Journal

Simple Resume Do’s & Dont’s

January 4, 2019 By Simple Resume Team

In our recent article, we talked about making a grand first impression. People that can make great first impressions generally find themselves in better situations and living better lives. Meaningful conversations, long-lasting relationships, and even employment opportunities are all known to be generated from the beauty of a great first impression. These impressions are critical in the hiring process, as a job interview is the first impression to a hiring manager and the resume is the first impression to an applicant tracking system (ATS). To round things out to make sure your 2019 career goals come to fruition, here are some Resume Do’s from the Simple Resume Team.

Use Bullet Points

Bullet points are quintessential elements that are needed within a basic resume format. Choosing to create a bulleted list of your accomplishments within your resume instead of writing in paragraph form helps to create aesthetic appeal and break up your text. With bullet points, you have the opportunity to organize, highlight, and separate your skills, accomplishments, and job duties. Make sure you do your research and create your basic resume outline with bullet points containing industry-specific action verbs to ensure you are making an argument for yourself as a good hire!

Optimize Your Simple Resume

Resumes have to be optimized strategically in order to make it to hiring managers’ desks. This is due to the fact that applicant tracking system (ATS) technology is now being implemented by a substantially great amount of companies worldwide. The key to optimization is plugging in keywords to ensure that your resume stands out amongst your competition (see how our services can create a simple and professional resume for job search effectiveness). Study the job description, take note of specific keywords that are mentioned, and make an effort to include them in your resume.

Quantify Your Accomplishments

Career accomplishments have to be quantified in order to be considered qualifiable for many of today’s positions. Noting and detailing your stats in the duration of your employment gives hiring managers an idea of your dedication and work ethic. It shows a level of commitment and promise as an employee. Quantifying your accomplishments can mean a ticket into the hiring manager’s office for an interview! Quantify your resume as best as you can will give you the best chance at landing employment opportunities.

Check your Grammar

By far the most obvious and worst mistake you can make on a simple resume. Now that you’ve misspelled words such as “organized” and “directed”, you can kiss that job goodbye. It’s not that the hiring manager doesn’t believe you can spell. We all make mistakes. He believes that you don’t know how to check your work and will submit a project even if it contains fallacies. Do your resume and job aspirations a favor and check your grammar, it may end up being a job offer in the end.

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A first impression is everything. People that are skilled at making great first impressions generally find themselves living better lives. A great first impression can generate meaningful conversations, long-lasting relationships, and even employment opportunities. First impressions are critical in the hiring process, as a job interview is the first impression to a hiring manager and the resume is the first impression to the applicant tracking system (ATS). Having said that, in our edition of Resume Do’s and Don’ts, here are some Resume Don’ts from the Simple Resume Team.

1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd Person

How about “no person”. A simple resume should never have any pronouns within its text. This is a simple resume law. The resume should serve as a summary or an introduction of you as an applicant, not a narrative or autobiography. Ex: In his previous position, Cory analyzed complex reports and developed a company strategy for optimal efficiency. When writing his accomplishment, instead of beginning the sentence as “Cory analyzed complex reports…”, “He analyzed complex reports…”, or “I analyzed complex reports…”, Cory should start the sentence off as “Analyzed complex reports…”.

Unemployed

Don’t give any impression that you were unemployed for any period of time. Unemployment raises red flags to hiring managers. They may wonder what have you been doing in the meantime, why you were unemployed, and your overall work ethic. Use a filler such as any personal project or volunteer work that can show that you were busy and cover any employment gaps.

“References Available Upon Request”

Employers will ask for references if they need them. As an applicant, you are already expected to have references available upon request. Implementing this phrase in your resume takes up a valuable amount of space. Avoid stating the obvious.

Negative Words In Your Simple Resume

This should go without saying. Listing your limitations will automatically disqualify you from any position in the job market. Avoid saying what you “can’t” do and focus on what you “can” do. Detail your accomplishments and capabilities to elevate your image as a great potential hire.

Too Much Info

Including any sensitive personal information is not only an instant disqualification, but it doesn’t do any good in your job hopes. In fact, it can do you much more harm than good, as you will leave yourself vulnerable to identity theft and someone having your information in their hands. Don’t include your date of birth, social security number, or personal interests in your resume. Keep it simple and avoid doing this on your resume.

Is A Two Page Resume Ever Okay?

December 26, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

Still looming within the employment world is the age-old question of whether or not your resume should be one page, two pages, or more. According to society’s standard, the general consensus is to keep a resume condensed to one page to avoid annoying hiring managers. Many hiring managers simply don’t want to peruse two pages of material when searching for a quick, efficient hire. Recruiters and hiring managers alike prefer an expeditious hiring process. Yet, as that statement holds true, there are people who simply have an exorbitant amount of accomplishments to fit into a one-page resume. This begs the question; when is a two page or more resume ever okay? Is it ever acceptable?

The answer is yes. Yet, it is only okay in certain instances, which we will explain in today’s Simple Resume Insight.

More Experience

Two-page resumes are deemed acceptable for job candidates with significant experience in their respective fields. In these cases, a one-page resume may not be enough to highlight the candidate’s lengthy history of accomplishments and projects. Typically, condensing information down to a page can damage these specific candidates’ chances of getting hired. If you have more than 10 years of experience in your field, it is best to plan to create a two-page resume.

Federal

The information required when applying for government positions ordinarily transcends the amount of information needed for professional resumes. Federal resumes are notoriously longer than two pages and may even require one to create five to ten pages of detailed, targeted information (dependent upon years of experience). Government HR specialists religiously dig deeper into the resume content of federal job candidates. Thus, this resume should be able to exude the talent, trust, and professionalism of the candidate.

Management Level

If you’re applying for a management-level position, you will definitely want to have a two-page resume. Management level positions require one to have a massive index of accomplishments and process improvements, extraordinary interpersonal skills, and specific projects. Generally, these experiences extend the one-page mark. Thus, job candidates should be prepared to provide a two-page resume.

Executive Level

Writing a resume for a C-Suite position is no easy task. These resumes require a high level of complexity and typically result in an extensive resume writing process. You must flood your resume with results, business/financial impact, and career highlights. Thus, a two-page resume is okay when gearing your resume towards an executive-level position.

The Importance Of Keywords

December 14, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

Implementing keywords in your simple resume lands interviews for job candidates. In today’s world, simple resumes have to be strategically optimized in order to make it to hiring managers’ desks. This is due to the fact that applicant tracking system (ATS) technology is now being implemented at a substantially great amount of companies worldwide. In this article, the Simple Resume team will detail the importance of including keywords and key phrases in your simple resume to BOOST your chances of employment.

“The Keywords In A Job Description”

When you look at a job posting, take a very detailed look at the job description. Job descriptions contain the general tasks, requirements, and responsibilities of the role. They include keywords and key phrases such as “quick learner”, “strong attention to detail”, and “excellent verbal and written skills”. The description will almost always be filled with important keywords and phrases. It is your responsibility to take note of this during the drafting of your simple resume. Failing to include this information will greatly diminish your chances of landing a job interview.

“Pass An Applicant Tracking System”

Keywords are absolutely necessary to successfully pass an applicant tracking system. Though it is important to implement key terms throughout your resume, it is also equally important to be mindful of how many times you use the keywords. Including too many key terms is a tactic known as keyword stuffing. Hiring managers will surely catch on to this. Avoid over-saturating your simple resume as it will surely be noticed.

“Hard And Soft Skills Are Keywords”

Key terms are also important for the fact that they sometimes come in the form of hard and soft skills. Within the work environment, hard and soft skills have become extremely important. Employers are looking to hire candidates that possess both hard and soft skills, as they are critical in the short and long term of employment. Hard and soft skills present themselves as keywords that can successfully navigate and pass through an ATS screening.

The ultimate goal of simple resume writing is to strategically create a resume that will pass the applicant tracking system and appeal to hiring managers. Having keywords in your simple resume increases your job prospects exponentially. When crafting your simple resume, key terms can be the deciding factor between a call for an interview and a letter of declination.

Get a keyword optimized low cost resume guaranteed to BOOST chances of employment and pass an applicant tracking system today!

Irrelevant Work Experience

December 13, 2018 By jmjeditor

Resumes have evolved to become personal marketing tools for working professionals. Job seekers were once able to list their recent experiences and present them to hiring managers to gain employment. Now, with the implementation of initial screening technology with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), resumes need to be strategically crafted in order to reach employers. Since they now have to be optimized, including irrelevant work experience in your simple resume will destroy your chances of getting a call for an interview. We will explain how including irrelevant experience in your resume can hurt your chances of getting an interview.

Irrelevant Work Experience Overcrowds Your Simple Resume

Hiring managers are looking for qualified candidates with qualifiable information. The more relatable experience the candidate has, the more likely that candidate is to be offered the job. With this in mind, employers want to be able to look through little information and find the right guy for the job. Employers generally spend only 6 seconds looking at an applicant’s resume. Including relevant work experience in this little information will save space and make the best use of your simple resume. Overcrowding your resume with irrelevant work experience can cause hiring managers to miss the important, relevant information. As a result, your chances of getting hired will be greatly diminished.

Irrelevant Work Experience Can Make Your Resume Unfocused

With ATS screening, resumes need to have relevant keywords in order to pass. For example, let’s say you want to apply for a position as an accountant. In your past, you worked in a variety of positions, including working as a deli clerk at a supermarket. You choose to include this information in your simple resume. You write about how you sectioned different meat selections and serviced customers. This can hurt you in two ways:

First, the applicant tracking system is looking for key relevance to a position as an accountant. This information will stray away from identifying you as an accounting candidate.

Second, a hiring manager looking to hire for an entry-level accounting position does not want to know that you worked for a grocery store in the deli department during your college days.

If you are writing a resume for an accounting position, you will want to focus your writing efforts on the skills and accomplishments needed for a career in accounting. You could very possibly use that position as a deli clerk to include information about cashiering and cash handling to better fit your simple resume for accounting.

Include only relevant work experience and skills on your simple resume. This will cut out a lot of unnecessary and irrelevant information and allow you to focus on your dream position.

Top 10 Tips For Writing A Great Resume

December 12, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

It’s time to kick off the new year with some modern resume tips! With the digital age, the art of writing a simple resume has dramatically changed. There was a point in time where hiring managers would have to sit and sort through resumes to determine the best candidates for the role. This would work as an advantage for many job seekers as their writing was immediately in the hands of human eyes. Now, to cut time and effort, companies have implemented applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen candidates quickly and efficiently. Many companies, including LinkedIn, have announced they will be implementing applicant tracking systems into their candidate sourcing efforts. Prepared by our Certified Professional Resume Writers, here is a list of our top ten modern resume tips for writing a great contemporary resume in 2019 to beat applicant tracking systems and BOOST your interview chances.

#1. Drop Your Resume To One Page

Hiring managers don’t want to read through an extensive, lengthy resume. A complex resume can come off to a hiring manager as unappealing, boring, and hard to read. When the first initial reaction for hiring managers is a negative one, chances are that the applicant will be eliminated as a potential hire. Take the time to write out all of your experience. Then, carefully narrow your information down to one page of quality, relevant information. This allows hiring managers to key in and focus on your keywords immediately upon obtaining your document.

#2. Stay Away From Templates

While the idea of a heavily stylized resume format is enticing, we know that these graphics-driven, cool resume formats and templates do not perform well in applicant tracking systems. These computer programs are designed to pull information on your background and career into specific fields in a specific order. Don’t risk losing out on a position because your work resume is not parsing properly into an ATS.

#3. Size 10-12 Font

It is a general rule to use a font size between 10-12 when writing a simple resume for two reasons. First, too small of a font can affect your resume’s readability, creating difficulty for hiring managers to look through your information. Secondly, too large of a font could be perceived as a lack of content and information to share with the employer.

Avoid using fonts such as Comic Sans, Lucida Console, Brush Script, and any font that looks too complex or widely spaced out on paper. Studies show that some of the best fonts to use when writing a simple resume are Book Antiqua, Calibri, and Garamond.

#4. Optimize Your Resume’s Header

Applicant tracking systems are computers that are designed to read documents in a specific order. It is critical to format your header in a clear manner so as not to confuse the ATS. This can result in your resume being filtered out immediately. Make sure your header lists your first and last name, followed by your address (city and state minimum), phone number, and professional email address.

We are often asked by clients whether or not to include entire addresses (street names, unit numbers, etc.). The answer is yes. ATS is designed to geo-filter resumes by location. Having a complete resume allows ATS to see where you are located, and whether the position is a fit for you or not. After all, there is very little point in interviewing for a position that is a 4-hour commute from your home, especially if you’re not looking to commute!

#5. Include A Professional Summary

One of the most successful resume tips to maximize performance against the ATS is the professional summary. Lead in the resume with two to three sentences describing yourself as a professional and include as many pertinent keywords from the job description as possible. This signals to the ATS that you possess all the skills necessary for the job.

#6. Accomplishments > Responsibilities

A mistake that we see often is the utilization of responsibilities to fill out the content of the resume. Hiring managers are more concerned with what you can help their organization achieve and are looking for people who can add a track record of success. It’s always best to use sentences that outline your achievements.

#7. Quantify Your Accomplishments

This is one of the best modern resume tips you can find. On a resume constructed of the written word, the inclusion of numbers immediately draws the attention of hiring managers, which is why it is a good idea to include them. Adding numbers to your resume has a dynamic effect on the overall structure and impact of your accomplishments. Quantifying statements will help employers visualize the overall impact you’ve had on the position.

It is common to find that not all positions involve hard metrics. However, it is still feasible to add numbers to any position listed on a resume. Compare “provided customer service to clients” to “engaged with 15-20 clients per day to find quick resolutions in order to effectively solve complex situations”. Same task, same number of clients, different structure. Keep in mind that an employer would be more inclined to interview the job seeker who was able to handle 15-20 clients a day than a candidate who’s missing quantifiable measurements on their resume.

#8. 400 Word Limit

Number 8 on our modern resume tips is the word limit. While it can seem like a good idea to fill a resume with as many words as possible, stick to a word limit of roughly 400 words per page. This has been found to be an ideal balance of keyword density and aesthetic appeal. It provides you with plenty of space to be detailed about your experience and accomplishments without blowing out the word count and presenting the hiring manager with a resume that is overly dense and unattractive.

#9. Use Bullet Points

When it comes to formatting your resume, a simple resume writing tip is to use bullet points instead of paragraphs to break up the text. Use bullet points to highlight one accomplishment at a time instead of explaining your career in paragraph form. This makes things easier to read to hiring managers.

Bullet points are essential to simplifying a resume. In retrospect, they have been proven to be successful in making your accomplishments stand out within seconds. Creating a bulleted list of your accomplishments helps to mitigate clutter within your simple resume. Bullet points allow the hiring manager to focus on areas of the resume that you want to draw attention to.

#10. Plug In Keywords

Last but not least, to round out our modern resume tips, plug in keywords. Within job postings, the position’s job description always will contain keywords and phrases that the hiring manager is looking for in a potential candidate. Therefore, to better your chances at landing an interview, study this information and write down the main keywords. Be sure to add keywords into your resume to pass ATS and catch the eyes of hiring managers.

Though it is important to use keywords throughout your resume, be careful to not over-saturate your resume with these keywords. Hiring managers will surely catch on to this. Implement your keywords where you see fit so your simple resume flows smoothly.

The best resume writing examples find unique ways to impress employers. Too often, a resume lacks substance and detail to make it stand out as a quality resume. Utilizing these modern resume tips will be surely get you an interview. Get all of your resume needs to successfully land a job interview at a low cost today!

Basic Job Resume Mistakes You Should Never Make

December 12, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

When it comes to constructing a simple, appealing, and effective resume, immense care should be taken during the writing process. Often too many times, job candidates create basic job resume mistakes that end up costing them a job interview. The greatness of a resume exists in its ability to successfully beat an applicant tracking system and intrigue a hiring manager. Here at Simple Resume, we will explain 5 basic job resume mistakes you should never make on a simple resume.

#1: Grammatical Errors

One of the most basic job resume mistakes and also the most common is making grammatical errors. This is by far the most obvious mistake you can make in writing a resume. The last thing you want is hiring managers thinking you are incompetent and unqualified for the role, and there’s no better way to do this than spelling things wrong on a resume. It also shows that you do not take the time to check your work, an area that is critical in most fields. Proofread your resume a countless number of times to make sure you never make this simple resume mistake.

#2: Duties > Accomplishments

A simple resume mistake that we see often is the utilization of responsibilities to fill out the content of the resume. Hiring managers are more concerned with what you can help their organization achieve and are looking for people who can add a track record of success. There is no need to include job responsibilities as they are easily searchable on Google. Never make this mistake on your simple resume.

#3: Too Much Information

In an effort to remain relevant and only include pertinent information, you must be strategic about yourself and your background. Capitalize on the aspects of your career history that bring value to the role and organization you are applying to.

#4: Improper Formatting

A common mistake made on resumes is improper formatting. Some of the common instances in improper resume formatting include failing to include bullet points, improper alignment of your resume text, using less than one-inch margins when it is not necessary, failing to bold your resume sections and job titles. Never make this mistake on your simple resume as it will guarantee a no-call for an interview.

#5: Using A Template

Not only does using a resume template show that you have a lack of professionalism and creativity; It also shows you didn’t take the time to make sure it was optimized. Software programs such as Microsoft Word have resume templates for consumers to use to tailor to their specific resume needs. This is detrimental to your resume and should be avoided at all costs. Your simple resume must successfully pass through an applicant tracking system before being seen by a human.

Basic Resume Examples | How to Quantify your Simple Resume in 2019

December 11, 2018 By jmjeditor

Since resumes were first introduced by Leonardo da Vinci in 1481-82, they have undergone a digital transformation. In a more competitive job market than ever, skills alone are not sufficient to gain employment with top companies. In the art of contemporary resume writing, it is now a numbers game. The most successful resumes that work in landing candidates jobs are quantified. Resumes have to be quantified in order to be considered qualifiable for many of today’s positions. In this article, the Simple Resume team will give you tips and basic resume examples demonstrating how to quantify your simple resume for your 2019 career goals.

Quantify Your Team

If you worked in a team environment, it can be extremely helpful to use numbers to detail how many people were on your team, how many people worked on specific projects, and how many people you led or managed.

Here’s a one of our basic resume examples on how to quantify a team-related accomplishment:

Before Quantifying: “Led team in the implementation of specific projects”
After Quantifying: “Directed a team of 15 employees in the implementation and completion of technical projects”

Utilize Frequency

If you handled specific tasks often, it is great to mention how frequently you were required to accomplish these specific tasks. Showing frequency of tasks or projects in your job resume helps employers get a better picture of your consistency, proficiency, and willingness to repeat necessary tasks. The following is one of our basic resume examples of how to quantify your frequency of performing specific tasks.

Before Quantifying: “Created articles for content”
After Quantifying: “Produced 5 creative 1,000-word content articles per week”

Implement Time Management

Time is everything. In the professional world, you must be able to do everything in a timely fashion. Save time, manage time, complete tasks, and meet deadlines are a few things that require good time management. Here’s one of our many simple resume examples of quantifying time management within your simplified resume.

Before Quantifying: “Implemented a time-saving sales process to cut time”
After Quantifying: “Introduced a time efficient sales process to management to cut average call time by 15 minutes”

Use A Range

Some job seekers may work in environments where there is really no room for accomplishments and it is really difficult to quantify their job responsibilities. In this instance, it may be challenging to come up with an exact numerical figure. To combat this, use a range in your quantification. Look at the following example for clarification on how to use range to help quantify your work resume.

Before Quantifying: “Answered phone calls to provide customer service on a day-to-day basis”
After Quantifying: “Assisted 25-30 customers per day by providing knowledge and expertise to effectively resolve complex and escalated situations”

Quantify On A Scale

In roles that involve money, it is important to provide a numerical scale of a company’s financial growth, allocated funds, and costs. The following is one of our simple resume examples on how to quantify your financial accomplishments on a scale.

Before Quantifying: “Increased company financial growth”
After Quantifying: “Implemented several strategic projects in an effort to increase company financial growth, which resulted in an increase of $300,000 from the previous fiscal year”

Quantifying your simple resume creates a resume built for optimal performance. Our certified Simple Resume writers are trained to quantify your accomplishments and can create an effective, brand new resume for a low cost.

Professional Resume Outline | To Include Or Not Include Education

December 10, 2018 By jmjeditor

When creating a professional resume outline, it is extremely important to have a section to include your education. At one point in time, many job seekers were able to get their foot in the door in companies and didn’t necessarily need a degree. In today’s competitive job market, it is nearly impossible to get an entry-level job without at least a bachelor’s degree. As time goes on, job seekers will be expected to have even higher levels of education to qualify for roles. In this article, we will detail why it is important to include a section for your education in your professional resume outline.

Meet Qualifications

Education typically serves as a minimum qualification on a simple resume. In most job descriptions, you will find the qualification “bachelor’s degree required”. Most of these same jobs at one point only required candidates to have a high school diploma to be considered for employment. There is a general consensus that people with degrees have developed more skills and are more mature than people with only high school diplomas. Therefore, it is a must to include your educational background within your simple resume layout to meet qualifications.

Education Shows Your Worth

Employers value an employee with a quality education simply for the fact that they can invest in them. People with degrees are seen as more stable and less likely to job hop. With an educated employee, they are also most likely to advance in their respective roles. Many companies do not allow employees without a degree to advance into higher-level management or executive roles.

Education Shows Desire

A degree shows that you are able to fully commit to focusing on a project until its completion. In the professional world today, many roles consist of several hands-on projects that can take months or years to complete. In order to complete a four-year undergraduate program or two-year graduate program, you must have the desire to succeed. To employers, this shows focus and the ability to commit.

Stand Out

Although the education section within your professional resume outline is kept brief, it is critically important to include it in order to stand out amongst other job candidates. In accordance with this, there is an extremely good chance that you will stick out the more advanced your degree is in comparison with other applicants. In terms of setting yourself apart from the competition, it will come most handy if your education and skills align with the field which you are pursuing.