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Coffee with a Recruiter, feat. Jared Wenzel – Resume Best Practices

March 2, 2021 by Lacey Walters

Senior Account Manager, Jared Wenzel is Blue Signal’s own one-stop shop for healthcare and managed care talent. He has 10 years of recruiting and consulting experience, making him an expert in strategy, talent development, and even resumes. In this segment of Coffee with a Recruiter, Jared tackles common resume queries that can help you stand out as the best of the best among any applicant pool. 

Question: Do I need a one-page resume?

Answer: “If the rumors about recruiters and hiring managers only reviewing resumes for a few seconds each, if those are true then yes I definitely believe you need to have a one-page resume. In regards to a lot of resumes that I see, many of them look like the person just copy and pasted their job description right into the body of the resume. While that does show an overview of what you can do, what’s really important is showing measurable accomplishments, any type of metrics, anything that you can show that you can stand out from the rest of the resumes is definitely a good way to go. 

Really what it should look like is less like a job description and more like your own personal highlight reel. The best way to do that is really just to cut the fluff. I always think of “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” - what sparks joy? What would spark joy in the minds of a hiring manager? What do they want to see? Well they want to see that not only can you do the job, but you can excel in the position. And I think showing measurable accomplishments and metrics is really going to make you stand out from the other applicants that just, again, copy and pasted the job description into the body of the resume.”

 

Q: How can I get hiring managers and recruiters to see my resume?

A: “That is a very good question! And one that I get asked a lot, because it seems like no matter how many times you send out a resume, sometimes it can be very hard to hear back from people. The truth is that oftentimes there’s a lot of people - could be hundreds of people - applying for the same job. So it’s really important to get your resume to stick out to those recruiters and hiring managers. 

For me as a recruiter, when I’m searching for somebody I’m going to be taking the position description and breaking it down into specific keywords that hopefully I’ll find on a resume or a LinkedIn profile. I think what you need to make sure is that you have keywords that are industry-term specific, like any type of business associations that you are in. Acronyms are great. I also think it’s very important to spell out those acronyms, not everyone is as familiar as you are with the industry. Anything ranging from the technology you have used, how you measure your metrics, anything like that is important. It can really identify the specific industry or position that you are looking for. 

There are resume optimization tools and certain websites where you can upload your resume and upload the position description. They’ll actually grade it by how many keywords are found based on your resume compared to the position description and give you recommendations on how to improve your resume to increase visualization. Many organizations will actually have tools that will scan resumes and grade them individually. If you don’t meet a certain grade your resume is getting kicked to the trash can, and the other ones are making it through. So tools like this are really helpful to kind of make sure that your resume can get more visibility. (Jared’s personal pick can be accessed here!) 

And once you have your resume in front of them, kind of a neat little tip is to highlight - I wouldn’t go yellow highlight - but you can bold, underline, or italicize certain metrics or measurable accomplishments that you want to make sure that human resources or hiring manager sees. Anything that draws their eye is going to grab their attention. So again, underlining, italicizing, or even bolding certain key metrics to make sure someone sees them, is a good way to get someones eyes directly where you want them to be.”

 

Q: What are some ways to take my resume to the next level?

A: “There are a number of ways which you can take your resume to the next level. First one may seem pretty obvious, but it is making regular updates to your resume. Especially as accomplishments are fresh in your mind, it’s easier to jot things down and especially make them more accurate. Now I’m totally about, you know, approximations when it comes to metrics, but obviously if you can capture them as you’ve completed them, it’s just going to make your resume look more accurate. And - no one likes to have to scramble and make updates to their resume, and look back and try to dig up all these old metrics. Especially if you find yourself without a job. So, keeping your resume current - updating it quarterly, or at the very least annually. When you’re doing your annual reviews with your direct report it's a really good time to grab those metrics and jot them down on your resume. 

The next one is to use a thesaurus. I’ve seen “dynamic” be used on so many resumes. Just put that into Google, put it into a thesaurus, and look up some variances of different words. It’s just going to make you look much more intellectual if you can throw in a couple words other than “strong,” or “innovative,” or one of the long list of cliche, descriptive adjectives people use for their resumes. Try to find something a little bit unique, and something that maybe fits your personality a little bit better too. 

I’m always a big fan of editing for consistency. You know, get down to your bullet points - do they have periods or are they open ended? Is your font consistent all the way through? How are your margins? Little things like this. I see typos all the time. Really just making sure, and keeping a close eye on things not only shows that you can be a meticulous person. Proofread, I think it goes a long way. And really, it looks way worse on a person when they find typos in resumes or in thank you notes, or anything else like that. Send it off to somebody else if you need someone to proofread it. If you see the red squiggly mark, it means it’s spelled wrong! So, try to fix that. You know, take a fine-toothed comb and go through your resume and make sure everything is pretty consistent. 

A little bonus tip for everybody, grab some references! If you know some people you work with or a past manager, get those set up and ready. Again, it’s not something that you really need to go scrambling for later. So if you can get some good people on your side, and kind of in your back pocket, it will just help for later on. Even if you don’t need it, but just in case you do, those are some good tips to help elevate your resume.” 

 

The Key Takeaways 

A resume really is the first introduction you have with a hiring authority, and just like actual intros - if not done right - it could be your last. To make sure your resume not only stands out, but also gets in front of the right audience, keep it simple by creating a one-page highlight reel, include the right keywords to get past those pesky Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) filters, and use some new adjectives to describe your style. Update your resume often, and keep good references in your back pocket in case the need arises. Finally, if all else has failed, you can always pick up the phone and call one of our expert recruiters to help get you on the right track for that next career move. 

Jared Wenzel
Jared Wenzel

Jared Wenzel

SR. EXECUTIVE RECRUITER

Jared is our own one-stop-shop for healthcare and managed care talent. With a background in recruiting, strategy, leadership development, and consulting – he knows what needs to be done to get your business to the next level. He finds the best of the best, not just the best in your zip code.

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Recruiter Tips Tagged With: applicant tracking system, Applicants, ATS, best practices, coffee, Coffee with a Recruiter, hiring managers, Job Applicant, Job Hunt, recruiter, recruiters, resume tips

Job Seeking During COVID-19

April 21, 2020 by Lacey Walters

The biggest myth of the COVID-19 pandemic: “companies are not hiring.” In fact, there are over 70 companies that want to see your resume now. The real question is, are you ready to send it?  

In the wake of the Coronavirus and the uncertainty it has wreaked on several industries, there is a lot of reluctance surrounding the job market and its viability. However, the economy has proved to be resilient - with several industries in higher demand today than ever before including healthcare, logistics, telecommunications, finance, and many more. Whether you were impacted by hiring freezes, layoffs, cut costs, or just happened to start a career change at an unfortunate time - there are still several options for your next steps. You just have to be ready to take advantage of the opportunity. Follow these steps to better your chances of landing your next job.

Stay Informed 

It’s true that some industries have been hit with layoffs, but don’t let that deter you from a job search overall. Many companies are still hiring - specifically the technology, food production, and healthcare industries. Companies like Amazon, Apple, Kroger and other big names are stepping up regarding community well-being and essential services.The truth of the matter is - the role you don’t apply for today, will be someone’s new opportunity tomorrow. By pausing your job search, you are only impairing yourself and your own chances at success. 

Stay Informed

Make a Plan - and Stick to it

Establish what you need to achieve and set goals by creating a timeline. If you are unemployed, run your finances and see what your timetable is for when you need to start a new role. Benchmark career goals, and make your application process strategic to help you build your trajectory into growth industries and specializations. 

Make a Plan

Carve out an hour or two each day to look at new listings. More if you have the time for it! Think about a full time role - and try to maintain a structured schedule to mirror what your day on a job would look like - utilizing that 9-5 to your own success. But don’t just click apply. Do your research on the company and get to know their mission and organizational structure. Find the gaps in their current employees’ skill sets and look for ways you can fill them by studying up on new skills. Whatever you fill the hours with - make it productive and help yourself by ensuring that when you get back into a role, you aren’t unaccustomed to working a full day. 

Be Prepared 

Update your resume! Don’t just add to it. Just like if you were applying to any role, you need to make sure your resume reflects the job you are applying for. Make sure to highlight the skills and experience the description lists in clear, keyword-heavy language. Keep it short, concise, and applicable to the job at hand. If the company’s hiring need is that urgent - the hiring manager probably doesn’t have the time to read an entire 15-page resume. They will want to get the need-to-know information quickly to make a decision on moving forward with you as a candidate. Don’t waste that first impression with fluff. 

Be Prepared

With that, also make sure that all your references are up to date. Take it a step further and reach out to those you listed to let them know that you are on the market, and a potential employer may be contacting them for a recommendation soon. The hiring manager may call them before they call you, and the more seamless the message, the more likely you are to be hired. 

Check your social media profiles. Today’s hiring process is very different than it was 15 years ago. With the rise of social media, several companies make profile checks part of the process - especially if the role is something in leadership. When you are hired to a company, they are making you another face of their business. If you have anything on your profiles that is too polarizing or offensive, this may impact their decision before you get to show them your personality yourself - much like dating, it’s all about how you want to present yourself! 

Expand Your Skill Set

On the job training and college admissions are not the only ways to gain new experience. Depending on what you are looking to move into or explore, there are several opportunities out there for expanding your professional toolkit that are low cost and little commitment. LinkedIn offers online learning video courses for software applications, creative fields, business skills, and more. In addition to their GSuite paid certification programs, Google offers free training, tools, and resources to help grow skills, or even businesses in their Grow with Google programs. They also have AI programs, machine learning courses, and more on their Google AI site. Coursera helps to build skills with courses, certificates, and even degrees online through their partnerships with world-class universities and companies at a fraction of the price. Forbes has compiled a list of resources such as these, proving that the opportunities to grow are not limited by quarantine or funds. 

Expand Your Skillset

There is always something to learn - even if it isn’t job-skill based. Don’t think you have hit your ceiling when it comes to professional skills. At the minimum, you should brush up on your interview skills by running through this guide and setting up a mock interview with a friend. An impressive resume does not guarantee a job if your interview presence doesn’t dazzle. No one is perfect, but practicing sure can help. 

Be Flexible - and Consider a Backup Plan 

Have patience and trust in the process. Make sure to follow your plan - but make it flexible. These are unprecedented times that can have some yet to be determined effects on the hiring process for several companies. Odds are whatever plan you make will have to be reevaluated time and again as the market reacts to these changes - so put yourself in that mindset and prepare for some turbulence, but control what you can and let go of what you can’t. 

After reaching out to your network and browsing the market, you might find yourself in an urgent need for some income. Consider your transferable skills and think about how you could apply them to gaps in the market today. These are usually soft skills like organizational mindset, customer service experience, and more universally applicable attributes. Temporary opportunities could be the answer, so don’t close yourself off to things like freelance work, part-time jobs, remote work, application gigs like food delivery, and other side hustles. 

Be Flexible (1)

Regardless of the changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a lot you can do to help yourself find and take hold of opportunities out there. If you are unsure of next steps, need some professional guidance, or want some insight on the current market conditions, talk to one of Blue Signal’s expert recruiters today. We are still hiring, and we are here to help! 

Filed Under: Blog Posts, Career Advice Tagged With: Job Applicant, layoffs, Online learning, Professional Tips

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