Vol. 14: Resume Fundamentals

Employee Insights Volume 14: Resume Fundamentals

Crazy to think, how a brief summary of your work history that we call a “resume”, can make or break your job search! While ideally you shouldn’t need your resume more than a handful of times in your working career, it’s important to have a strong one readily available if you happen to find yourself in the market again. 

Treat your resume as a direct reflection of yourself and what you offer the employment market. While you may not see it, your resume is the first impression prospective employers get of you. The reality is that in the recruitment world, your resume has maybe 15-30 seconds at MOST to capture their attention! Which is why today’s Masterclass Monday is all about resume best practices to stand out as a top prospect to any employer. 

It is better to have one and not need it, than to need one and not have one! With that said, let’s do it once, let’s do it right.

General Outline

• Objective/Summary 

• Value add: What do you do, and what does that mean for a potential employer? 

• Sample: 

• Experienced Data Entry Clerk with 5+ years of experience with a focus in the manufacturing industry, able to deliver consistent, accurate, and timely reporting. 

• Education

• If relevant to your profession, add at the top after skills. 
  If it is not relevant to your profession, add after your work history.

• Skills

• Measurable, testable items relevant to your profession

• Work History

• Accurate Dates
  Detailed list of duties and responsibilities

Resume Best Practices

1. Objective vs Subjective 

1. While speaking on skills, focus on measurable items everyone can quantify and measure. This makes it very clear to the employer what you can and can’t do. It is easier to disagree with someone’s definition of Subjective skills like being a “good listener”. 

1. Subjective Example: 

1. Good listener: According to who?

2. Fast learner: Compared to who? 

3. Team player: Based of what standards? 

2. Objective Example:

1. Microsoft Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook): Can be tested

2. 5+ years of stand up forklift experience: Can be tested

3. Familiar with 240/480 volts: Can be tested

2. Context + Content

1. To add another layer of depth to your resume and cement your expertise, add context while explaining your roles and duties with a focus on the value added to the team. Surface level content doesn’t do justice to the impact your work has or highlight the level of diligence you executed with. 

1. Example: 

1. Process invoices daily- Average

2. Process upwards of 20+ invoices per day to maintain past due accounts within the net terms, mitigating late fees and penalties. – Context 

2. Example 2

1. Operate a forklift- Average

2. Operate a Sit down/Stand up forklift for order picking, and shipping and receiving with an RF Scanner. – Context 

3. Density

1. Consider adding additional details from your role that aren’t necessarily done on a daily basis. This helps round out your resume with tasks you may not have considered as relevant. 

1. Daily functions- Daily core tasks

2. Weekly Functions: Cleanup functions 

3. Monthly Functions: Month end reports 

4. Quarterly Functions: Audits, reporting 

Now your resume is ready to go to battle for you! Take some time to invest in your resume and incorporate these concepts for a stronger, faster return on your investment. 

FLAG isn’t just another placement agency; if you’re looking for a recruitment operation that takes your employment as seriously as you do, look no further than FLAG. We Stand for you.