This article will walk you through, step by step, how to make a resume in 2023. Let’s face it, writing an effective resume is probably one of the hardest things to master in life. For some people it can be downright painful! That’s where I come in. You can think of me as your Fairy Resume Mama. Basically, I’m here to take the pain away from the process. I can also teach you how to organize your food pantry, but that’s not the focus of this article.
If you’ve never written a resume before, or it’s been a while since you last updated your document, you’ve come to the right place!
Here’s the thing about writing an effective resume: it’s pretty easy when you have a simple formula for success. And given that 70% of resume get rejected before they ever reach a hiring manager, it’s important to learn how to write a resume that will actually land you an interview!
In this article, I’m going to take you step by step through how to update your resume so you’ll stand out from the crowd and land an interview faster:
Step One: Clarify your career goals
It is going to be hard to write your resume if you have no idea what type of job you’re seeking. If necessary, take a step back and figure out what you’re looking for in your next job. If you haven’t already, do some self-reflection. What are your top interests, strengths, values, and personality traits? How do they factor into your career goals?
Another helpful activity if you’re not sure where you want to go next in your career is to make a list of your past and/or current jobs. Which job tasks did you enjoy and why? Which tasks did you not enjoy? What do you want to do more (or less) of in your next job?
Step Two: Gather the necessary materials
Once you’ve figured out which type of job you’re targeting, it’s time to start updating your resume! Items you will need:
- Your current resume
- The job posting
- A highlighter or pen
- A soothing beverage
Once you’ve got all these items in front of you, the process of updating your resume will go much quicker (trust me).
Step Three: Target your resume
I encourage you to target a different resume to every job you apply for. I realize this probably sounds like a lot of work. However, once you’ve updated your resume and targeted it toward your field, targeting subsequent resumes will get easier and faster.
The whole idea is to ensure your resume matches as closely as possible to the specific job for which you are applying. Print out the job posting of the position you are targeting and highlight all the keywords. Make sure you sprinkle these keywords on your resume. This will also ensure that your resume is ATS-compatible.
Why does ATS matter?
According to a recent study, more than 95% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS to scan resumes. That means if your resume isn’t targeted directly toward the job you’re applying for, you are hurting your chances of getting it seen by a hiring manager!
Step Three: Make sure your resume is accomplishment-focused
What does this mean exactly? Try to avoid writing generic phrases like “performed general administrative duties.” This tells the employer nothing about you. These skills and tasks could be done by anyone. You want to show the hiring manager what makes you stand out and what specifically you have achieved in prior jobs.
Instead of listing “administrative duties,” write an accomplishment phrase like “Answered roughly 50 calls daily in fast-paced medical environment; ensured quality customer care by demonstrating patience and empathy with each patient.”
Step Four: Proofread!
Use spellcheck. Next, print out your documents to make sure the formatting looks good and there are no errors. Trust me, it’s hard to catch all mistakes when you’re staring at a screen. Another great trick is to have someone else (ideally with decent editing skills) proofread your resume.
Step Five: Celebrate – you’re done!
You’ve learned how to make a resume in 2023. Woohoo! Well, wait a sec. I forgot that you need to write a cover letter too. Sorry. The celebration was a little premature. Don’t worry, we have you covered. Check out how to write a killer cover letter that will make a hiring manager smile instead of yawn.
