Signature May/June 2015 - 38

RESUME
MISSION
IMPERATIVES
Make it clear and easy to
read
n■ Target for position you are
applying for
n■ Use simple text with
minimal formatting
n■ Use standard resume
headings, such as
Professional Experience
n■ List job experience from
most recent to earliest
n■

Avoiding the
Resume Black Hole
Despite predictions of its demise, a strong
resume is still important and a key part
of the job search. However, the resume
has evolved thanks to technology, which
makes it easier to apply for jobs and to
customize and format the resume.
The proliferation of online ads has
made it easier for candidates to apply
for as many jobs as they can, hoping that
something will stick. As a result, employers are inundated with applications from
unqualified candidates.
Thus, a growing number of employers today use resume-screening technology known as applicant tracking systems
to weed out those who are clearly unqualified. To pass this screen, candidates'
resumes need to include the correct keywords or industry buzzwords representing
the actual experience that the employers are looking for, and an ATS-friendly
formatted resume to get their resume in
front of an employer for review.
Being ATS-friendly means using
simple text, with minimal formatting (no
tables), standard resume headings, such
as Professional Experience as opposed to
Career Highlights, common fonts found
on most computers, and the traditional
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signature

chronological format with most recent
job first in a Microsoft Word document.
Candidates can save a fancier formatted
resume in PDF form to send resumes via
email or for printing out hard copies.
Once the resume makes it through
the computer screen, however, a human
being still reviews, so content remains
king. Executive recruiter Elizabeth Garzarelli, who specializes in digital media,
education, and publishing for Ligature
Partners, says that it's important that the
resume shows clearly that you have experience for the position being filled.
"It's okay to make it eye-catching, but
more important is that it is clear and easyto-read," she says. She also advises using
the traditional chronological format,

where you list your experience from most
recent to earliest as opposed to functional
format, where the emphasis is on skills
with descriptions often separated from
the actual position where the experience
took place.
In addition to a simple, readable format,
resumes must be targeted and customized
for each position you apply to, she says.
"What I'm looking for is a close match
between the skills in the position description and your experience. Make it clear
how relevant your experience is to the
desired qualifications."

Having a LinkedIn
Presence
Perhaps one of the most notable changes
to the job search is the advent of
LinkedIn, considered the premier social
media network for professionals.
Being on LinkedIn is "absolutely
crucial," says Garzarelli. "Many recruiters
will only consider candidates who are on
LinkedIn - to the point where, if you're
not on LinkedIn, it's almost as if you don't
exist," she says. As for the profile, she says
it needs to be complete and link to a personal email address. She says LinkedIn is
also critical for networking.
"Even if you're not looking for a job,
it's important to be on LinkedIn in terms

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Signature May/June 2015