Resume Then and Now: Are you still using a Traditional Resume?

Estimated read time 3 min read

Did you know that recruiter spends less than 45 seconds reading your resume? A resume holds the power to let the hiring manager decide whether you are fit for a personal interview or not. Moreover, if you have observed, writing resume became more tricky and complicated as time goes by. That is why resume writers are also rampant nowadays just to make sure that you succeed in the first half of the hiring process.

Recruiters prefer a creative resume more than the traditional one. But how will you know if your resume is a candidate for rewriting?

personal interview

Here’s a then and now comparison and checklist. Get your resume now to know if your resume is traditional or not.

Is your resume very generic?

During the typewriter era, there only a few and very generic resume. You put your personal information, companies you have worked with and then your references if needed. That’s it. So how does the applicant catch the attention of the recruiter?

Stationary papers. It was expensive then, yet very important. The fact that there’s no internet during those times, hiring managers do everything manually. That is why the paper holds a value in landing the job they applied for.

But nowadays, resumes are now sent electronically. Meaning there is no need to use special papers and expensive stationary to reach out the employers.

Sending resumes are now very easy for the applicants but not for the companies who are bombarded with application emails. That is why most big companies have an Applicant Tracking System or ATS.

ATS will remove low-quality resumes or resumes that do not qualify and relevant the position. To do this, the system will track certain keywords to either remove or include resumes for human review.

Is your resume strategically organized?

At the present time, it is obvious that content is very important in a resume. Make sure that you include important keywords that are relevant to the job position you are applying to pass the ATS. However, passing the ATS in only one-fourth of the application process.

Once again, recruiters only spend seconds on your paper to make sure that they can see what you are looking for. To make sure that your paper will stand out, highlight your skills and expertise. Help the recruiter understand who you are by making it easier for them to read by using bullet form. If you prefer paragraph, make it brief and concise.

What not to include?

Should you consider putting personal information? Traditional resume includes personal information. You put your age, marital status, and even photos.

Does this still applicable today? Well, depending on the position you are applying. But most recruiters prefer not to know any personal information to avoid being accused of discrimination based on your personal information.

Conclusion

To simply put, a job has a description that serves as a guideline for the recruiter. Refer to the job description to achieve a simple yet direct to the point content on your resume.

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