Is Your Resume Still Left Behind in 2016? Update it to 2017 Now!

“Everything’s changing as I turn around…” sang Avril Lavigne back in 2002. In the blink of an eye, it’s 2017, and we have lots of new stuff rushing at us; new songs, new trends, new presidents, etc. In fact, you’d be surprised to learn that even job trends (Yes! You read right!) change with time. And that includes new resume formats, tools, and methods!

It’s 2017 and our job market is ever growing, and competition is stiff. How do we keep ourselves in the running? The first thing an employer sees when searching for a new worker is their resume, and how we write or present our resume will make or break our chances at getting a job.

The question is, with all the current trends and changes, how should a resume look like in 2017?

Should it look like this?

Or like this?

Change is good, but maybe too much is bad! Remember, you’re handing over a summary of your experiences to someone who will determine your future. Keep it clean, modern and with a little bit of storytelling, you could be called for an interview soon. Here are some tips for a 2017-style resume:

1. STYLE

Go for a clear, uncluttered look. Something neat, with a little bit of color that isn’t too striking. “Times New Roman” is a classic font, but if you’d like to try something else, then go for a font that looks professional. Proofread for spelling mistakes, and check your alignment and spacing. Make sure that your resume is easy to read.

2. DON'T WASTE TIME

Whoever evaluates your resume will probably just scan through to find the important points. So don’t write paragraphs, but keep everything short and simple by using bullet points. Highlight any links that might have samples of what you can offer, like a blog or a personal website. Make sure you also have a professional email listed for ease of contact. When it comes to resumes, less is more.

3. SUMMARY, NOT OBJECTIVES

If you have an objective in your resume, switch it to a summary instead. Your future employer doesn’t want to know about how they can help you, but they would want to know what you can do for them instead. You’ll be better off highlighting your accomplishments or experiences: It’s more about what you can do, and not about what you want.

4. SKILLS

Emphasize your skill sets. For example, don’t just write, “I’m skilled at writing”. Include an explanation about your writing style, the number of articles you’ve written and who you’ve written for. Include links to examples of your work if possible. Onetrick is to take phrases from the job posting and use them in your resume. List your strongest skills first.

5. EXPERIENCE + ACHIEVEMENTS

To save space and to make it easy to read, combine your achievements with your experiences. For instance:

Experience: “Worked as Team Leader”

Achievement: “Raised sales by 40%”

Can be combined to become: “Worked as Team Leader and managed to raise sales by 40%.”

If you were promoted or have worked for multiple companies before, then include a short explanation about the reasons behind them.

6. THE WHOLE PICTURE

Remember that your resume is a summary of your experiences. If you feel that something is unnecessary or irrelevant, like part-time jobs or internships, then don’t add it in. Be creative, yet professional. Show them that you’re up to date with current work trends, but keep it uncluttered. Let them have the whole picture at a glance, not bits and pieces of it.

Here are more resume tips from Maukerja:

- Help! How to Write A Perfect Resume for Someone With No Experience? >> CLICK HERE
- Never Use These Phrases In Your Resume If You Want To Land A Job! >>  CLICK HERE
- 13 Things You Should Remove From Your Resume Immediately! >> CLICK HERE