Top 10 Resume Tips

As a toddler mom and executive, free time is a luxury that is sparse in my life . Given my life circumstances at the moment, I no longer lean into giving free resume advice to folks that I don't have a personal relationship with. As much as I hate setting this boundary, ruthless time prioritization is the only way I ever get to see my horse or dearest girlfriends.

That being said, my heart is heavy at the times we find ourselves in, with the job market cooling and so many folks needing help. It is the season of giving, and so I give to you a window into the advice I give my nearest and dearest as they update their resumes. If this article has found it's way to you, I hope you find something in it that guides you on your career journey.

I have read tens of thousands of resumes over the last decade plus, below is what I find to be the most impactful.

Top 10: Free Resume Tips

1. The most recent 5 years of work experience is the most relevant, particularly in the tech industry, as skillsets expand and change so quickly these days. Thusly, your resume should be shaped like an inverse pyramid, with more bullets in recent experience (4-6) and less in more distant pass experience (2-3).
2. The job descriptions of the jobs you are applying to are your North star for shaping the content of your bullets. Just like in school, where the teachers told you what was going to be on the test, job descriptions typically tell you what they will be digging into in the interview. For example, if you are applying to a metrics-driven sales role, your bullets should tell the story of how you have hit/exceeded similar metrics in your current role. If cross-team collaboration is mentioned in the job description, think of an example in your current or recent past role where you drove collaboration across teams with a clear-cut benefit/impact to the company/team/project.
3. Everyone is always so worried about creating a perfect one-page resume, but to be honest, 2 pages is fine, so long as you are using the space wisely and keeping your bullets crisp. You can always trim it down to one page to fit a certain job you are applying for...in fact I recommend this method so you have a "menu" of beautifully crafted bullets to choose from that you can tailor to fit each job.
4. Bullets are your "shot" to sell your experience to the hiring manager, so make it compelling, and leave them hungry for more information. I always advise folks to identify something they would like to Feature, with an Example of how it Benefitted the company...aka FEB. My friend taught me this a long time ago and it has stuck with me since. Example: The job description lists onboarding and training new employees as a requirement. Now, you could just list what you did by only writing down the Feature/Example: "Drove and up-leveled onboarding for new hires within the engineering organization." Or...you could pique interest by adding in the Benefit: "resulting in decreasing the ramp time for engineers by 50% within one year of launch." As a reader, even without knowing anything about onboarding engineers, I now HAVE to know what you did and how you achieved this feat!
5. Format should be clean and inviting to read. There are tons of free tools online that can assist you in formatting your resume beautifully. I always advise people to design a resume look that inspires the confidence they feel in themselves and their ability to take on a new role, as that energy will come through in the page. For example, if you worked your tail off to acheive a 4.0 GPA in your MBA program, list it. If you have acquired some skills by learning on the job or taking a training, add them. As AI technology and search tools help recruiters look for skillsets in today's high volume of applicants, your proficiencies may help set you apart. The important parts are honesty (don't list a skill you aren't truly able to demonstrate) and focusing on the 10 or so skills you are most proficient at. Not sure what to narrow down on? Let the job description requirements be your guide!
6. Cover letters: controversial opinion, but I am not a huge fan. Usually they are a "nothing-burger," filled with superlatives around why someone thinks they are a perfect fit for a role with no "meat" aka examples of what they have done to demonstrate proficiencies in the required areas. If you want to write a short cover letter explaining why you are switching careers or industries, or explaining some non-work experience that gave you relevant experience, go for it...but keep it purposeful and two paragraphs or less. Use FEB to structure how you sell yourself.
7. Perhaps this should be the first tip - but before you sit down to write, get in the right mood to focus. Work out, make sure you're not hangry, clear your mind, and envision what you want out of your next role, so you can channel the right words to sell you into it. You are a person that can truly benefit your future employer, you just need to create a path forward to that opportunity.
8. Having a perfect resume is only so good as ensuring that it is seen by the people deciding on who will be considered for the opportunity. Leverage your network to tap into the company that you're interested in working for. Believe me when I say, I have literally had people I haven't spoken to since ELEMENTARY school reach out to me for help in getting their foot in the door. I never judge, because you never know when you might need help. I got into Salesforce via my friend who worked in the mail room, who in turn got into the mail room via a friend from college. Remember this when people ask you for help, and don't be afraid to do the same.
9. Applying to jobs is a numbers game...but be sure not to apply for 10 different jobs at the same company. Instead, focus on the 2 you stand the best chance at getting and shoot your shot by trying to get in via referral if possible. Linkedin is a great tool for seeing who in your network works at the company of interest. Additionally - in a down market, it can take 100+ applications to get a call back. In 2011, when I was getting into recruiting, I was applying to 10 jobs a day. It took 2 months to get one call back, but once I did I started to feel the momentum of my efforts, and I ended up landing an offer within 2 weeks. Don't be discouraged, like anything, job searching takes time.
10. Once you have a killer resume, ensure your Linkedin profile is updated to the same standard so that recruiters hunting for talent can see your best professional self easily.