When job hunting in a softening economy, an effective résumé is essential in order to stand out and secure a position. Employers want to know who you are, what you've accomplished, and what you can do for them in the future. As data suggests, competition for jobs will be high, with two-thirds of American workers considering a change in roles this year.
Despite the job market looks promising with 1.7 job openings per unemployed person, the economic outlook remains uncertain. Rebecca Pay, founder of Pay for Precision, specializes in helping people craft their résumés. She suggests adding some personality and creating a clear narrative of how your experience qualifies you for the role. Keep the formatting simple and don't be afraid to include career breaks – nearly half of the employers view them as an untapped source of talent.
Career experts offer additional advice, such as doing writing exercises to help you reflect on your experiences in a different light. Focus on the summary section to give your résumé a personal touch and make sure your skills are up-to-date, emphasizing the importance of soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and time management.
Joseph stressed the importance of customizing your résumé for each job posting. "you should be changing your résumé for each job application," he said. "these are often small tweaks in the skills section and the summary, that speak to how your experience would lend itself to the job." joseph further noted that it's important to showcase the range of your abilities, such as speaking engagements, technical skills, and artistic talents. "no application should be the same because no opportunity is the same," he said, adding that it's important to come up with creative ideas to make your résumé stand out.