Simple Resume Advice

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.

Classic Resume Mistakes To Avoid

October 2, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

A resume must catch the eyes of the hiring managers who will see it in order for a candidate to be considered for a position. So what exact information should writing actually contain? As we know it, the essentials are a name, contact information, responsibilities, and job titles. Seems simple enough to not leave any room for any known, classic resume mistakes, right? Not so much.

An effective simple resume format is very intricate and involves a strenuous writing process to ensure effectiveness. When attempting to create an effective, stand-out resume document that will catch that hiring manager’s attention, there can be instances in which not enough care was taken to actually make it effective and intrigue the people who will view it. With the use of the applicant tracking system (ATS), it is extremely easy to make a mistake that will destroy your chances of getting the dream job you desire.

At Simple Resume, we put our feet in the shoes of hiring managers in determining the undesirables to simplify the writing process. To better your job search, avoid making these 4 classic resume mistakes that will hurt your chances of getting hired.

1) Grammatical Errors

Grammatical errors are by far the most obvious mistake you can make in writing a professional document. The last thing you want is hiring managers thinking you are incompetent for the job, and there’s no better way to do this than spelling things incorrectly.

According to a study conducted by CareerBuilder, 77% of applicants who submitted resumes with grammatical errors were not hired. The most successful resumes are the result of candidates taking the extra time to proofread a countless number of times to make sure their spelling and grammar is correct. It even helps to have another pair of eyes look at your work as well to ensure there are no resume mistakes in your writing. You can also contact our in-house team of professional resume writers for writing expertise.

2) Template & One-Size-Fits-All Approach

This is a classic resume mistake that many will find is simply not the approach to use in writing a simple resume. Your document must first pass through the applicant tracking system before it can even reach the hands of a hiring manager. If you use this method, the screening technology implemented in the ATS will automatically filter your document out of the job candidate pool. One of the most common ways job seekers use a one-size-fits-all approach is a simple resume template.

You should focus and tailor to the specific job you are applying for, not multiple jobs. When undergoing a screening implemented by an ATS, a template will deviate from your given course of focus. Many companies may promise consumers that a basic resume template will save them time in their job search and yield positive results. However, a basic resume design that is too commonplace does not do anything to separate you from your competition.

Also, the design of a simple resume template is often misleading as it actually confuses and disorients applicant tracking systems and can ultimately lead to rejection. Avoid using a one-size-fits-all approach and avoid using a one-size-fits-all template at all costs (most of them are free for a reason)!

3) Highlighting Duties Instead Of Accomplishments

The saying “actions speak louder than words” details the revealing of one’s true character through actual actions instead of just saying things that hold no substance. This saying should be applied when differentiating duties from accomplishments.

The best way to showcase your abilities and the things you’ve done in your previous positions is to incorporate your accomplishments.

Showcasing specific projects and work results verbalizes your value as an employee through writing. Accomplishments go above and beyond in describing how well you did your job and what you can bring to the organization.

4) Not Enough Specifics

Hiring managers want specifics on what you’ve done to qualify yourself for the position at bay. This goes beyond just stating the obvious. Here is a perfect example. The following scenario details two candidates, who worked in the same position, describing their job duties:

Candidate #1
• Provided customer service to clients

Candidate #2
• Actively engaged in providing top customer service to 15-20 clients per day, helping retain clients and facilitate positive relationships

These two candidates performed the same job. However, as a hiring manager, you would be more inclined to select Candidate #2 for an interview as she succeeded in providing much more specific detail.

These are classic resume mistakes that will make hiring managers tell you to see your way out the door before you’ve even entered the room! These classic resume mistakes can be avoiding by hiring professional services to carefully tailor your document. Order a low cost resume (payment plan option included!) and be well on your way to attaining your career goals.

Simple Job Resume Tricks For High School and College Grads

September 24, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

Graduating from high school and college is an exhilarating experience. The excitement of beginning a new life that doesn’t involve the constant all-nighters, tumultuous dining hall, and annoying group project members is definitely thrilling enough for a recent graduate. Though this sounds amazing, what excites recent graduates the most is the opportunity to finally follow their dreams and start a new career in their field of study. However, without an optimized, simple job resume, the chance of successfully landing a job right after graduating is much slimmer than you think.

Little do recent graduates know, the expectations of employers have increased tremendously in recent years. For college graduates, a false narrative has been created that a degree will ensure quick job placement in their career field of choice. Most college students end up with positions that have nothing to do with their respective majors. High school graduates are more likely to get quick job placements. However, most are employed in positions where the working conditions are not desirable.

When crafting your entry-level job resume for positions after high school and college, there are a few key tips and tricks that can prove to be advantageous in ensuring that your simple job resume format stands out from job competitors. When you’re so early in your career, you’re competing with a large pool of similar, unexperienced candidates. Because of this, it is extremely vital to attempt to leverage as many skills and accomplishments as possible. These skills and accomplishments will serve as the backbone for an exceptional simple resume.

For the majority of graduating high school and college students, a simple job resume is essentially the passport to job success. Studies show that the first job out of school typically dictates the trajectory of your career and potential earnings. Therefore, before you begin sending out your document left and right, it is best that you consider these three simple job resume tricks for graduating high school and college students.

1. Use Transferable Skills

When you’re just entering your career, highlighting your technical skills and experience you have obtained throughout the years can be tricky. This is where you have to look at your past positions and attempt to pull as many transferable skills out as you can. Did you lead a team and showcase leadership abilities? Did you take a look at an internal process and drive process improvements to greatly impact a company?

Transferable skills are the skills that have to be acquired through the workplace and life’s experiences. They are absolutely essential to any role and have been proven to be extremely useful. No matter how insignificant you feel your experience may be, you can always pull out a transferable skill or a learning lesson that you can use to your advantage.

2. Place Education High On Your Simple Job Resume

More often than not, entry-level candidates will almost always rely on their education as their most marketable attribute. This is always a good idea, especially when your degree choice and selected courses are relevant to the role you are pursuing.

When you are formatting your simple job resume, place your education section near the top – ideally, right underneath a professional summary. This is where you want to direct the hiring manager’s eyes. By placing the education section high up, you are calling importance to the content.

3. List Relevant Course Work Or Internships

In leveraging your experience as a high school or college student, most individuals will only have their course work and internships to lean on. This is why it is important to pursue these opportunities and be strategic about which courses you take. Make sure they add value to your candidacy.

Then, add them to your education section of your resume. List them clearly and use their course names so that your resume picks up points within applicant tracking systems.

Getting into the career of your dreams fresh out of school can be a challenging task. However, with the correct preparation and utilization of these tactics, you can increase your job prospects tremendously. If you’re lacking confidence and your ability and want to seek simple and professional resume writing services, our team consists of Certified Professional Resume Writers whom are trained to create a cost-effective resume to serve your needs. As a recent graduate, you probably haven’t built up enough sustainable income.

Gain the competitive advantage and get a cheap resume today with our payment plan option!

Resume Layout Tips To Impress A Hiring Manager

September 20, 2018 By Simple Resume Team

A professional resume layout can accomplish the goal of gaining a competitive advantage in the job market. Impressing hiring managers today is an arduous task. According to Glassdoor, each corporate job attracts nearly 250 resumes on average. Out of those 250 candidates, only 4 to 6 will be awarded an opportunity to interview. These statistics demonstrate the alarming increase in the number of job candidates applying to jobs today and the competitiveness of the hiring process.

Research has shown that recruiters and hiring managers will typically spend only 6-7 seconds looking at a simple resume before determining whether or not a job candidate should move forward to an interview. A job search website called TheLadders used eye tracking software and found that upon the initial 6-7 scan, recruiters search for criteria such as the name, current title, company, current position start and end dates, previous title and company, previous position start and end dates, and education of the job candidate.

For this specific reason, it is extremely important to make sure your content is punchy, relevant, and showcases all of your key accomplishments and experience quickly. First impressions in the job hiring process is everything. When attempting to impress a hiring manager, implement these simple resume layout tips in your writing to boost your chances of making a great first impression.

1. Use A Simple Resume Layout

There are very few recruiters and hiring managers who like to read through over-complicated text or disorganized formatting. Pertaining to the overall appeal, the ultimate goal in its creation is to keep things simple and focus on the content. Allow your accomplishments and content to speak for itself. Also, make sure you’re not using any graphics and icons, as these do not help applicant tracking systems (ATS) grab the right information from your simple work resume to put into their systems.

Creating a professional resume layout that can compete against job competitors and beat applicant tracking systems is a difficult task and requires one to be meticulous. Certified writers are experts in the field and will guarantee a layout that will perform adequately. To obtain a cost effective resume layout designed for optimal performance, contact our team or check out our professional services.

2. Use Bullet Points To Summarize Job History

The key to an extraordinary and effective resume is proper formatting of your work history and career accomplishments. Bullet points help maximize the impact of your writing by allowing hiring managers to immediately key in on your career accomplishments.

It is critically important to remember that in beating the applicant tracking system, a standard resume layout needs to be attractive and easy-to-read. Again, no recruiter or hiring manager likes to read through huge blocks of text. Therefore, you must utilize bullet points to summarize your job history and accomplishments. Finding a perfect balance to be descriptive without being overly long-winded and staying away from bullet points that are far too short can prove to be the difference maker in your job search.

In a study conducted by CareerBuilder, 25 percent of hiring managers will not even waste their time reading through a job resume that contains long paragraphs and text. As a job seeker, of that 25 percent of hiring managers, one could have potentially offered you an interview. Be sure to bold your headlines and create bulleted lists of your areas of expertise and your accomplishments.

3. Use Legible, Simple Resume Fonts

Statistics have shown that some fonts work better for long-form reading, and others work better for shorter, more punchy content. Your resume is a technical document with ideally around 400 words, so plan to use a font that is legible and not over-complicated. Depending on how much relatable content you have, use a font that responds well to the size of font you need to use.

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

It is also a general rule of thumb to use a font size between 10-12 when writing for these two reasons; too small of a font can affect the readability of your document which in turn can create difficulty for hiring managers to look through your information. Too large of a font could be perceived as an attempt to hide a lack of content and information to share with the employer.

Simple Resume Layout Techniques To Beat The ATS

October 29, 2017 By Simple Resume Team

Understanding how to formulate a simple resume layout that can successfully beat applicant tracking systems (ATS) comes with one having intensive knowledge of ATS functions. It is of critical importance to not only have knowledge on how ATS works, but also how to design your content for optimization and performance.

ATS technology is used by most large organizations and a growing number of smaller operations to help hiring managers filter out unqualified candidates and make the hiring process more efficient.

Applicant tracking systems scan resumes for relevant keywords pertaining to the job description and will come up with a list of qualified candidates that internal hiring teams can reach out to. On record, applicant tracking systems eliminate 75 percent of them from the job candidacy pool. This stat alone is alarming to jobseekers as only 25 percent of job applicants are successfully able to get their documents in the hands of actual human eyes!

There are numerous techniques available that can strategically help you perform better against an ATS, such as getting a cost-effective resume by hiring a professional resume writer. Not only will you be getting a cheap resume from an affordable simple resume writing service: Our certified writers are skilled at making sure all best practices are followed and implemented. If you’re not confident in your ability to beat an ATS, we specialize in offering low cost services to ensure your writing reaches a hiring manager. Aside from a hiring a writer, here are a few tricks that you can use to BOOST the appeal of your simple resume layout right away.

Optimize Your Simple Resume Header

Applicant tracking systems are computers that are designed to strategically scrutinize and filter simple resume layouts. It is important to format your header in a clear manner so as not to confuse the ATS, which can result in your professional document being filtered out immediately. Take extra care in making sure that your header lists your first and last name followed by your address, phone number, and email.

We are often asked by clients on whether or not it is proper etiquette to include their entire addresses (street names, unit numbers, etc.). The answer is yes (unless you’re looking to relocate for a role. Click here to learn more)! Applicant tracking systems are designed to geo-filter resumes by location. Including your complete location allows these systems to see where you are located and determine whether or not the position is a fit for you. 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!

Include A Professional Summary

A key area to optimize for maximum performance against the ATS is the professional summary. A professional summary is the short paragraph at the beginning that briefly details your title, experience, and skills. Every simple resume layout at the very minimum should contain a professional summary for optimization. Lead in 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 requisite skills for the job.

Insert An Areas Of Expertise Section

Compiling a list of 9 to 12 areas of expertise that most closely align with your skillsets and the type of positions you are looking to pursue is a great idea for applicant tracking system optimization. Areas of expertise are specific skills that are needed in order for you to carry out the daily responsibilities of the role. Not only is it a great idea to have those keywords on hand, but by listing them neatly on the document itself, you are giving applicant tracking systems the chance to parse your resume for those words and pass it along in the ‘good’ pile!

Understanding how to write a document that beats applicant tracking systems is pivotal in today’s age of the computerized application process. Although the ATS can sometimes eliminate candidates that are indeed well qualified for the role, hiring managers have very little time to scan through hundreds of professional documents and are relying more and more on the feedback they receive from these systems to make informed hiring decisions.

Taking the time to ensure that your document has all the elements necessary to beat applicant tracking systems and impress hiring managers is key to landing interviews for the positions you wish to pursue. Download our simple resume layout to see our format that is optimized for both applicant tracking systems and hiring manager eye appeal!

Simple Resume Design Strategy | Not Everything Matters

October 1, 2016 By Simple Resume Team

One of the most notorious misconceptions for basic resume writing is that the document itself needs to disclose everything you have ever done during the duration of your career. The job you had at the shoe store, your role as an overnight stock associate in college, or that one time when you worked for Walmart for a couple of months. You would think that every employer would want to know of every job for verification and extensive background check purposes, right? WRONG!

For those beginning their journey for a new position, it is beneficial to be strategic in your simple resume design to bring focus to the important aspects of your career history. This will help the any potential hiring manager understand the value that you can bring to the specific role you’re applying to.

Let’s face it. When was the last time you actually sat down and read any one’s 3-page resume word-for-word? How about a 1500-word over-stuffed essay squeezed onto 2 pages? Time is of value for most hiring managers and recruiters looking for new candidates. Considering the large amount of resumes they receive for one job posting, hiring managers only take 6-7 seconds to look over a candidate’s simple resume design before moving on to the next.

This is why it is essential to be strategic.

The first and most essential tip to having an effective document is to avoid listing irrelevant positions on your simple resume. Many may believe that the more work experiences you show, the more you present yourself as a dependable, trustworthy, and hard-working candidate. This is typically may be considered acceptable when you’re applying for an entry-level job. However, this should not be practiced when searching for higher levels jobs or positions looking for distinctive technical skills. Due to the nature of entry-level positions, employers may be giving you a “pass” since it’s not considered a specialized role.

When you’re speaking specifically of higher-level, salaried positions, mistakes such as oversharing can completely ruin your chances of getting the job. The ultimate goal for any job seeker is to get a call for an interview. Choosing to go with a simple resume design will assure that it becomes a personal marketing tool. To put it in perspective, a recruiter or hiring manager will not contact a candidate for an engineering role when they market that had sliced meat in the deli department when they were 18.

Insights from various recruiting firms tell us that upon an initial scan, most hiring managers and recruiters are only looking at three main factors in a simple resume design: the candidate’s current position, his/her tenure, and education.

Here’s how you capitalize on your writing efforts:

First, make sure that your simple resume design strategically places your job history in the limelight, with a resume simple enough to ensure the dates are clear and easy to follow. Formatting is critical to the development of your professional document. Although it can be tricky, our cost-effective resume writers are certified professionals who can meet all of your formatting needs.

Next, be sure to place heavy emphasis on the professional accomplishments you have garnered in your previous and current positions. Show case as many quantitative and tangible wins as possible. Highlighting your accomplishments will immediately broadcast that not only are you qualified to get the job done, but you’re able to successfully do it well. Process of improvements and efficiencies are key items to speak about, as they will boost your credibility and ability to exceed metrics.

Finally, make sure your education is listed clearly – highlighting the school you have attended, your major, and degree obtained. There is a common belief that job seekers who have obtained four-year degrees from higher education have highly developed skills and are considered more fitting for specific roles than other candidates. Though it is just as important to have professional experience, including your education for recruiters or hiring managers will almost always work in your favor during your job search.

Remember, most job positions will require applicants to have a certain level of education and you don’t want to miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t take the time to list your education properly.

Strategizing to keep your resume simple will ensure that you are putting out the best information for the employer as you possibly can. Not everything job-related will matter in your search for a career. Leave off the unrelated work experiences that are unrelated to the position or is outdated. If you have made calculated decisions about your career, your current position should follow a practical progression toward the position you are applying for.

Between your current position, your loyalty (as shown by your prior job tenure), and your education, hiring managers will be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not to invite you for an interview.

Simple Resume Cover Letter | Relocation

October 1, 2016 By Simple Resume Team

infographic summarizing relocation tips for simple resume and simple resume cover letter writing

So, you’ve got your eyes set on the big city. Perhaps you’re looking to start a new life, a new career, make new friends, uncover better opportunities, or just looking for a change of pace. When you find a position during your job search that immediately sparks your interest and also allows you to relocate, it is critical to develop a simple resume cover letter suitable for the position. Though your experiences will eventually determine the chance of successfully of landing the job, it is important to utilize the following tips to allow you the best chances.

Slow Down

You’ve created a simple resume format that is optimized and built-for-performance, your simple resume cover letter is polished, and your LinkedIn profile can’t seem to keep hiring managers away! Before you begin to apply for the new position, take a second to look over the information you are about to provide the hiring manager. A tiny slip up can completely obliterate your chances of landing your dream job in your dream city.

When approaching the topic of relocating to a potential employer, there are a few different methods you can use to broach the topic during the job application process. In the initial stage, when you are creating your resume draft, the best practice is to be tactical about your current address on both your simple resume and simple resume cover letter. Taking a tactical approach with your address will prevent your document from being filtered out geographically by Applicant Tracking Systems.

Avoid Adding Your Current Address

DO NOT include your current physical address . Instead, provide a location that is in the general vicinity of where the job is located or where you are looking to relocate to. If you have a physical address belonging to friends or family, ask to use their address until you can obtain a more permanent one.

Keep in mind that if you are looking to relocate to a new city, you will need to have the flexibility of traveling to the desired destination with short notices for interviews. In case of this, make sure that you have travel funds ready or means to get to the location when needed!

Implement Relocation Strategy In Your Cover Letter

In addition to including the city and state you want to relocate to in the header of both your simple resume and cover letter, you’ll want to mention your relocation in the body of your cover letter for consistency. To properly design a simple resume cover letter for relocation, add a brief declaration of your interest in the role and use this section to explain that you are looking to move to the area.

In your explanation, be sure to provide a timeline of your expected move-in date as well. This is considered to be a strategy to avoid any concerns of a late start in a new position. If you know the employer is looking to hire on someone within the next month, be certain to state that you will be relocating within the next month and that the transition will not affect the hiring process.

Although it is important to mention the fact that you’re looking to relocate in your simple resume cover letter, remember to keep the focus on the value that you will bring to the organization. It is of critical importance to put more attention and emphasis on this rather than where you are currently located.

At the end of the day, there isn’t a single employer who would dare to hire someone who is unqualified for the position. Your qualifications alone will determine the process of gaining employment for a new role in a new location and company. Because of this, be sure to focus your efforts to highlight your strengths and accomplishments making them the focus of both your cover letter and resume.

Expect Nothing

You may have heard of some cases where employees receiving a special relocation package from their companies to assist with their relocation expenses. There are even many cases of employers paying the full expense of relocating including unpacking, finding temporary housing, and travel reimbursement.

However, even though you may be looking for relocation jobs, do not expect any help with your relocation. Companies are not obligated to pay relocation expenses. Thus, the company of interest can actually negate your job candidacy and find someone who is truly local to limit the costs of paying to relocate an employee.

Now that you’ve successfully brought up your moving plans briefly in your simple resume cover letter and your cost effective resume, you’ve essentially covered the bases. You didn’t hide that you were looking to relocate, you gave the employer an ideal timeline for your move, and you’ve prioritized highlighting your skills and qualifications to ensure that you’re a good hire. Once you have all of this information ready, it’s time to bring it home and allow your application to speak for itself!