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Most of us update our résumé only every few years at most- meaning that as times change, it can be difficult to know how to present this crucial document in the most effective and up-to-date way. That's why we've enlisted National Résumé Writers' Association President Mary Jo King and San José (Calif.) State University School of Information Student and Alumni Career Consultant Jill A. Klees to give the thumbs-up or thumbs-down on several common résumé practices.
Objectives
Once, many resumes led with a section titled "Objectives," listing what the applicant sought: "A challenging entry-level librarian position with opportunities for professional growth," for example.
No more. "We don't К do objectives anymore, because they all read the same," says King. Instead, she recommends a short opening summary that includes a positioning statement or slogan encapsulating what differentiates you from your competition. She recently crafted the following example: "Improving process, safety, and infrastructure for bottom-line results."
Keywords
The first eyes on your resume are unlikely to be human. Rather, most employers now use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to weed out the initial round of job seekers.
That ATS determines which applicants are qualified for an interview on the basis of keywords. So how do you know which keywords to include?
You mine them from the job posting, King explains. If the posting states that the employer is looking for an adult programming librarian to "provide readers' advisory and reference services," you'll want to make sure that your résumé includes the words "readers' advisory" and "reference," for example.
This is especially crucial when it comes to technological requirements, which an ATS often weights heavily....