In The Job Market? Here's Ten Things You Should Know About Resumes

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The resume is a marketing brochure – and you are the product. You need a powerful dynamic resume that stands out to sell your skills, experience, and the value you will bring to your next employer. Easy, right? Here are ten things you should know about your resume that can help boost your chances in the job search.

1. Modernize your resume. Your resume has two destinations – recruiters/hiring Managers and Applicant Tracking Systems (also known as an ATS, the system an employer uses to collect resumes) and you must tailor your resume for both audiences. Overall, this means a good-looking resume, in the proper format, that is highly readable, and loaded with keywords that will act as guides through the filters and algorithms the ATSs use to filter compare your qualifications to the job description.

2. Fifteen seconds. Ask a recruiter, and chances are they’ll tell you that’s the average amount of time it takes them to decide whether your resume goes up the ladder. It’s not fair, but that is the reality.

3. Two pages. With special exceptions for academics and scientists, it’s best if a resume does not exceed two pages for reasons of brevity and readability. In the case of an experienced professional, two pages is appropriate. For a recent graduate or someone in the infancy of his or her career (three years of work or less), one page should be sufficient.

4.  Use Microsoft Word. Yes, there are other applications that do the “same” thing (Apple Pages, Google Docs, etc.) but most Recruiters/Hiring Managers use MS Word and, in many cases the ATS is calibrated to Word since the majority of employers use the software. A resume built in MS Word maximizes the chances that when your recipient opens your resume file, or the information in it is uploaded to an ATS, it will look and read the way you intended.

5.  Use Universal Fonts. Do not get creative with fonts. Using universal fonts is best practice for written resumes, digital files, and uploads. Everyone has an opinion, but there are some standard fonts that are recommended, such as Arial, Calibri, Cambria, and Times New Roman. Almost every employer has these fonts on their computer, they’re professional, and the Applicant Tracking Systems expect them and can process them. It’s best to avoid Comic Sans and obscure fonts on the resume.

6.  Stick with one column. Do not use multiple columns or text boxes. Text formatted using these looks nice, but the ATS might just pass the text over. Tables should be used very sparingly. Tabs are your best friend.

7. One size does not fit all. Each job is different so each resume should be too. Take the time to edit your resume to align it with the job requirements of the position to which you are applying. Changes do not need to be drastic, just strategic. Punch your existing skills/experience/accomplishments that are the most closely associated with your target. Recruiters and hiring managers will most likely notice you took the time to do that.

8.  Do not use a photo. In the United States and many other regions, your resume should not have your photo. Your photo takes the focus off your skills and achievements and redirects it toward your appearance. And it’s just not standard.

9. Dump the old stuff. Your resume should be up to date and relevant. Do not go further back than ten years unless there’s a really compelling reason to do so. If you are a recent graduate, you can dump your graduation date after two years. As far as the content, unless it’s completely relevant to your job search, dump it.

10. Accomplishments sell. Job duties are required reading but aren’t exciting to a hiring manager. Your resume should not read like it was cut and pasted from a generic job listing. Your specific accomplishments speak to the value you could potentially bring to a position and offer you the opportunity to highlight your best work.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.

Is A Public Sector or Private Sector Career Best For Me?

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Many individuals, at some point in their career, face a decision whether to transition to or from jobs in the public sector (the part of the economy that is owned and operated by local, state, and/or federal government bodies) versus the private sector (the part of the economy driven by private individuals and privately owned companies, either for-profit and not-for-profit that is not owned by the government).

According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for 2018 the public sector employed 13.9% of the workforce (Federal – 1.7%, State & Local – 12.2%) and the Private Sector employed the remaining 86.1% (Goods-Producing, Services-Providing, Agriculture, Self-Employed). It’s difficult to make the case that taking a job in one sector is better than the other. Each provides its own benefits and rewards, and it usually comes down to alignment between personal goals and professional interests.

 Pros of the Public Sector:

• Most job opportunities are where you already live. State and local government are the primary public sector employers and the third highest employer in the country overall. (BLS, 2018)

• While public sector jobs tend not to pay as well as private sector jobs; but being a “public servant” can be rewarding and meaningful with greater work/life balance. And you serve your country or community.

• The public sector is not motivated by profit, but it is more often motivated by education, ideology, and ambition. If you are an educator or leader who wants to shape, influence, or improve the world, then may be for you.

• Public sector roles tend to offer more job security and financial options through instruments like credit unions (e.g. easier home loans/better mortgage rates), more robust health benefits, and retirement funds.

Pros of the Private Sector:

• The private sector provides the vast majority of career opportunities.

• On average, private sector workers tend to be paid more than their Public Sector counterparts. According to a Washington Post article, private sector employees exceeded federal salaries by an average of 32 percent.

• If you are an entrepreneur and wish to build a company and/or fortune from scratch, while retaining ownership, the only place to do it is in the private sector.

• There are 30.2 million small businesses in this country, which is 99.9% of all United States businesses (source: SBA Office of Advocacy, which defines a small business as a firm with fewer than 500 employees, 2019). Small businesses provide a great number of the career opportunities available.

• If you are motivated by some kind of social or cultural passion and profit, private sector nonprofit occupations may provide a great balance between compensation and working for the benefit of others.

There is also a vital nexus between the Public and Private sectors, which have additional “Pros”:

• In the sociological study of human civilizations, there is a consensus that societies with an active, symbiotic partnership between the public and private sectors have driven the most innovation and success. (Maps of Time, David Christian)

• There are many careers and many opportunities in both sectors that work in partnership with another. For example, research.

• Lucrative government contracts/grants/earmarks make their way from the public sector to the private sector on an annual basis.

• A “revolving door” between the public and private sectors means more career choices for you based on your personal needs and desires, which evolve over time.

Each sector has its own unique way of developing your skills. It’s worth researching which may support your unique goals in the best way, but ultimately work experience gained in one sector can only strengthen your performance in the other.

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.

Give Your Career A New Year’s Boost With Cost-Effective Skills Training

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Happy Holidays!

Whether you are employed or a job seeker, “Always Be Training” is more than advice. It may be the best thing you can do to for your career in today’s labor market.

According to a CNBC report this year, “Instead of emphasizing the need for specific titles and experience, organizations are shifting towards a focus on the skills that a potential employee may bring.” In the same report, Janelle Gale, Facebook’s Vice President of Human Resources, said, “We actually value skills over experience in the grand scheme of things.

That’s a pretty strong endorsement to always be training – especially when most roles do not require the technological prowess of your average Facebook employee. The advantages of continuous learning don’t stop there, and include:

1. Personal growth and development. No matter what tutorial, course, certification, or other form of continuing education you pursue, you can learn technical skills that are foundational to the profession of which you are a part, or transferable skills that are wanted by everyone everywhere.

2.  Advanced knowledge can only help you with job applications, ongoing work challenges, and future performance appraisals. This ties in with personal growth and development. Applying your new knowledge and skills to the endeavors noted above will better your overall position.

3.  Proficiency in certain systems or applications may be required or preferred for particular job roles. Great companies will institutionalize periodic training for its employees to maintain a competitive edge. If you work in such an environment you may be required to engage in such training programs, which can often be in your best long-term interests; or continuing education options may be offered, in which case you should always take advantage of them. In the absence of such a structure, it is incumbent on employees and job seekers to independently seek out additional training to maintain their competitive edge as well. If you are passive, you could fall behind and fade away.

4.  Job recruiters and hiring managers will take positive note of candidates who use their time to keep current on the technical skills needed in their profession. Sometimes it really is the effort that counts. Job candidates who demonstrate a tangible commitment to learning or keeping current with the appropriate skills can keep themselves in demand.

According to a recent LinkedIn article, the top five “in-demand” hard and soft skills of 2019 were:

Hard Skills:

1.     Cloud Computing

2.     Artificial Intelligence

3.     Analytical Reasoning

4.     People Management

5.     UX Design

Soft Skills:

1.     Creativity

2.     Persuasion

3.     Collaboration

4.     Adaptability

5.     Time Management

It follows that the type of person the most “in-demand” would possess all of these skills. Let’s focus on the top skill in each category – Cloud Computing and Creativity. Cloud Computing is a technical skill. Creativity is a transferable skill. Someone with the technical skill and creativity to adapt it to whatever public good or business purpose is involved would be a real stand-out, and both hard skills like Cloud Computing and soft skills like Creativity can be pursued as formal courses and/or certifications.

Take special note that soft “transferable” skills are extremely important, yet there is no universal way of measuring those skills and, while they may be instrumental to your job duties, are still probably not taught in any formal manner. Continuous training may be the only way to add new vital skills to your repertoire and prove you can walk the walk on your resume.

There are many ways to “Always Be Training.” And many of them won’t break the bank.

• Local resources like colleges/community colleges. If you live in an area with a major college/university or community college, many offer courses and diploma programs for adults and are an excellent resource for working professionals who want to pursue continuing education. For example, the 100-year-old UCLA Extension program is one of the oldest and largest providers of adult education. Research your local options.

• Specialty institutes. There are many professional organizations that specialize in a specific area and/or are certifying bodies in their particular field. For example, the Project Management Institute is the certifying body for Project Managers and develops the curriculum and exam for the universally recognized Project Manager Professional certification (PMP).

• Specialty certifications. There are many vendor neutral professional certifications that may be administered by a variety of accredited outlets, but are considered best in class standards for those that hold them. For example, the Information Technology Infrastructure Language (ITIL) certification signifies a person, or department, is educated in IT Service Management best practices.

• Online resources. Yes, we do live in the best of all possible worlds. So many choices!

• YouTube: Don’t knock You Tube until you try it. It has videos on how to do almost anything, including polishing your professional skills. For example, when I searched “Salesforce”, the wildly popular Customer Relationship Management application, not only does Salesforce the company have its own YouTube channel (by subscription), so many Salesforce related videos came up it was impossible to scroll through them all. YouTube is a great place to start.

• LinkedIn Learning – LinkedIn Learning (which incorporated online e-learning brand Lynda) has over 15,000 online courses with a focus on business. They offer a free trial for 1 month, after which it is a monthly all-access subscription for $19.99 a month.

• Udemy – An e-learning platform offering 130,000 courses in 60 languages to 40 million students. Priced per course starting at $12.99.

• Coursera – Coursera offers many courses and professional certifications from prestigious colleges, universities, and companies worldwide. Membership in Coursera is free and so are thousands of courses. For courses that cost money, prices start at $39.99. Pricing for advanced certification and online degree programs are commiserate with current market values. For example, an online degree program from Arizona State University will run you $15,000.

• Global Knowledge/ Axelos / Udacity – These are leading IT centric e-learning platforms that cover every major IT course or certification. Prices vary widely depending on topic/level/specialty.

• edX – FREE online courses from prestigious universities. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds. However, always read the fine print. The course may be free, but if you want a “verified certificate” (so you can prove you took/passed the course) it will cost you $50 and up.

• Futurelearn – e-learning site with course/certifications/degrees from top colleges and universities. They have a tiered pricing system. Free courses have restrictions. You can “upgrade” a free course to have access to it in perpetuity and get a “verified certificate”. You can pay $250 a year for unlimited courses. And like any online college/university degree programs, fees can reach into the thousands.

• Corporate Finance Institute – This financial e-learning company is for financial analysts who specialize in modeling and valuation. I know that sounds very narrow, but CFI is in the Top 10 of e-learning sites by volume of traffic.

Everywhere you turn on the electronic highway there is someone who wants to teach you something that will enhance your life and career. It has never been easier to “Always Be Training.” Take the plunge and you may just get hooked!

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Philip Roufail contributed to this article.

Scott Singer is the President and Founder of Insider Career Strategies Resume Writing & Career Coaching, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process. Insider Career Strategies provides resume writing, LinkedIn profile development, career coaching services, and outplacement services. You can email Scott Singer at scott.singer@insidercs.com, or via the website, www.insidercareerstrategies.com.