Don’t Add These Skills To Your Resume

Resumes are tricky beasts—you need to clearly state what you bring to the table in as direct and concise a way as possible. But you only have so much space, so it’s necessary to only highlight the skills and experiences necessary for that particular job.

It’s tempting to create a one-size-fits-all document covering your entire work history, but that doesn’t provide value to potential employers. This is why we stress the importance of tailoring your resume to each application.

With this in mind, make the most of your limited space and leave these types of skills off of your resume. Highlight only what adds value, and you’ll stand a much better chance of getting an interview.

“When your job application is facing the six-second resume test, it’s important to not include information that will distract the hiring manager from seeing your true qualifications.” –Amanda Augustine, TopResume

Expected skills

Your resume is meant to highlight why you’re best suited for the job and to prove you bring something unique to the table. If the skills you highlight are things anyone can do, you aren’t really bringing anything of value.

While basic computer knowledge might have been a rarity last century, these days, anyone applying for an office job is expected to know how to operate a computer. While specific programs hold obvious merit, core competency isn’t anything unique and appears as fluff, says Peter Riccio. If you have important “computer skills” relevant to the job, spell them out; don’t leave them vague.

“At this point, listing “email” or “Microsoft Word” as skills is almost equivalent to listing “reading” or “basic math.” They’re not differentiators–they’re expected.” –Emily Moore, Glassdoor

Likewise, typing, online research, data entry, filing, and customer service are examples of skills employers expect rather than anything unique. While they’ll certainly want to know how you’ve handled customer interactions in the past, those are questions saved for the interview.

Cliches

Other overused resume buzzwords that commonly fill up resume space are another example, says Alison Doyle. Companies assume that they’ll be hiring someone willing to work hard. Every employee is expected to be a team player. Good written and oral communication skills are the norm.

If it sounds generic when you’re writing it, it probably is, according to Indeed. Try to spice up the language of your resume or find other ways to phrase that particular skill. Use action verbs and find ways to show rather than tell.

Skills you don’t actually have

Some skills are truly impressive and head-turning and are sure to generate employer interest. If you’re adding these types of skills to your resume, make sure you actually have them.

Indeed’s editorial team lists languages you don’t actually speak as a prime example of skill fraud. If you studied a language in school but aren’t actually fluent or remember enough to be useful, leave it off your resume. You may think it adds value to your future employers, but it won’t take long for them to realize you’re a fraud. Google Translate can only take you so far.

“At some point, somewhere, somehow, someone is going to discover the truth. Besides, if you don’t really have enough other skills to make you qualified, it’s probably a good idea to just apply for a different position anyway.” –ZipJob

Most job descriptions are more “employer wishlists” than anything else. You don’t need to match every single qualification to be considered. If you lie about some qualifications, it will be apparent eventually. Save yourself and the employer the time and be honest.

Irrelevant skills

The key property of the most desirable skills is their transferability. Especially when changing industries, these types of skills show that you have the important foundation down even if you haven’t used them in this particular capacity. But not every skill is transferable!

Some skills are highly interesting for personal anecdotes but won’t really matter to the position you’re applying for. Remember to keep things tailored to the job at hand.

“For example, if you are applying for an accounting position, including the fact that you have great drawing skills is most likely not going to help you get that job.” –Indeed

Soft skills—without examples!

We’ve stressed the importance of soft skills, and we aren’t saying to not include them. But how you present them is key. A list of soft skills comes off generic and like a way to fill space or target any keyword searches. You want to highlight your soft skills in other ways through your resume (and cover letter) and to use tangible examples. Show, don’t tell.

“The single most common mistake job seekers make is to list out soft skills on their resume — for example communication, multitasking, leadership, problem solving, etc. The message that sends to anyone reading the resume is ‘I may not have made clear what my soft skills are, so I’m listing them out just to make sure you see them,’” –Peter Riccio

Wrap up

The key theme is to make sure the skills on your application documents provide value for the role you’re applying for. If every single applicant can do it, it’s not really a skill, and just adding buzzwords won’t do you any favors. By removing much of the resume bloat caused by these irrelevant skills, you’ll have more space to highlight your newsworthy skills and accomplishments, which will lead to more interviews.

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Should You Hire A Professional Resume Writer?

At NexGoal, we try to provide helpful resume-building tips to help you land the job of your dreams. But building a resume can be an intimidating and stressful process, especially if you’re new to the workforce, transitioning into a new industry, or simply don’t have the time to learn the finer points of resume building. You’ve got excellent skills and valuable experience, but you may not know how to express that on paper.

If you’re struggling to put together a competitive resume, it may be worth hiring a professional. Trained resume writers are gifted with industry knowledge and can assist job seekers with expertly defining their accomplishments on paper. When is it worth hiring an expert, and is it worth the cost? With data from the experts, we’ll provide an overview of resume writing services so that you can decide what’s best for you.

“Resume writers are trained professionals, with a multitude of years, experience, and industry know-how whom will be able to help you stand out and place your best foot forward. Additionally, many resume writers have a deep understanding of the internal mechanics which go-on once an application is submitted.” –Career Employer

Why hire a resume writer?

According to HR Dive, eye-tracking studies have revealed that recruiters only spend an average of 7.4 seconds looking at each resume. You only have a short amount of time to “pop”, and that’s assuming you get past any Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) in the first place.

Resume writers use their experience to make sure you pop in the eyes of recruiters and machines. They know what formats look good, how to utilize keywords, and can provide insider tips. Their skills as a writer mean they know how to turn a phrase. Joblist even notes that talking with a professional can even help you better define your strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Sometimes, just talking with the right person can produce insight into yourself.

Growth Hack Your Career provided study data showing a 32% increased success rate for those who used a professional writer. They believe that in addition to the tangible services provided, the biggest benefit of hiring a professional is having someone in your corner to give you relevant advice and encouragement.

Costs and credibility

The biggest obstacles in finding a professional resume writer are finding the right one and making sure they fit your budget. One of the biggest cons of hiring a resume writer is the often high costs.

Matt Glodz of Resume Pilots found that a professional writer can cost anywhere from $100 to $2000, while Career Sidekick found the average cost to be $527.

While cheaper options exist, you’ll always get what you pay for, and you’ll want to do your research first. Read reviews, and see if a writer is a member of a professional association like the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches or the National Résumé Writers’ Association, adds Matt Glodz.

You may be deterred by the high costs, especially if you’re freshly entering the workforce or don’t currently have a job. With so many recruiters sharing their experiences and advice out there, it’s never been easier to find ways to craft the best resume possible on your own. You don’t need a professional resume writer to find success. But perfecting your resume can take significant time and trial and error. Look at the cost/benefit analysis for your situation and decide whether consulting a pro is the right move or not.

Important notes

Hiring a resume writer can put you on the path to success, but it won’t be a guarantee to getting the job of your dreams. The process with your writer is a dialogue, and you’ll still need to put in your own work.

Your writer won’t immediately produce the perfect document. They’ll start with what you have and ask questions about your experiences and career goals. Thus, the better clarity you have on your goals and skills, the better document you’ll receive.

“If you want to do it right, it should be a partnership,” –Jennifer Smith, career coach

Once you have your resume, it still isn’t meant to be fired blindly at every job opening. The Muse reminds that even with a professionally made resume, you still need to tailor the resume to every unique job. While you’ll have a good baseline, you still need to change keywords to match the job description, reevaluate which skills are most important, and add new skills if needed.

Finally, while your resume may get you a foot in the door, it’s up to you to impress the hiring manager. You’ll need to do your research on the company, talk to people in your network, and nail the interview to get the job. The resume is just the first step.

Wrap up

Resume writers can be a valuable resource. They have insider knowledge, know what works and what doesn’t, and they can provide insight and encouragement to an often disheartening job search process. But the guidance and convenience of hiring a professional aren’t cheap, and you’ll need to decide whether your budget can support it. You don’t need to hire a professional to succeed, and you still need to put in the work yourself, but having a skilled, knowledgeable writer in your corner could make all the difference in landing your next career.

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Successfully Utilizing Keywords In Your Job Search

One challenge modern job seekers face is the need to balance their resumes and LinkedIn profiles for both human eyes and applicant tracking systems. You want a readable, engaging resume, but it may need to get through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) first. While up to 40% of companies may not use an ATS, using organization keywords is still the best way to get noticed by both digital and human eyes.

What exactly are keywords? Susan P. Joyce excellently defines them as:

“The terms used by searchers to find relevant content in a search engine, social network, applicant tracking system, or other database.”

We always speak about the importance of tailoring your resume, and this is where keywords shine. Discover why keywords are vital in the modern job search and how to make them work for you, and you’ll find the key to job search success!

The importance of keywords

Recruiters spend a short amount of time on each resume, and the ATS may keep your resume from getting to them in the first place. You need to stand out in a limited amount of time and prove you’re the candidate for the job.

Consider your search. You’re using keywords to find the jobs you are interested in, inputting job titles and locations into search engines to find positions relevant to you. If you’re looking to be a warehouse supervisor, just typing in “supervisor” is going to find a lot of unrelated jobs.

Coming up with a plan for your job search is the first step to finding the right keywords to use. Ivy Exec recommends figuring out your goals and conducting thorough research before you start applying. Target your ideal roles and industries, talk with your network, and research specific organizations. This targeted approach will provide clarity on what your dream jobs are looking for and how you can appeal to them.

Utilizing keywords

With this knowledge, you can begin incorporating keywords into your resumes and into your LinkedIn profile, too.

While we’ll recommend, as always, tailoring your resume for each position, there are a few keywords that are always relevant—your basic information!

It may seem obvious, but make sure you’re using the same professional name across all of your job seeker material. Susan P. Joyce says if your business cards use a different name than the one you use on LinkedIn, it will lead to confusion.

You don’t want to use a full address, but make sure your current city or targeted city is clear, as many recruiters search based on location. If you speak any additional languages or have college degrees or certifications, they should be clear as well. Finally, use a job title for the position you seek, and be as specific as possible. Use the version used by the company, if possible, and when in doubt, Susan adds to use a slash between two similar titles (Executive Assistant/Administrative Assistant for example).

With the basics covered, you can get into the finer points. Start by combing through the job description and highlighting all action words. These are the key responsibilities of the position, and your resume needs to show you’re capable of them. If you see a reoccurring word, definitely make a note to incorporate it, writes Mariana Toledo.

The exact word choices matter and you want to be specific. That’s why the easiest way to find relevant keywords is to take them right from the description.

Next, look at the industry on the whole. The terminology may change from position to position, but there should be a few constants. Alison Doyle suggests looking at the difference between job-specific skills and transferable skills and making sure to highlight both. If you’re applying for a programming job, you may need specific software skills, but you’ll also want good communication skills.

“For example, being able to operate a power saw is a job-specific skill for a carpenter, but not for many other jobs.” –Alison Doyle

You can use these keywords and incorporate them through your work history. Not only will this show you have the experience where it matters, but a potential ATS will note the word choice and help you stand out.

If there are any relevant proficiencies, certifications, or courses you’ve completed, make sure to add them as well. These are things like Photoshop, Salesforce, WordPress, programming languages, and even Microsoft Office suite. These can be sprinkled within your work history or on a separate “skills and qualifications” section.

Finally, after incorporating keywords, make sure your resume is readable and truthful. Joseph Rios writes that while it may be tempting to manipulate keywords to your advantage, never lie on your resume. It can bite you in the rear down the road. Susan P. Joyce adds that stuffing your resume with keywords with no strategy will make your resume bloated and unreadable. Make sure to incorporate your keywords in a logical and descriptive manner.

Wrap up

Using keywords may seem daunting at first, but if you do your proper research it will become a natural part of job searching. It’s imperative to stand out in your job search, and using the right keywords will make sure your resume gets seen. Use job descriptions and industry knowledge to your advantage, and incorporate the keywords in an honest and logical manner.

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Addressing Employment Gaps In 2022

In past years, having resume gaps was taboo in the eyes of hiring managers. But the professional world is rapidly changing, and those changes were further accelerated by the pandemic. Whether it’s due to health reasons, caring for children or loved ones, pursuing a passion, embracing freelance work, or simply changing careers, gaps and breaks in work history are increasingly common.

Forbes’ Caroline Castrillon believes the traditional career ladder is being replaced with “career waves” and that resume breaks could actually become a strength in becoming a more versatile and well-rounded individual.

If you’ve been worried about your own resume gaps, know that the stigma is over. We’ll analyze the data surrounding resume gaps before covering how to use those gaps to accentuate your value as a job seeker.

Career gaps are increasingly common

What was once a red flag has become a sign of a well-rounded worker. What changed? Millennials becoming a major demographic in the workplace and the cultural changes resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic have caused a major shift in how companies hire.

A 2019 Manpower study found that 84% of millennials expected career breaks throughout their journey, and this was before the pandemic forced many workers into an involuntary gap. The pandemic also led to the Great Resignation, which led to pickier job seekers and employees having more power. Employers must work with the candidates they have and embrace new ways of thought to maintain and bring in top-tier talent.

“Because it was such a high volume of people who chose to stay home for a variety of reasons and the labor market is so tight, those things factored in together made it that employers are much more flexible now about their ‘red flags’ toward longer career gaps.” –Jeramy Kaiman, head of LHH Recruitment Solutions

LinkedIn has embraced this new meta and introduced titles such as “stay-at-home parent” and the option to add career breaks (with reasons including bereavement, career transitioning, layoffs, volunteering, and more) to normalize gaps. Their 2021 research found that employers were much more open to workers with unemployment gaps.

“79% of hiring managers today say they would hire a candidate with a career gap on their resume, according to LinkedIn.

59% of hiring managers are interested in learning about any transferable skills you have learned, and 58% are interested in lessons that can be applied to a particular job.” –LinkedIn

Addressing the gap

No matter why you needed a career break, it will come up in your interviews. Thankfully, with a little preparation, you can expertly counter these questions and turn them into selling points.

Have a plan

If you’re re-entering the workforce, especially after a long gap or while entering an entirely new industry, you want to have a clear vision for your job search.

Corporate Escape Artist suggests taking time to find positions that align with your vision and to take control of your personal brand. Re-entering the workforce is much easier with a strategy in mind, and it will make you more excited about getting back out there. You get to control the story of your employment gaps and taking time to reflect on your previous career journey and your time away can provide clarity into your future goals.

Focus on skills

One reason employment gaps used to be a red flag is that employers worried important job-related skills would atrophy from time away. But in today’s world, the Great Resignation led to many employees switching industries to find positions that better aligned with their passions and values. Many skills, especially soft skills, are highly-transferable and desirable. Make sure to highlight them.

If you gained any new skills or certifications during your gap, make sure to detail them on your resume and cover letter.

Mariana Toledo says to think of these skills as your personal toolbox. The job may be different, but these tools are always useful. In fact, you may have developed new skills or insights in your time away that other candidates lack.

Focus on accomplishments, not absences

It’s always to focus on the positives over the negatives as a job seeker. Just because an important contribution happened months ago doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. While your cover letter may be a way to explain your gaps, don’t make them the focus. Instead, let your experiences sell you as a candidate.

Find value in your absence

If you had valuable experiences that didn’t align with a traditional 9-5, don’t hesitate to add them to your documents. Just because they didn’t occur in a traditional workplace doesn’t mean your experiences weren’t valuable.

It doesn’t matter if you volunteered, freelanced, took up independent projects, acted as a consultant…don’t hesitate to include that in your resume. Something is better than nothing. –Hiration

Wrap up

A person’s career journey looks much different than it did in the past. Employment gaps used to be an issue, but they’ve become normalized as the culture changes. Employers are much more open-minded and view your unique career journey as a plus. Your time away may make you a more well-rounded candidate than someone with a more straightforward career path, and you may have skills your competition lack, but it’s up to you to make that clear.

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Stand Out Digitally With These LinkedIn Summary Tips

In any sort of persuasive speech, your attention-getter sets the tone of the entire performance. An engaging introduction reels your audience in, while a boring one sends them looking elsewhere. Imagine walking into a hotel lobby and finding it unpleasant. No matter how good your room may be, that initial entrance soured the experience.

Your LinkedIn profile is the same way. Using LinkedIn is vital for the modern job search, and your summary is your introduction to recruiters. The website itself declares the summary as one of the most important pieces of information you can describe.

“Your summary or About section is the one place you define yourself in your own words, free of start dates and titles. Whether you use it to put career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality, the summary is your chance to put your best self out there. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other Profile section can.” –LinkedIn

If you’re doing some spring cleaning with your profile, we’ll go teach you how to craft an exceptional summary that shows the real you.

Prioritize the first few sentences

If your summary is the introduction to your profile, the first few words are the introduction to your introduction. Laura Smith-Proulx reveals that your full summary isn’t immediately displayed until someone clicks on “see more” (on both mobile and desktop versions).

That means your summary needs to “pop” immediately to catch the eyes of the looker. You want to hook your audience immediately by getting directly into your brand and making your objective clear right away.

Use keywords

The modern job search is all about appeasing the search engine. Realizing this is the key to making sure you’ll show up in a recruiter’s search at all. To do that, LinkedIn experts recommend using keywords throughout your profile.

Executive resume writer Jessica Hernandez simply defines these keywords as “Keywords are a list of words and phrases that are related to your work—they are the words that a prospective employer would search for when trying to find someone like you.”

Find words relevant to your industry and use them often. This will make sure you show up in searches AND make it easier for a prospective employer to get an idea of what you’re all about. While you should use keywords, make sure to avoid making your profile a jumbled mess of jargon.

Showcase your personality

A recruiter isn’t just getting an automaton worker when they look at your profile; they are looking at a complex human being. At the end of the day, not only does a recruiter want a qualified worker, but they want someone that is a good cultural fit for the organization.

Because of the nature of LinkedIn, you still want to be professional, but don’t be afraid to let a little flair or humor out. If you followed the above advice, your audience will get a view of you as a worker and you as a person. Having this insight allows the reader to have a more detailed picture of how you will fit in with the company.

Find a format that works for you

In keeping with the above advice, you can craft the style of your summary in a manner that best describes you. There isn’t a single cookie-cutter approach to take. SocialTalent reminds us that the summary is your chance to tell your story as you see it. Just like in an elevator pitch, you’re using that short space to say who you are and what you bring to the table.

The Muse’s Aja Frost analyzes different strategies for telling that story, including the mission-based strategy, the personal strategy, the short-and-sweet summary, the blended summary, and the accomplishment summary. These five example methods allow you to decide what’s important for you and the best way to summarize yourself. All five are great starting points, and you can click the above link for more details.

Meanwhile, LinkedIn itself goes over 14 well-designed and radically different summary styles and provides reasons why they work. All 14 off an excellent place to start and can serve as a template for your own story. It’s all about finding the best way to represent you!

Avoid third-person

Your LinkedIn summary is a summary of you as a worker, told by you. This is a chance for you to be yourself, and ideally, you don’t talk in third person in real life. Avoid this common pitfall!

Example

Aja Frost provides us with a great example of a short, detailed summary that follows all of the above advice.

“I’m a sales rep dedicated to helping local Oklahoma City services businesses grow their customer base and decrease customer churn. I have 6 years of experience in local sales and I’ve consistently met and exceeded my quota throughout my career. Within the last year, I’ve topped our leaderboard six out of 10 months. On average, I close business 10% faster than my peers.”

Wrap up

If you aren’t using LinkedIn as part of your job search strategy, you need to do so immediately! And a successful LinkedIn summary is the welcome mat to the rest of your profile. Make sure it’s clear, direct, and a good summary of you, the writer. There isn’t one successful must-use template, so do some research and some tweaking and find what works for you!

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