People who hire a professional resume writer increase their chances of being hired by 32%. One reason for this is that professional resume writers know how to navigate resume writing rules and the ATS so your resume shines. It’s hard to write a professional resume if you’re wondering should a resume be in the past tense or what sections to include. A professional knows the tips and tricks to make your resume the best version it can be. However, it’s still important for you to understand the strategy behind a resume. In this article, we cover resume tenses and why they’re important. Why Is Resume Tense Important? First, resume tense is important because it lets the reader know if you are currently doing something or if it’s in the past. Using present and past tense throughout your resume helps to weave your story in a compelling way that keeps readers engaged. Second, it’s a must for consistency. One of the big differentiators between a professionally written resume and one that is not is consistency. Using the same tense for each section is a must to make your document as professional as possible. Should a Resume Be in the Past Tense? There are many debates about what tense a resume should be in. Some people wonder “should I use past tense in my resume?” while others contemplate “shouldn’t my resume be in the present tense?” The answer is…you should use both. Writing a resume is a strategic process where you target your next job while also highlighting your accomplishments and strengths. So, it makes sense that you would use past tense for your previous jobs and accomplishments. This is because they have already happened and aren’t a current or ongoing part of your career. Example Past Tense Verbs Here is a list of common past tense verbs used in resumes: Managed Maintained Oversaw Led Directed Conceptualized Organized Coordinated Planned Of course, there are many more. A professional writer can help you to diversify the language used in your document so it isn’t repetitive or boring to read. When Should a Resume Be in the Present Tense? On your resume, the current job tense is always present. This is because you are currently and actively completing these functions. However, when writing the accomplishments for this section, you must use the past tense. For example, if you won an award three years ago, it wouldn’t make sense to have it in the present tense. It’s completed at this point and is a part of your past. Additionally, when writing a professional summary for the top of the resume, you should use the present tense. This is where you communicate your value and strengths, so it should be current. Example Present Tense Verbs Here are a few present tense verbs used commonly in resumes: Direct Improve Advise Reduce Strategize Collaborate Supervise Train Prioritize This list is not exhaustive. It’s best to use as many different verbs as you can throughout your resume. Present Tense Resume Example For those interested in seeing present tense verbs in action, here is a short example: Direct daily operations for team of 15 while defining strategies and business plans. Lead team in executing projects, initiatives, and recommended upgrades. Arrange weekly meetings to discuss progress and brainstorm new ideas. Collaborate with leaders to plan various events to increase customer and employee engagement. Past Tense Resume Example And here is the past tense example: Oversaw talented team of 30 in delivering large-scale projects to improve processes, systems, and procedures. Partnered cross-functionally with departments to execute strategies and plans focused on operational excellence, cost savings, and business expansion. Slashed expenses by implementing internal controls and budget procedures. Mixed Tense Resume Example A mixed-tense example would be a present role with accomplishments. For example: Lead daily functions while supervising all accounts receivable and payable activities. Reconcile accounts, identify discrepancies, and consolidate accounts. Monitor internal controls and expenses to maintain profit margin. Saved $500K in annual costs by eliminating external payroll firm and moving functions in-house. Spearheaded improvement project to assess accounting controls and processes, identify areas for improvement, and recommend changes to executive leadership. As you can see, the paragraph explaining the daily functions is in the present tense. This area includes activities you do every day or on the regular. The accomplishments are achievements you have already completed, so they are in the past tense. Why You Shouldn’t Use Plural or Gerund Your resume is written in first-person, with an assumptive “I” at the beginning of each sentence. When you start each sentence with a verb, it should be singular. Adding -s, -es, or -ing to the verbs, in the beginning, can throw off the entire resume strategy and how it reads. Adding an ending to verbs throughout a sentence is okay, like in the examples above. The reason for this is that you want your resume to read like you are speaking directly to the person looking at it. “I managed this” or “I directed that.” It doesn’t make sense to include -s because you wouldn’t say “I manages this” or “I directs that.” Get Help Today Writing Your Resume This article answers the question “should a resume be in the past tense?” We hope you have a better understanding of when to write your resume in past or present tense. We know it is confusing at times to know all the resume writing rules. That’s why we are here to help! Don’t spend your time wondering what tense to use in your resume, leave it to the professionals. Contact us today to get started on your new career path.
Functional Resume: How to Write One and When to Use It
On average, 118 people apply for a single job opening. When you think about that, it’s clear why having a great resume that showcases your strengths is a must if you want to get your dream job. Of course, what a great resume looks like varies from person to person. While hiring managers expect to see a reverse-chronological resume, some job seekers need a functional resume. If you think you need a functional resume, then keep reading. You’ll learn more about what it is, when to use it, and how to write it. What Is a Functional Resume? There are three widely accepted resume formats: chronological, functional, and hybrid (sometimes called combination). The chronological resume lists your employment history in reverse chronological order. A functional resume, often called a skills-based resume, focuses on skills and achievements instead of dates. And the combination resume has both chronological and functional sections. Click to see a functional resume example. When Should You Use a Functional Resume? There are many different reasons someone would need a functional resume. The most common reason is that you have gaps in your work history. This could be due to several occurrences, but it makes your resume look less than appealing nonetheless. Another common reason is people who have held too many jobs. For example, say you have worked for a bunch of different companies in the same type of role and don’t want to look like a job hopper. You could use a functional resume to focus on the skills rather than where you have worked and for how long. Additionally, career changers often turn to a functional resume. When changing to a new career, you don’t have the experience they want to see. But…you probably have more than a few of the skills needed. This type of resume focuses on those so you can make yourself an attractive candidate in a new industry. It’s important to note that functional resumes are not ideal and should only be used when absolutely necessary. Many recruiters are wary of functional resumes and feel job seekers have something to hide when using them. How to Write a Functional Resume: The functional resume format is a bit different from the traditional reverse-chronological document. Contact Information At the very top of your resume, you must have your contact information. This seems like a given, but it’s not. You have to have a way for the hiring manager to contact you! When creating this section, include: First and last name Email (please make it a professional one) City, state, and zip code Phone number LinkedIn link And that’s it! Many recruiters have turned to social media to beg job applicants not to put their entire address on resumes anymore. It creates a host of security concerns for companies. There have also been instances of discrimination against job seekers based on their address. Create a Summary Directly following your contact information, you should have a high-level professional summary. This should be an introduction to the reader that captures their attention about who you are and what you bring to a company. An example summary: Highly ambitious sales professional with vast experience in forging lasting relationships with key clients and account holders to maximize sales and revenue. Leverage written and verbal communication skills to drive client engagement and retention. Detail-oriented individual able to collaborate with teams to facilitate culture of cohesion and accountability. Highlight Your Strengths This is the star of the show for a functional resume. You want to showcase your strengths and competencies in this section. It should be the largest one on the document. You should list each skill with a few examples or a paragraph about it. Here is an example: Communications: articulate communicator able to convey vital information to leadership while applying interpersonal skills to build relationships with clients. Alerted leadership of ongoing documentation error causing clients to receive inaccurate account closure notices, leading to 30% reduction in escalated calls. Engaged with key clients, forging strong relationships and influencing decision-making to generate $15K in additional revenue. Work History When writing your work history, you want to keep it short and to the point. You should only list the past 10-15 years of experience. If you have held several roles with the same title, it’s ok to combine them to make it less obvious. It should look like this: Great Companies, Somewhere, VA: Sales Agent (2012-2022) Other Great Companies, Everywhere, VA: Sales Associate (2008-2012) If you have large gaps, you should leave the years off completely. It would look like this: Great Companies, Somewhere, VA: Sales Agent Other Great Companies, Everywhere, VA: Sales Associate The Best Company, Nowhere, VA: Sales Representative Credentials Your credentials section will include: Education Training Certifications or licenses You should only list training or certifications relevant to the job you are targeting. For example, if you are a certified camp counselor but are applying for a financial advisor role, it’s not important to list. Additional Information This section is optional and should only be included if there is room. Common information found here includes: Awards or honors Publications Technical proficiencies Board memberships Professional organization membership Get Your New Resume Started Today Now you understand what a functional resume is and when you should use it. If you are still confused or just don’t want to write it, we are here to help! There are many different types of resumes, and it’s difficult to know which is best. This is why hiring a professional resume writer is a good idea. Check out our services or contact us to get started.
What is an applicant tracking system (ATS) and how do you get past it?
What do you know about Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)? Job seeking can sometimes be compared to throwing your resume into a black hole. You go through 100 listings on any job search website and complete the online application with zero results. Ever have that happen? The problem is that you’re probably not putting the correct keywords into your resume. When you hit “Submit” on an online application, it isn’t automatically emailed to the hiring manager. It goes through this computer system that scrubs your resume for specific keywords that are found in the job description posted by the company. It also looks for years of experience and education, among other things. Know your audience & have a back-up plan Your resume must be written to impress 2 audiences — the ATS and a hiring manager. Having a document that speaks to a computer and a human being can be a daunting task. Many resume writers will tell you that you need to stand out in the sea of sameness by adding some personality to your resume through design. The name of the game is to always have your resume at the top of the stack. What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)? An ATS is a software application used by the majority of companies to manage and streamline their recruitment process. Its primary function is to scan and assess the multitude of resumes and job applications received for a vacancy. The ATS serves as an automated screening tool, helping recruiters and HR professionals identify the most qualified candidates swiftly and efficiently. How Does an ATS Work? ATS systems work by parsing and analyzing the content of resumes and job applications. They are programmed to search for specific keywords, qualifications, and other criteria that match the job description. The system assigns a score to each application, ranking candidates based on their alignment with the job requirements. Some resume No-No’s related to the ATS Once you’ve narrowed down your target career path and are getting ready to apply for jobs it’s important to be sure your resume will not be rejected. Here are some tips to help make sure your resume won’t end up in a digital nowhere land: Jargon and buzzwords: (1) they are probably not lending any value to your resume that will get you past the ATS, and hiring managers hate seeing “experienced go-getter,” self-motivated,” and “dedicated, reliable individual.” Overly designed resumes: Many job seekers feel like they’ll stand out from the crowd by having a creative-looking resume. The fact is that ATS cannot properly parse information from these resumes as they can’t read the information in text boxes, graphs, charts, or tables, nor can they read images. If the ATS can’t read it, it will be rejected. Font & margins: Make sure you’re using the right font, keep the font size to at least 10pt, and have margins that are no less than 1/2″. Some acceptable fonts are Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, Tahoma, Trebuchet, and Veranda. Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume for each job application by incorporating relevant keywords and phrases from the job posting. Mirror the language used in the job description to increase your chances of being flagged as a strong match. Use a Standard Resume Format: Stick to traditional resume formats like the reverse-chronological style. ATS systems are more adept at parsing and understanding these formats, ensuring that your information is correctly interpreted. Optimize Your Keywords: Identify the essential keywords related to your industry and profession. Include these keywords strategically in your resume, especially in the skills, qualifications, and work experience sections. Watch Your File Type: Save your resume in a format that the ATS can easily process, such as .docx or .pdf. Avoid less common file types to ensure compatibility. Include Relevant Sections: Make sure your resume contains essential sections like contact information, a summary or objective statement, work experience, education, and skills. ATS systems may not recognize content placed in unconventional sections. Quantify Achievements: Wherever possible, quantify your achievements with specific numbers and percentages. This makes it easier for both ATS systems and human recruiters to assess your qualifications. Proofread and Avoid Spelling Errors: An error-free resume is essential. Spelling mistakes or typos can lead to automatic rejection by the ATS. Review your resume carefully to ensure accuracy. Mastering the ATS is Your Pathway to Unlocking Job Opportunities An Applicant Tracking System is a crucial element of modern recruitment, helping companies efficiently manage a large volume of applications. To succeed in today’s job market, it’s essential to understand how ATS works and how to tailor your resume to navigate it successfully. By customizing your resume, optimizing keywords, and following best practices, you can increase your chances of passing through the ATS and getting one step closer to your desired job interview. Remember, with the right approach, the ATS can become your ally in landing the job of your dreams. Let us help you not only understand the intricacies of ATS but also create a winning resume that breezes through these digital gatekeepers. Let us help you not only understand the intricacies of ATS but also create a winning resume that breezes through these digital gatekeepers. Contact Us Today
Your resume should have at least these 6 sections
Considering that your resume is probably the most important financial document you’ll ever own, making sure that it is properly crafted is of the utmost importance. Did you wrinkle your brow at the concept of a resume being a financial document? Let’s think about it for a second. Without a job, you can’t pay bills, go on vacation, or plan for retirement. Without a great resume, you can’t win the interview that will land the job. Now that’s settled, let’s dive into the 6 sections that must always be on your resume. Your resume and the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Before a hiring manager even lays eyes on your resume, it often undergoes scrutiny by the ATS. These systems meticulously scan resumes, searching for relevant keywords, experience, and education. Properly structuring your resume, with the reverse-chronological format being the most common choice, along with the correct section headers, is crucial for getting past the ATS. So, what are the sections that you need on your resume? Contact information Your contact details should take the prime position at the top of the page. Do not bury them in the footer or set them as a header. Make them an integral part of your document to ensure the hiring manager can easily find your information. Placing it in the footer can make it difficult for the ATS to parse your details. You can creatively style your contact information with bold fonts and a subtle border to set it apart from the body of your resume. Title You should add a title, centered on a line by itself just below your contact info. It will represent what you want to do and will mirror the job description. A hiring manager will only spend about 6 seconds glancing at your resume. A title will help them immediately know what your job goal is. Be creative here! If the job description mentions the need to fill a position for a Nurse Practitioner, you need to include those words in your title. However, you can expand on that a bit to stand out from the crowd. Use something like “Patient-Centric Nurse Practitioner” instead. Professional summary The very next thing on the page should always be your Professional Summary, Career Summary, Professional Profile, or whatever else you want to call it. This is a 3-5 sentence statement about you that basically answers the Tell me about yourself interview question. Where you’ve been in your career, where you’re going, and how you’ll use your experience to get there. The days of writing an Objective are dead (by the way, the days of the one-page resume are dead, too). Just beneath the professional summary will be a SKILLS list. This is a simple list of 9-12 keywords. It’s a mix of hard skills (things you know how to do because of education and experience) and soft skills (personality traits). This list is directly targeted to the program/job you’re applying to. Professional experience Begin by listing your most recent position first and work your way back to your first position. However, don’t go further back than about 10 years. Keeping the content on your resume within the last 10 years ensures that it is fresh and current. The main idea here is context. You want to put what you did into a context that the hiring manager can relate to the job she is trying to fill. So, you worked at Burgers R Us as a Front Counter Manager and you trained the new employees. That’s great! Put two words into your brain right now, “so what?” The hiring manager is going to be thinking, you might as well be thinking it. Every time you write something on your resume, think “so what?” Why am I writing this? What value did it add to my employment at Burgers R Us? What value will it bring to my new employer? Additionally, it is important to talk about what you achieved instead of just what your responsibilities were. Just because you were supposed to do something at your last job doesn’t mean you actually did it. If you talk about what you achieved, you can better showcase how you will help the company to which you’re applying. Don’t forget about achievements: There needs to be at least 5 measurable accomplishments listed on your resume. These can be qualitative or quantitative. For example, a great quantitative achievement would be to talk about how many students you teach or what percentage you’ve been able to raise test scores. “Reviewed TABE test scores to ascertain student shortfalls and used those inefficiencies as opportunities for improvement, resulting in a 15% increase in scores over the prior year.” Education This section seems fairly self-explanatory. A huge opportunity is missed by a lot of people in the education section, though. Instead of just listing your degree and where you went to school, you can further demonstrate your knowledge by listing some of the courses you took. Now, if you took Art Appreciation as an elective, it probably will not help to list that (unless you’re going into a creative field). DO NOT list your high school. If you have higher education, the assumption is that you finished high school or at least obtained your GED, as you can’t get into college without one or the other. Even if you have no higher education, my suggestion would still be not to list your high school; just leave the education section completely off your resume. Listing high school doesn’t say, “I finished high school,” it says, “I didn’t go to college.” The absence of the education section will not cause you to miss out on an interview; however, it will give you and the interviewer something to talk about. Awards, certifications, and volunteer work It is important to list what you do outside of work and school. The idea of listing awards and certificates is fairly common, but many people leave off volunteer work. Were you the president of
The reverse chronological resume is the best format for landing your dream job
When it comes to job hunting, your resume is your golden ticket. It’s the first impression you’ll make on potential employers and plays a crucial role in securing an interview. Among the various resume formats available, the reverse-chronological resume stands out as the preferred choice for job seekers. There are a lot of job seekers who think the way to stand out from the crowd during a job search is to have a creatively designed — pretty — resume. However, the reverse chronological resume is the best format to use for landing your dream job. In this article, we will explore why the reverse-chronological resume is the best format to use when applying for jobs and how it can help you showcase your qualifications and experiences effectively. Why should you avoid heavily formatted, creative resumes? A quick Google search for a resume template will produce hundreds of thousands of heavily formatted and over-designed resume styles. Opting for such formats significantly heightens the risk of encountering rejection by the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), a tool utilized by more than 90% of companies. ATS systems meticulously scan resumes for various elements, including years of experience, educational qualifications, relevant keywords, font, and margin specifications, and the number of quantifiable accomplishments presented. If the system struggles to interpret these components, it automatically dismisses the resume. The most prevalent consequence of ATS rejection is the phenomenon known as “ghosting.” In this scenario, the system promptly discards the resume without ever forwarding it to a human evaluator. Consequently, those responsible for hiring remain oblivious to the job seeker’s existence, and no follow-up communication is initiated. Furthermore, overly stylized and creatively designed resumes can divert attention away from their substantive content, making it arduous for employers to pinpoint essential information. Moreover, it’s imperative to recognize that creative resumes may not align with the expectations of all industries or positions. In conservative sectors such as finance or law, a flamboyant and imaginative resume could be perceived as unprofessional. Therefore, it is crucial to take into account industry standards and the preferences of the hiring organization when deliberating on the format of your resume. The overall advice you’ll receive from recruiters, hiring managers, and resume writers is to use a reverse-chronological resume While there are 3 widely accepted formats that you can use for your resume — the reverse-chronological, the functional, and the hybrid — the most popular is the reverse-chronological. Hiring managers like to see the reverse-chronological format because they know exactly where the information is and can quickly ascertain whether a candidate seems like a good fit for their open position. 1. Highlighting Your Recent Achievements The reverse-chronological resume format places your most recent work experiences at the top, making them the focal point for recruiters. This is important because employers are often more interested in what you’ve been doing recently rather than what you did several years ago. By starting with your most recent job and working backward, you immediately present your current skill set and expertise. 2. Tailoring Your Resume for Each Job Application Customization is key when applying for jobs, and the reverse-chronological format makes it easier to tailor your resume for each position. You can prioritize and emphasize the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the specific job you’re applying for. This flexibility ensures that your resume aligns perfectly with the requirements of the role. 3. Building Trust and Familiarity Recruiters and hiring managers are accustomed to the reverse-chronological format. Its familiarity and clarity make it easier for them to quickly assess your qualifications and compare your profile with other candidates. This ease of evaluation can work to your advantage, as it increases the likelihood that your resume will receive thorough consideration. 4. Demonstrating Career Progression One of the key advantages of the reverse-chronological format is that it allows you to showcase your career progression. Employers want to see that you have been steadily advancing in your field and gaining more responsibility over time. This format makes it easy for them to trace your professional journey and see how you’ve grown in your career. 5. Addressing Employment Gaps If you have experienced gaps in your employment history, the reverse-chronological resume can help you handle this issue strategically. By placing the focus on your most recent jobs, you can minimize the visibility of any gaps in your work history. Additionally, you can explain employment gaps in your cover letter, ensuring that you control the narrative and present yourself in the best possible light. Here is an example of a great reverse-chronological resume: Some tips to ensure your job search success In order to keep your resume current and fresh, stick to detailing out only the last 10 years of experience. Unless you’ve participated in some major research projects, have done a lot of public speaking, or have published works, keep your resume to no more than 2 pages. There may be times when it is appropriate to omit career details from your history. The reverse-chronological resume format reigns supreme with an emphasis on achievements and career progression. If you’re on the hunt for your dream job, remember that the reverse-chronological resume is your secret weapon for success. Craft your resume with care, and watch as it opens doors to exciting career opportunities. Contact Us Today
How to tailor your resume to different jobs
Perhaps the biggest mistake job seekers make is to use the same resume for multiple job applications. Sending the same resume over and over again is what causes companies to ghost job seekers, leaving you with almost no chance of landing an interview. To stand a better chance, you need to know how to tailor your resume to different job descriptions. Start with a base resume and then customize it to match a particular job description before sending it. Why must you tailor your resume? Tailoring your resume demonstrates how your skills and experience match the job. It is what recruiters look for and shows that you’re the best candidate for a particular position. In addition to crafting a resume that shows impressive you are as a person, hiring managers want your resume to show that you are a good fit for their specific job opening. So how do you do it? Use keywords to tailor your resume Learning to tailor your resume with the relevant keywords gives you a better chance of getting a callback. With every job, you will find specific duties listed in the job description. You have to showcase how you can carry out these duties. For instance, if you’re applying to a position for Software Developer, a company will likely require you to be proficient in Java. A critical thing to note is that leveraging keywords will help you convince the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Ideally, you use the job advertisement and customize the following sections: Resume title Your resume title is also known as the resume headline, and it is a preview of your resume in a few words. For every resume you send out, ensure that the title is specific to that position. It is a great way to modify your resume to target the job. If you apply for the Software Developer position, ensure that the two words appear in your resume title. Summary profile The position summary is the overview of the duties the job will entail. You can use it to get some keywords to include in your profile paragraph. It goes hand in hand with the responsibilities section, which gives the duties in more detail. The best thing is to ensure that your resume indicates that you can perform these tasks as required. The tasks will revolve around your soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills are a representation of your personality and include work ethic, adaptability, and confidence. Hard skills are those that you acquire through education and experience. For a Software Developer position, for example, they can include Java, C++, and web design. Remember that you are not just listing the skills. You must provide details and the achievements around the skills. Core competencies This is the list of skills just below your profile section. While the skills you possess are important, it’s MORE important to target your resume to the job description. As you compare your current skills list with that of the job posting make note of keywords that you’re not using and include them here. Use your employment history to tailor your resume It might be tempting to leave your employment history intact, but editing it can give you a better chance at getting callbacks. Make sure to align your achievements with the job in question. Bottom-line The ATS will scan your resume for things like years of experience, education, and relevant keywords. Pay close attention to the requirements and customize your base resume with relevant keywords to avoid being rejected by the scanners. Always Typing has built a reputation for crafting resumes that get past the ATS and impress hiring managers. Upload your resume below to find out if it will win the interview. Contact Us Today
