Do you know how to make a modern resume?

1LT Patrick Hefferan — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 15:25:42 -0500

Applying for a job in the civilian world is a multi-step process that starts with the resume. Basically, it is your resume along with your cover letter that gets you in the door for an interview. But, the modern resume is not like your father’s resume. Today, it serves as a database of your skills and experiences, and is often scanned into the employer’s personal computer system to be reviewed by various algorithms. The algorithmic search is what is new in today’s job market. It is a keyword search where the employer tries to find a match between the skills and experiences he needs and the candidate. As techniques continue to change, it is very important to understand how the employer will view and use your resume.

In the past, there were two types of resumes: skills-based and experience-based. Now your resume needs be a hybrid version, including both a skills section and an experience section. The skills section may be the most important in making the initial employer/candidate match to get you an interview. So, what to do? How do you list your skills gained in the military? Remember, the military skills terminology may not always match the civilian terminology. I was an 0205 Battalion/Brigade-level Communications Officer. That means nothing to most employers. But, breaking it down: I managed wire crews for landline communications, a telecommunications network, and a UHF radio net. This means much more to a civilian employer, but it is still not quite good enough. You need to better match exact terminology used by today’s employers. A better description would be: managed wired, wireless communications, and encrypted digital networks. The chances for a match are greatly enhanced with these revisions. It is always best to look at the employer’s job descriptions and employment ads to see the best, current, state-of-the-art terminology for your skill set. This will improve your chances of getting matched and granted an interview.

One last reminder - there is no shortcut to getting the job you want. It is always best to research the company you want to work for and write a custom resume and cover letter for each position you apply for. With computer-based word processing, it is not difficult to customize each resume!

Do you have any tips on how to create a more attractive resume in today’s job market?

For Reference:
Pat Hefferan lead a Signal Platoon in Vietnam (1971-2), and afterword had a long business career in the Electronics Industry, where he hired hundreds of employees and read thousands of resumes.

Response by 1LT Patrick Hefferan made Dec 15 at 2014 4:51 PM

1LT Patrick Hefferan — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:51:38 -0500

Getting a second opinion is always good. Visiting a major employer in your area and asking for someone in the HR department to review a your resume' can be a good entre' to some good info. I doubt if any would refuse a such a request from a veteran.

Response by SSgt Todd Ricker made Dec 15 at 2014 7:41 PM

SSgt Todd Ricker — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 19:41:53 -0500

I Agree, resumes today are not what they used to be. I look at a ton of resumes on a weekly basis, and those are the ones that get to me. I spend VERY LITTLE time reading the cover letter, unless its unique with a good first sentence. Don't be to "wordy" here- and be direct and unique.
I usually go straight to the skills, looking for well thought out skill sets, and well described experiences.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2016 8:12 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 May 2016 08:12:59 -0400

Resumes can vary greatly based on the nature of the industry and position one is looking to get hired into. As a general guideline after five years in the civil sector after getting off AD, I can offer the following tips:

1. Keep a "master" resume that has everything you've ever done on it. This will likely be a 3-4+ page document depending on where you are in your professional career. This is not a document to send to employers, but rather an easy point for you to start for and tailor down to a focused resume for a particular job. What you send an employer needs to be no longer than 2 pages.
2. "Civilianize" your military experiences to civilian equivalents (i.e. company commander = mid-level supervisor, etc...), avoid acronyms
3. For each position, use 3-4 bullets. First bullet should explain the position and responsibilities entailed simply in a sentence or two, the remaining bullets should highlight some significant accomplishments, preferably quantifiable.
4. Don't include military awards... Few in the civilian sector understand or care; save the space for something more important/meaningful. This can also communicate to a civilian employer that you are stuck in the past and can indicate problems assimilating into the civilian work force.
5. Don't think that only the hiring manager will be the only one to see your resume. Most hiring managers will circulate applicant resumes amongst the coworkers in the area you've applied for to see if anyone knows of you or to gain opinions from prospective future coworkers of the applicant.

If/when you land an interview, DO NOT go in uniform! Everyone will be nice and respectful, but almost everyone will unilaterally write you off as a bad fit and not ready to leave the military/assimilate. Another thing vital is to be yourself! My office always brings applicants out for lunch with as many people from the office that are available that day given the work load. This is the, "can I go on the road with this person for a month without them driving me crazy" test and is quite possibly the most important single discriminator in the final hiring process. Remember that the process goes both ways, you as the applicant should be evaluating to see if the team is something you want to be a part of just as much as the employer is evaluating if you'd be value added to their organization!

Good luck!! :)

Response by Sarah Ali made Dec 16 at 2022 1:23 AM

Sarah Ali — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 01:23:27 -0500

6 Quick Tips to Update your Resume
Landed an exciting job opportunity? Pulled off a sales target in your current job? Experts and recruiters urge employees and job seekers for a resume refresh at least 2 times every year. ‘Whether or not you are searching for a job’, you must vitalize your resume with the latest accomplishments, awards, experiences, and target achievements!

Moreover, your resume calls for some deletions from time to time. This may include your, somewhat irrelevant, internships from the graduation times or the first job of your career. This space can be restored with your lately acquired skills or a to-the-purpose training you took this year!

The job market has always been zealous, isn’t it? Every candidate is expected to be whole-nine-yards literate to land a job or an interview initially. Therefore, it is unfailingly critical to give a little relevant touch up to your resume. At a glance, general resume refresh upgrading incorporates transfiguration to:

ATS-friendly and outwardly engaging format
Newest held positions
Re-purposing existing resume data

Originally Published/Read More: https://careerbands.com/resume-refresh/

6 Quick Tips to Update your Resume - CareerBands

Refresh your resume regarding target job (occupational skills, enter key words, add words related to occupation, highlights in a resume, job words, add job related skills, Include Jobs related Keywords, keywords for success, keyword filter)