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Stop Getting Lost in the Crowd – Use These 10 Tips to Build a Killer Resume

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a college student ready to hit the job market, putting together your resume can be a stressful experience. Even updating an old resume can send you into a tailspin. While every industry is different, there are some resume tips that are universal to all. We want you to be focused on getting to know us and sharing information about you, not stressing about your resume. So here are ten tips on how to prepare a resume that will grab our attention and help you stand out in the crowd.

  1. Keep it to one page: When a job opening is made public, our hiring managers are often flooded with many resumes to sort through. Which means to save time, they will scan through resumes in search of the very best to consider for interviews. Edit down your resume so that you are sharing only the most relevant information. A good place to elaborate in more detail would be your LinkedIn profile page.
  2. Put the best information at the top: Think about a newspaper where the best information is front, center and at the top of the page. Listing your previous jobs and education in reverse order (most recent job first) allows for the most relevant information to stand out in a quick scan.
  3. Customize your resume and cover letter for each position you apply for: A job listing is not only a request for a person with a certain set of skills, it is also a list of needs the company has. Take the opportunity to address how you can meet those needs in your resume and cover letter. Include keywords used in the job listing to stand out when the hiring manager is scanning over your resume and cover letter.
  4. Throw in some numbers: We are accountants and we love to see the numbers. When listing your previous positions, include as many numbers, facts and figures as you can. List how you improved productivity in your previous office. Did you exceed the goals given to you? Share the percentage you exceeded those goals by and how often you did so. Did you bring in new clients? Share that information too! Highlight your accomplishments, not just your past jobs.
  5. Include your education: Similar to your job history, include your education in reverse order (with the last degree earned first). Also, include a high level list of continuing professional education classes you have completed.
  6. List your skills: Have special skills? We want to know! List out the skills that you bring to the table. Also, a list of the software you are proficient in will be helpful in the hiring manager’s review of your resume.
  7. Go ahead, brag a little: Include any awards or accolades you have received related to the work you have done.
  8. Save your resume & cover letter as a PDF: Sometimes when sending files, formatting can change. Sending your files in PDF form ensures that it will open for the hiring manager looking exactly how you intended it to. Also, be sure that when you save your resume and cover letter that you are giving them an appropriate name. A good formula to follow is “your name.resume.job title.company name”.
  9. Be sure to proofread: It happens all the time. You put so much work into tailoring your resume and cover letter for a specific job listing that by the time you’re done, you want to get it submitted. While it’s tempting to send those files right away, take a moment to give your work a good, thoughtful proofread before you submit. Spelling and grammar errors can change a resume from great to poor.
  10. Keep your resume up-to-date: As your career evolves, so should your resume. Make it a habit to review and update your resume once a year. That way, when you are ready to take that next step, you will be armed with an accurate and effective resume to help you along the way.

Now that you know how to put together a resume that will stand out and be noticed,  take a moment and review our current openings at Mize CPAs Inc. And when you’re ready for the next step, check out our tips on how to prepare for an interview at Mize CPAs Inc.

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