Resume Advice for the Experienced Candidate

Resume Advice for the Experienced Candidate

While a new graduate’s resume is often more general in nature, your resume should be a showcase of your track record, demonstrating to a potential employer what you can “bring to the table.” Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Give a summary, not an objective. Specify three or four “transferable” skills that match the employer’s needs. These highlights can appear in a short paragraph or quick “bullet” format at the top of the resume page.

It is important to lead with experience, not education (the exact opposite of what a new graduate should do).

List accomplishments, not just responsibilities. Don’t just tell employers what you did; tell them the outcome. For example: “Proposed and tracked $450,000 annual departmental budget. Only division to meet deadlines and operate within budget during past two years.”

This type of statement reveals your problem-solving abilities.

List activities that relate directly to your self-improvement efforts, e.g., continuing education, and the position you’re seeking. Don’t include hobbies.

You will need to determine your resume’s length based on accomplishments. An experienced candidate often has enough relevant accomplishments to expand his or her resume to a second page. That does not, however, give you license to spell out every award, membership, or accomplishment in your resume. You don’t want to dilute the focus.

Keep in mind many employers will usually glance at the first page to see if it captures their attention.

Consider listing and tailoring all of your accomplishments when developing the resume to a particular employer’s needs.

 John Boardman is a professional resume writer with the ResumeSummit Team at ResumeSummit.com.