Redesigning Your Resume

Anytime of year is a great time for some cleaning up of your resume, but the beginning of the year is an even greater time. In addition to sprucing up your home, you might want to revise your resume. The last few years have made some significant changes to the modern resume format, and old or antiquated resumes could leave you looking a little behind the times. If your resume feels so 2015, here are some ideas for redesigning your resume.

Redesigning Your Resume:
What's Changed for 2016

• One page resumes are obsolete. The "one page" format for a resume originated decades ago, when people could be reasonably expected to work for only one or two companies their entire lives. The modern employee has significantly more experience. Your resume should be as brief and concise as possible, but it does not have to be a single page.
• Your personal contact information has changed. You don't need to put your home address on your resume anymore: it's more hurtful than it is helpful. When you put your address on your resume, you open yourself up to potential discrimination; employers may not want someone with a long commute, or at the "bad side" of town. You do, however, need to put your email address.
• Emphasize your achievements. Though experience matters, modern HR managers are looking for things that you specifically accomplished, rather than just time that you spent at a job. Don't be afraid to boast! Modern HR managers also understand the value of non-typical experiences, such as taking online courses or gaining additional certifications.

Resume Templates from Canva

The Technical Side of Redesigning Your Resume

Modern resumes aren't just viewed by people: they're also viewed by computers. In fact, resumes are usually viewed through the lens of computer analysis before ever reaching the desk of a person. Software solutions are used to analyze resumes and look for certain keywords, such as skill sets. To get through these filters, you need to make sure that your resume hits upon all of the things that a potential employer could be searching for. Be both specific and broad with your expertise: you may want to list both "Word Processing" and "Microsoft Word," not one or the other.

PDF remains the most popular format, and it is the only way to ensure that your resume looks as it should to the individual receiving it. Though most resumes won't be printed out, you should still limit your resume to only a few colors -- and make sure that it prints visibly in black and white. It's also a good idea to keep an entirely plain text copy of your resume in Notepad or another program. Many online application processes ask you to copy and paste your resume in; this will facilitate the process.

Designing a resume can be a challenge. Sometimes it's worth it to invest in professional resume services -- they can give you a good starting point and put a bolder, more confident spin on your accomplishments and experience.

For more information about improving your resume and succeeding in your job search, consider contacting Artisan Talent today. Looking for a job to send that redesigned resume to? Check out our available openings here.