Resume Tips for 2020 and Beyond: 10 Ways To Future-Proof Your Application

[sushmi]

Resume Tips for 2020 and Beyond: 10 Ways To Future-Proof Your Application

1. Begin With a Professional Summary
"Using an objective statement to express your professional goals is now almost an obsolete practice," says veteran hiring manager Nancy Swank. "Today, most employers want to see a professional summary." This section displays your most noteworthy qualifications and communicates what you can bring to the role.

Most resume writers currently opt for this section. "This trend may continue as industries advance and competition in the job market remains," predicts Swank. "If your document still begins with an objective, replace it with the professional summary now to save yourself hassle down the road."

2. Appease the ATS
An applicant tracking system is an automated screening tool that weeds out irrelevant resumes to reduce the number of candidates employers must analyze. "The ATS may be here to stay," states Swank. "Prepare your document for the likelihood of meeting this technology in the future. Stay up-to-date on industry keywords, use standard headers, and follow other relevant resume tips concerning this software."

3. Add and Subtract Regularly
"Every few months, or at least every year, update your document to keep it current, relevant, and impressive," recommends Swank. Insert new work experience descriptions as you take on more important roles in your current position. Identify recent accomplishments. Did you learn how to navigate a new software or develop another skill? Add such information.

Remember to subtract as well. "As you continue to enhance your resume with new and applicable qualifications, that college internship slowly becomes more irrelevant," says Swank. "Every time you update your document, remove information that no longer applies to the jobs you seek."

4. Keep the Main Sections
No matter how the resume tips and trends change in the next few years, you will probably still need to use your document to communicate to hiring managers your experience and other important credentials. "Do not delete your education, work experience, or qualifications section," urges Swank. "You may have to someday change these sections' headers, formats, or other aspects, but you will want to keep the actual information intact."

5. Make It Easy To Read
"It is unlikely that employers will ever want to spend a long time reviewing a single resume," cautions Swank. "Most will appreciate documents that are easy to read."

                "Every time you update your resume, determine
                    whether you can skim through it quickly."

Every time you update your resume, determine whether you can skim through it quickly. Remember to use a lot of white space and bullet points. If you must write a paragraph, keep it to a few concise sentences that take up three to four lines.

6. Add Aesthetic Value
Many experts currently urge jobseekers to use visually appealing designs in their documents. Although this was once inappropriate in most industries, it is one of today's resume tips that is growing in popularity. "Hiring managers want to see that you care about getting the position," Swank explains. "They look at how much work you put into your resume to estimate your passion for the role."

Use bolds, italics, borders, shadings, colors, pictures and other graphics, or contemporary fonts. However, do not use them all. Too many design elements distract from the most important aspect of your document: your content. If you need help, resume templates simplify the styling process.

7. Update Your Language
"Beware of certain words and phrases, both in general and in your specific industry, that may soon fail to impress hiring managers," advises Swank. She recommends replacing phrases such as "computing skills" and perhaps even "Microsoft Office," as most jobseekers possess such talents. Use more specific adjectives than "excellent" and stronger verbs than "worked" to describe yourself and your qualifications.

8. Write With Your Goals in Mind
It is not just resume tips that may change in the future. The type of job you want in 2020 and the years after may differ from the type of position you want now. What are your professional goals? How do you want to progress in your career? "Think about how both your industry and career may change and grow in coming years," encourages Swank. "Modify your content accordingly."

9. Specialize Your Skills
As industries grow and change, jobs do the same. Roles become more specific. Today, employers want candidates with specialized skills to fill these exclusive positions. Swank believes this trend will last into the 2020s.

"A general list of skills on your document is a waste of valuable space," declares Swank. As you develop in your profession, tailor your qualifications section appropriately. List skill sets and areas of expertise that directly relate to the jobs you want.

10. Consider Your Online Presence
"People are online," states Swank. "That is the reality today, and it should continue to be in the coming decades." When hiring managers want to learn more about you, they often first check social media.

"If you are not already active on LinkedIn and other platforms, start establishing your presence now," encourages Swank. In some fields, it is appropriate to have your own website to display your portfolio. Provide links in your resume to your online profiles. Make sure all of your accounts remain updated and professional.