Resume trends in 2017: What to keep and what to ditch

Members Only jackets, MC Hammer pants, resumes…yes, resumes!  Resumes, like fashion, have trends that come and go. To be competitive in your job search, you need to stay on top of what’s hot and what’s not!

Based on the article, “ What Your Resume Should Look Like in 2017,” from TIME, the following are some current trends to keep in mind when drafting your first resume or updating your current one:

  1. No more old-fashioned name and address

Your heading should include:

  • Name (14-16 font)
  • Phone Number (remember to have a professional outgoing message)
  • Email address (a current and professional email address is best, such as a Gmail.  An AOL or Yahoo account can indicate that you are behind on technology trends)
  • Links to your LinkedIn profile or professional website (this directs the reader to samples of your work and can showcase your writing and creative abilities)
  1. Fonts are not forever

  • The ever-popular Times New Roman is now considered outdated. Take the opportunity to explore other fonts such as Arial, Verdana, Calibri or Georgia. They provide a clean look and are not so extreme as to distract the reader from the content.
  1. Dump the objective

  • Consider including a “Professional Profile” or “Summary of Qualifications” rather than objective statement toward the top of the resume to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to read further.
  • Highlight and quantify achievements and unique skills. How much revenue did you generate? How quickly were you promoted?
  1. “Keywords” are Key

  • Be thoughtful of your keyword choices and get more bang for your buck! Review the job posting that you are interested in and weave those words into your resume.
  • Don’t highlight common words such as “team player,” but rather specific skills likely to be picked up by ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). A tool, such as Wordle, can be helpful. It allows you to view a document’s text, in order of importance and frequency. By comparing the text of a job description to your resume, you can ensure inclusion of important keywords.
  1. Remember to be relevant

  • Highlight skills that are relevant and solutions to employer’s problems. Adapt for each job you apply.
  • Rule of thumb may be to include your professional experience up to 10-15 years back. However, relevancy to the job can help you determine to include or not.

 

While this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to resume trends, it is important to remember that hiring managers spend six seconds reviewing a resume before deciding whether to go further. It is always helpful to have a trained professional review your resume prior to embarking on a job search. For assistance, feel free to contact your AthLife Advisor.