3 Tips to Pandemic Proofing Your Resume Now
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Is it time to update your resume? Even if you’re not job hunting right now, the answer is probably yes. I’m going to dig into a few ways to get started with those updates so you can get one step closer to being ready for your dream job, as soon as it opens up.
Pandemic proof your resume by preparing before you’re ready.
Pandemic proofing your resume doesn’t start on the day that you get laid off or find a job posting that finally speaks to your full skillset and passions. It starts when things are working so that you can take advantage of an opportunity versus scrambling to put together a resume and cover letter that works overnight.
Updating your resume before you need to apply for jobs allows you to do so without the stress of worry and deadlines. You’ll be able to take your time and put your best foot forward. When you have wins at work, you’ll be able to more quickly incorporate them into your up to date resume.
So, if you’re reading this from the desk (work from home desk counts) of a job you hope will make it through the pandemic and want to prepare in case the worst happens, start now.
Already out of work with an out of date resume? No worries. You can still create from a place of peace. Just make sure to take a break every now and then.
Pandemic proof your resume by tailoring it with buzzwords from your dream job
The best resumes are not made in a vacuum but instead are heavily influenced by the job you hope to land with it. When you sit down to rewrite your resume, start by grabbing 2-3 job postings for jobs that you would love to have. From there, you want to:
Incorporate keywords from the postings in your resume.
Include important job requirements via job description… your bullet points cover the most pressing job requirements.
Mirror the language in the job postings with the language in your resume.
These aren’t just tips to help your resume stand out when it lands on a recruiter’s desk but to help your resume get to the recruiter’s desk in the first place.
Enter the algorithm. Before your resume lands on a recruiter’s desk it’s combed through by bots who aim to remove irrelevant resumes from the pile. That’s why it is important to make sure your resume is tailored to the job you’re applying for with similar language and style (plus incorporating the job requirements) so that the algorithm doesn’t send your resume directly to the trash.
Do you need an objective to pandemic proof your resume?
Objectives are a controversial issue with recruiters, employers, and job seekers and I’m sure you’ve considered whether or not to include them in your resume.
Well there’s one question that I can share after 15-years of recruiting experience to help decide if you should or should not include an objective on your resume:
Are you switching industries?
If you are not switching industries, no objective needed! If you are switching industries then an objective will add more insight into why you’re applying for this particular job.
Your objective doesn’t have to be lengthy, Just a couple of lines on your motivation behind transitioning from an administrative role at an insurance company to a full-time content specialist at a healthcare startup.
Final steps in pandemic proofing your resume
The last step to pandemic proofing your resume is to take a (virtual) red pen and remove any redundancies, streamline the design, and convert paragraph descriptions into bullet points.
The goal is to make your resume scannable and intriguing which is especially important in this age of highly qualified applicants flooding the job market. If you think you’re starting a job hunt sooner rather than later, start updating your resume now.
You’ll thank yourself for it later.
