Resumes, like anything else, go through trends. If you examine your resume from decades past (if you still have it), you’ll find there are numerous changes that have taken place – many of which have since changed again. Whether you’re going for a new job, or keeping it updated for passive opportunities, there are some ways to highlight your unique skills which set you apart from other candidates.
- Create a special section after your summary (objectives are out, summaries are the replacement). This is where only the most unique achievements and skills will go, the ones very few others will have, and will be read before almost anything else. Also, keep it to no more than four-six skills – but it needs to be at least three, or scrap this section.
- Highlight the skill sets that you’ve mastered when writing your various responsibilities at each previous career position, first. These should not be duplicates of the first ones, but instead a separate list – albeit the less-glamorous ones than your primary accomplishments. These should draw attention away from more menial duties that all engineers perform, so that only your unique responsibilities and skills show – providing a much bigger impact. (Note – don’t get carried away or overly inventive. It will backfire.)
- List your project’s accomplishment. Things like “early, under budget,” and the like are incredibly helpful and demonstrate the contribution you offered to the team – regardless of the part. Having skills on a resume looks solid – having a proven track record shows the value of the skills is enormous.
- Have someone write a letter of recommendation. This should come from someone who was either directly affected by your success, or someone who ordinarily wouldn’t write a letter. The higher the title, the larger the impact. While this sounds superficial (and maybe it is) if the president writes a letter of recommendation, it has a larger impact than an accountant, for obvious reasons.
- Pair up with a staffing agency. While this may not exactly help your resume, it does allow them the opportunity to pair you up with the ideal match of an employer – and this is the ultimate goal of an exemplary resume.
Staffing agencies know and understand the companies they work with. This allows them to find the ideal match for both you and the company – which maximizes long-term satisfaction, and allows you a career opportunity, rather than “just another job.” At Dunhill Staffing Systems, we understand the industries we recruit in, from aerospace engineering to mechanical design and installation, and we know exactly where you want to be. So contact us today, and let us help get you there!