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Does your résumé need to be remodeled? The few minutes it takes to update it can make a difference in whether or not it gets noticed. But before you start your revisions, be sure your résumé includes the sections you need and may have missed.

Tips For Upgrading Your Resume Sections

Make the Top Pop

The top of your résumé should present information that captures recruiters’ attention and keeps it on top.

Profile and portfolio links – In addition to your contact information, provide links to your professional portfolios and LinkedIn profile.

Summary – The summary should be targeted to the position you want. Focus on how you bring value to the employer for the specific job role. Instead of an objective section, use a summary to highlight your skills and experience. It can include one or two brief sentences and a short list of your skills and experience relevant to the open position. What should your list include?

  • Skills, including equipment, technology, techniques, and critical soft skills
  • Key functions
  • Notable accomplishments

Achieve Flawless Format

A well-formatted résumé is consistent and easy to read. Check each section for consistency. Use the following guidelines for good format:

  • Clear section headings
  • Adequate white space
  • Bulleted lists to highlight the most important text
  • Avoid underlining
  • Use bold and italicized text sparingly
  • Fit content onto one page without overcrowding
  • Smooth, clean design
  • Easy-to-read, professional font

Keep Your Experience Interesting

Include the company name, job title, and your employment dates (use month and year). Ten years of work history is usually enough. Avoid describing your role with a dry list of duties. As you prepare a brief description of your responsibilities, use action verbs that demonstrate results. Below are some examples of verbs you can use:

  • Consolidated
  • Delivered
  • Designed
  • Developed
  • Directed
  • Improved
  • Initiated
  • Organized
  • Sustained

Remember What You’ve Learned

Your education history should be placed beneath your work history on your résumé. In addition to institutions you’ve attended and degrees you’ve earned, remember to include relevant continuing education, training, and certification.

Add Keyword Clues

Many companies use an applicant tracking system to scan résumés and look for keywords that show you might be qualified for the job. Don’t overdo it, but include keywords throughout your résumé for the skills, competencies, technology, education, and credentials required to do the job. Review the job description to find appropriate keywords.

Establish a Relationship with a Staffing Agency

Many professionals have found the career they’ve always wanted by establishing a relationship with an experienced recruiter. Find out why so many talented workers in Baltimore and the Washington, D.C. area made us, at Priority One Staffing, their first choice.

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