The old ways of creating a resume are long over. Companies aren’t looking for a laundry list of your skills. They don’t want to see your high school attendance record. In order to stand out from the crowd in a 21^st century job search you need to have a 21^st century resume. Here are 6 things you can do to your resume today to give it an update and a makeover.

1. Make it virtual friendly. There was a time when resumes needed to be printed on stationary-grade paper and presented in person. Today, most recruiters and hiring managers view resumes exclusively through email attachments. The font is important. Times New Roman was easier to see on the printed page but Sans Serif fonts, like Calibri and Verdana, are easier on the eyes on screen. Leave off fancy fonts and graphics so the resume can easily be scanned by the recruiter’s applicant-tracking system. This will ensure that your information is searchable. The only time you need to worry about having a paper copy of your resume is at your interview.
2. Include your online contact information. Some experts advise that you leave your physical address off your resume altogether. However, if the job is location specific it may be a good idea to keep it. In addition to that, be sure to include your cell phone number and email address. Also, provide links to your professional blog, website, and LinkedIn profile.
3. Customize your resume. Never send the same resume to two different hiring managers. Each time you apply for a job, tweak your job titles or your objective just a little bit to showcase why you believe you are a fit for their specific position.
4. Include a catchy headline. Rather than a lengthy objective statement or summary of your experience, start your resume with a Twitter-style headline. In 140 characters or less, how would you describe yourself to your perfect employer?
5. Share your skills. While recruiters are looking for a little extra pizazz from the candidates, they also want to know you can do the job for which they are hiring. Make sure you include a bulleted list of the skills, you possess that you know they want to see.
6. Be the best. A good rule of thumb is to go back only 10 years in your job history. Don’t just create a laundry list of skills but include data that supports your accomplishments. Start with a challenge you faced, what action you took, and the results.

Are you looking for your next perfect job opportunity? Contact the professional team at StaffEx to see what we can do for you!