CHARLESTON, S.C. - When creating a resume, most of us think of it as an opportunity to showcase the list of jobs we have worked. While it is a good thing to present a work history for a perspective employer, you want to make sure your resume reflects your hard skills and the valuable learned experiences you can use towards the job you seek.
Here are some quick tips:
- Think of your resume as imminent-based:
- Not just a reflection of your historical working past, but a preview of where your hard skills exist and how you want to use them to grow in the future for the job you want next.
- Not as a data dump of every job you have worked. Use the resume to show the skills accumulated through your work history and highlight how you will use those skills to do the job you are trying to obtain.
- Make sure information on your resume applies to the job you want:
- Consider having multiple versions of your resume tailored to the jobs for which you are applying.
- Study job descriptions for keywords that show what the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate.
- Pay special attention to words ‘requirements’ and ‘qualifications’ in a job ad because if you have the skills listed in these areas you want to highlight them in your Experience or Skills sections of your resume.
- List your Hard Skills
- List measurable and teachable abilities you have learned such as writing, reading, and math. Share your ability to perform special tasks or use a computer program or software package. If you are lacking in hard skills, your Charleston County Public Library card affords you with opportunities to learn some hard skills. We recommend our Lynda.com online database. This is an online learning platform that helps account holders learn business, software, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. You can access Lynda.com at the Charleston County Public Library Website under the ‘Research’ tab and use your library card to register for database’s online instructional videos.
- Formatting Tips
- It is debatable whether you submit your resume to a job site in Word or PDF\ format. Some argue for one or the other. We suggest you upload your resume by the specifications you are instructed to use by the particular job site. Sites will tell you format, document type, and size specifications allowed.
- Consider how your resume information is organized. Base this on the type of job you are applying for. For example, most of us would use the following format:
- Summary Statement
- Experience
- Professional Organizations/Community Involvement
- Education
- Skills and Certifications: If you have had a lot of different relevant experiences, it might make sense to have a summary statement that helps tie it all together.
- If you need to highlight career changes, you want to craft a resume that shows how experiences in one field are relevant and transferable to another. Organizing your information in this suggested way might be better:
- Objective
- Relevant Experience
- Additional Experience
- Professional Organizations/Community Involvement
- Education
- Skills and Certifications
These are recommendations to help you in your job-seeking journey. These tips are intended as a starting point. With a little bit of practice and self-patience, you will be ready to take on the next steps in your future career. If you would like more information about changing careers during difficult circumstances, assistance in finding resources, tips on how to get the job-hunting process started or more, please reach out to us at CCPL by email, chat, or text. You may also call us at 843-805-6930, leave a voice message, and a library staff member will return your call. Remember, you are not alone.