"My resume doesn't accurately present my experience and skills; I prefer to talk to a recruiter face-to-face". "I have an unconventional career path that is difficult to summarize on a CV". Have you ever used one of these phrases?
Whether you like it or not, the Curriculum Vitae (or LinkedIn profile) is still an integral part of most recruitment processes. It is therefore essential that it accurately presents your experience and skills, even if you consider that you have an unconventional career path.
So let's look at 3 tips to implement for a better resume, regardless of your personal and professional background.
To make sure you put all the important elements in your resume, first read our article on the basic structure of a resume.
Write your Resume Based on the Position you Want
A resume cannot be tailored to every industry and every type of position that exists. So, if you are looking for a position that is different from what you have done previously, or if you are trying to change industries, adjustments should be made to your resume.
To begin, you will need to ask yourself what type of position you are looking for. The idea is to establish at least the field and level of the position you are seeking.
Field and Specialty: In what field are you looking for a job? The more specific you are, the more focused your search can be. To give you a concrete example, marketing is considered a field while social media management, content marketing and public relations are marketing specialties.
If you are not sure what field you want to work in, a guidance counselor can help guide you.
Level: Are you looking for an entry-level, intermediate or senior position? A position with or without management?
Once you have a better idea of your aspirations, you can then search on LinkedIn, Indeed or Payscale for example. Look at different job postings that match what you're looking for and note the words used, the skills needed and any other recurring details in the job postings.
Then reuse the same keywords and skills in your own resume. This is not about copying and pasting every keyword you find, but rather selecting the ones that apply to you. You should always be honest in a resume, but making a careful selection of the skills you actually have (to fit the role you are seeking) will help you create a better resume.
Highlight your Transversal Skills in your Resume
Once you have identified the experiences and skills sought by various companies in your field, it is time to analyze your other skills. In addition to the keywords directly related to the position you are seeking, transversal skills can be useful.
Transversal skills, or transferable skills, are often referred to as "soft skills". These are interpersonal skills that can be useful in several positions.
Examples of Transferable Skills:
- • Autonomy
- • Project management skills
- • Attention to detail
- • Creativity
- • Analytical skills
- • Organization
- • Communication
- • Versatility
- • Ability to adapt
- • Leadership
- • Fast learning
Also, don't forget to list all the software that you master and are related to the position you are applying for. Again, you can find the relevant software in the job postings available on the internet.
Avoid cluttering your resume with software that you will not use in your new position or field. For example, if you have an administrative profile and are familiar with Sage 50, it may not be useful to add it to your resume if you are applying for a position in Content Marketing.
Create a Common Thread in your Curriculum Vitae
Recruiters like consistency. So you have to help them see the common thread in your career path.
Do not hesitate to simplify your professional background. Your relevant experiences should contain the most details, while your experiences that are less related to the position should be summarized in just a few words, with 1 or 2 transversal skills if necessary.
This is especially important if you have more than 10 years of experience in the workforce. If you were an accountant 30 years ago and are applying for marketing management positions, it may be best to prioritize your relevant experience over your accounting experience.
If you ONLY have experience that is not related to the new position you are applying for, put forward your transversal skills, as mentioned above.
Keep your resume simple and free of outdated information. Remember that the goal is not to lie, but rather to convey in a few lines what you would have explained in person to a recruiter. Your resume should be seen as a kind of sales pitch that makes recruiters want to call you to find out more.
But what if you find that you need more than a resume to explain your unconventional career path? A cover letter, while not absolutely necessary, can help you stand out and explain your career. You can send your cover letter in PDF format, or in an application email. Check out our article on how to write a foolproof application email.
Would you like some assistance in writing your resume? Employment centers and Services Québec agents can help you. Consult the Employment Assistance Organizations Directory.
Ready to send us your optimized resume? Send it to info@thorens-solutions.com or create your Candidate Account on our website.
