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Wednesday, August 28th
3 tips to to update a resume to align with the modern job market
The job market can be unpredictable. Though reports on jobs suggest the market is now flooded with openings, working professionals looking to change careers or switch firms know the reality of modern job hunting is no walk in the park.
Reports indicate that there was an average of one opening for every two applicants on the professional social networking site LinkedIn at the onset of summer 2023. Professionals also are contending with a job market in which firms that hurried to hire applicants during the pandemic are now being more deliberate with their hiring process, sometimes interviewing candidates as many as six times before concluding the process. In addition, a 2023 survey from TIME/Harris Poll found that 52 percent of applicants with a bachelor’s degree or higher completed an interview process without receiving a job offer.
There’s no denying the difficulty professionals seeking new jobs face when they begin their search. Though there’s no guarantee the right opportunity will come along quickly, professionals can update their resumes in three notable ways to increase the chances their applications are seen.
1. Write a new summary.
The professional resources experts at Indeed recommend individuals write a new summary of their work history that reflects their qualifications for any job they intend to
apply for. Consider past accomplishments, tasks and responsibilities that are applicable to each opening and emphasize those in the summary. For example, individuals aspiring to move up to management level can emphasize past experiences in which they took on a supervisory role to complete a project.
2. Include important keywords.
The frustration many modern professionals feel when looking for new opportunities may stem from how easy it can be to apply for a job but never hear back. Indeed notes that many hiring managers utilize applicant tracking system (ATS) software when considering applications. Such programs scan resumes for predetermined keywords, discarding applications that do not include them. Reading each listing carefully can shed light on which keywords to include, as the right terms tend to be right there in the job description. Indeed also advises mentioning the company’s name and exact position title in the summary statement or career objective section.
3. Don’t forget the person who will read your resume.
Though ATS software plays an integral role in modern hiring, eventually a human being will see the resume if it gets past the ATS portion of the vetting process. Before submitting a resume, read it several times to ensure it reflects your accomplishments, talents and aspirations and not just the keywords that will get the document seen by human eyeballs. Numerous resumes will get past the ATS software, so it’s imperative that the resume illustrates a candidate’s qualifications and talents.
Modern job seeking is time-consuming and often frustrating. Getting past the vetting process involves updating a resume so applicants can use the modern hiring process to their advantage.
Qualities women bring to business
Women continue to thrive in the workforce. Wells Fargo reports that, from 2019 to 2023, the growth rate of women-owned businesses outpaced the rate of men-owned businesses in relation to number of firms, rate of employment and revenue earned. LinkedIn also indicates there are 114 percent more women entrepreneurs now than there were 20 years ago. Every business owner or employee brings something unique to the employment landscape and certain characteristics are universal, regardless of gender. Still, there are certain qualities that women bring to the workforce that can help businesses excel. Forbes indicates women employees offer traits that can help drive engagement, productivity, satisfaction, and various other attributes. The following are some of the traits women may bring to business.
Emotional intelligence
Collaboration
Women employees often have traits that can foster collaboration in the workplace, such as reading non-verbal cues and willingness to take turns in conversations, indicates Forbes. This can help everyone collaborate more effectively.
Room for improvement
Women First Jobs says that women often bring high emotional intelligence to the table. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing emotions and the emotions of others. Women may be more inclined to understand different perspectives and to help resolve conflicts and build relationships.
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Women in the workplace continually seek opportunities for improvement, advises Sparklight Business. This can involve taking advice from other workers and peers. Women leaders embrace opportunities to do things better and work to improve their skills for the greater good.
Communication
The IWEC Foundation, which empowers women entrepreneurs, says women tend to be effective communicators and often make great leaders because of this trait and their ability to inspire others. Communication often is key to any relationship, whether personal or in a business setting.
Organization and planning
Women may excel at organizing and planning. Women can look at things with a detailoriented eye and recognize flaws in plans even before getting started. This means women can be in charge of distributing workloads or organizing the schedules of others.
Adaptability
Even though it is a cliche, women tend to be natural multi-taskers. Handling multiple jobs at the same time means women can adapt to changing situations. Generally speaking, there are some inherent characteristics women may possess that can make them viable assets as business owners or leaders in their fields.
How to land a job after graduation
The road to graduation can be long and winding. Graduation often is an exciting time in a person’s life. However, it also may spark some anxiety as newly minted grads prepare to look for jobs and begin their careers.
An unpredictable economic climate coupled with the rising cost of education can make soon-to-be graduates curious about what awaits them after graduation. According to the market data reporting firm Gitnux, 86 percent of college graduates can expect to find jobs within six months of graduation.
While the economy can affect how quickly new grads begin their careers, it’s not the only variable that affects where grads go after tossing their caps in the air. Students on the cusp of graduation can employ various strategies to increase their chances of finding a job.
• Start while in school. It’s never too early to think about the hiring process and what can be done to improve your profile as a candidate. Maintain a grade point average that will impress employers, suggests Indeed. Also, part-time jobs and internships in your field will help you gain valuable experience and determine if working in a particular field is a good fit.
• Select an off-peak time to search for a job. Many people start searching and applying for jobs at the same time, typically after graduation ceremonies in December and May. That floods the market with applicants. Increase the chances your résumé is read by staggering when you apply for jobs and sending out inquiries before you graduate.
• Streamline your résumé. Many companies receive thousands of applications per position, so it is essential to cater your résumé to the specific job to which you are applying. Include key words that match those in the job listing and will attract the attention of hiring managers. If you do not yet have experience, replace that section on the résumé with your accomplishments or special projects you have worked on.
• Network as much as possible. Many job openings are learned about through personal relationships. Employers may not advertise widely and hope that word of mouth will bring applicants to their doors, or through recommendations from other employees. Reach out to academic advisors, former professors and colleagues in your academic department. Be sure to maintain these networking relationships.
• Consider growth-stage companies. The University of Missouri Career Center says growth-stage companies tend to hire entry level professionals who do not necessarily have a lot of experience. These are fast-growing companies looking to expand their operations and build company culture.
• Utilize networking social media apps. Indeed and LinkedIn enable people to network and make it easy to apply for jobs directly through their sites or apps. There’s even the option to passively apply for jobs by having a résumé uploaded where companies can search and find you if your skills are a match.
Finding a job after graduation is a priority for graduates anxious to begin their careers. Various strategies can help new grads find work sooner rather than later.
