Career Connections
I’m thinking about switching jobs and haven’t updated my resume in a while. Do you have any tips on what employers are looking for on today’s resumes? – Adrienne ’92
The biggest mistake that most people make when writing a resume is that they think their resume is all about them. Not true at all! Your resume needs to be about the needs of the employer. Every time you send out a resume to a potential employer, you should tweak it just enough to make sure that it speaks directly to the needs of that company. Remember, it is a marketing tool, and the first impression that a company will have of you.
When writing your resume, spelling and grammar must be perfect. Have a few people double-check your resume for errors, as spell-check is not always foolproof. One mistake could cost you an interview. Do not go crazy with formatting; it should be easy to read and consistent.
Every word on your resume counts! Do not simply list tasks you did or skills you have. Instead, prove that you have the skills. For example, do not simply list that you know how to use PowerPoint. Instead, explain how you have used PowerPoint in complex presentations to groups of 20 - 50 potential clients. In as many places as possible, use numbers to quantify your accomplishments as well. Stating that you decreased costs by 36% while increasing customer satisfaction by 22% will impress an employer much more than simply stating that you have excellent cost management skills.
Need answers to your career, job-search, or job-hunting questions? Email your question to angela.lussier@admin.umass.edu. Each month a question will be answered in @UMASS by Angela Lussier, associate director of alumni career programs.