mediocrity is great, but because we have all known people in the workplace who, for some reason, are on a meteoric rise despite their qualifications or results being lackluster. Keep your professionalism intact, but don't let anyone bully you because they're uncomfortable with your presence at the table.

Q: What do you think is making the biggest impact on the technology workplace today?

A: I think it's a combination of AI and remote working tech. Almost 15 years ago, I helped a mentor of mine test her AI virtual assistant by trying to confuse it, and reader, I won almost every time. Today? Not likely. I think there is a fine line between making AI / ChatGPT work with you, rather than having it do all the work FOR you. For a startup with a lean team, it's an incredibly powerful tool. Remote working tech: as leaders, and as more (ahem, elder) millennials like myself enter the leadership era of our careers, it's important for us to not make the mistakes we have endured with the previous generations of leaders, and learn how to respond to the next generation's needs and wants in the workplace. Things will never go back to the way they were - we have to accept that. Is it good to have face-to-face interaction? Yes. Does everybody need to be there all the time, just to justify the cost of the space rental? Probably not. I really urge leaders to lean into "flexible" working policies rather than "hybrid" - as just this small tweak in language gives real agency to your team, which goes a long way.

Q: What does innovation mean to you?

A: As a marketer, you're always looking to identify your target audience by first identifying what problem you're trying to solve. I think taking a challenge and creating a solution for it is the simplest way to describe innovation. It doesn't necessarily have to be a hot new piece of hardware, or SaaS that ends in -ify. How are we solving problems for people? Let's figure out better and more efficient ways to do it - that's innovation to me.

Q: What is your favorite tech gadget that you own and why?

A: The magsafe pop socket on my phone is an incredible MVP - do you know how many times I dropped my phone before using this thing? And now it's magnetic? Incredible. Runner up - my PlayStation 5. We have two in my house because I did not want to share with my husband.

Q: Who in the tech industry inspires you the most?

A: Recently I learned about a company called Syrona Health. It's a health startup in the UK formed by two women of color to provide benefits to people who are going through chronic health conditions like Endometriosis, and cervical cancer screenings. This is what I mean by innovation - support for these types of conditions is such an important challenge that they've stepped up to meet.

Q: What is your most used app on your phone? (Excluding text, email, and calls)

A: Most recently it was The Knot. I cannot tell you how convenient it was to pull up my app and add a guest that I may or may not have forgotten to my wedding guestlist while seeing them out and about.

Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only bring 3 things, what would they be?

A: My Macbook Pro, my Nintendo Switch, and my record player. I'd probably die of hunger, but I'd be entertained.