Technical Resume Writing Tips

Technical Resume Writing TipsOne of the first technical resume writing tips you should get is to make sure that the job posting you are posting is one that the hiring manager will read. If you do not use a job listing, then it will only be read by people who will be searching for your resume. The way you make sure that this goes to the person you are targeting is to make sure that the posting is not too vague or specific. Make sure that your resume is specific and offers relevant information to the position you are applying for.Another technical resume writing tip is to make sure that the job opening is one that is filled quickly. A hiring manager wants to see you as soon as possible and that you meet their requirements. So make sure that you are able to fill the position within a short amount of time. This will not only help you with the process of posting a resume, but also help you to get hired in the first place.Another technical resume writing tip is to use the right keywords wh en you are typing the information that you want to include on your resume. It will show the recruiter that you are using keywords when they type your information. This means that they will be more likely to choose you when they search your resume by keyword.Another technical resume writing tip is to add punctuation to your resume. For example, use proper punctuation for your job title, be consistent about using the same punctuation throughout your resume and include all of the information in your resume in a systematic fashion. Doing this will help you when you are doing the technical resume writing tips mentioned above.One last technical resume writing tip that you will want to consider is making sure that you use your work history to back up any information that you have included in your technical resume. You want to make sure that this information is as clear as possible and that it provides an honest representation of your experiences and skills. The more information you can pro vide in your resume, the better chance you have of getting the job.When you are writing your technical resume, it is important to consider the proper way to format your information and the manner in which you are going to introduce yourself and the information that you have included in your resume. Also, when you are writing your technical resume, it is important to make sure that you have enough experience and that you have some training or education to back up the skills that you are providing.These are just a few of the technical resume writing tips that you will want to consider. These are just a few of the many technical resume writing tips that you can get from books, articles, and even various companies and organizations.

How to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) - 2019

How to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) - 2019 Spread the loveNearly all resumes submitted online today are scanned with an ATS. To earn more interviews, you need to appeal to these computer scans and this article will show you how. There are 10 things you need to consider.Well cover everything you need to know about these Applicant Tracking Systems and how to get your resume past the most popular ones including BambooHR or Zoho.What is an ATS? (Applicant Tracking System)These Applicant Tracking Systems, commonly referred to as resume robots, scan your resume for keywords, experience, and education before the document is ever seen by human eyes. If the ATS determines that the resume is an appropriate match for the position, it is approved for human review.Lets learn a bit more about who uses these systems and how they work, as this will help us craft a resume that can beat the bots.How Do Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems?The use of Applicant Tracking Systems has increased dramatically in the last few years.As shown in the image above, over 95% of large companies and over 50% of mid-sized companies use an ATS.So what does the ATS look for in your resume?The ATS algorithm scans for keywords that are related to the advertised job. It also scans for information related to your work experience and education.  If the ATS determines that your resume is a good match for the position, it gives you a high ranking. This ranking improves your chances of being seen by a recruiter and ultimately landing the interview.Here is a popular ATS resume analyzer called Taleo, which demonstrates how an employer sees candidates for a particular job opening:As you can see, the ATS judges the candidates to the best-matched position and are given higher ranking.Why is it so important to optimize your resume for an ATS?Your resume is up against a lot, so optimizing your resume for ATS scans will give you the best chance of getting noticed by an employer.Let’s take a look at some numbers. Here are some statistics that show wh at your resume is up against when you apply for a job.Source: Inc.comSo out of 250 resumes sent, 75% are deleted by Applicant Tracking Systems. Of the remaining candidates, 4-6 will be interviewed and one person will get a job offer.Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Enough with these scary statistics â€" how the heck do I get my resume past the bots? Is it possible to beat applicant tracking systems?Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 tips to get your resume past the ATS!ATS Resume Checker  We also have a tool that lets you scan your resume with an actual ATS:ATS Resume Checker10 Tips to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)1. Use resume keywords correctlyThis is one of the most crucial elements to not only get your resume past the ATS, but to ensure that it gets a high ranking as well.The software is designed to scan for keywords that relate to the job and industry. A good place to start would be the job description. If you’re going for a job within a particula r industry, you should already have identified the major keywords that relate to that industry or the position that you seek.If you need some guidance, you can look at a few job descriptions which will help you decide which keywords to include in your resume.Lets take a look at a job description for an accounting position and see what keywords we can use:Position:  We are seeking an Accounting Assistant to report and record ticket sales, prepare deposits and reconcile bank accounts. Dealing with any ticketing accounting situations is a major function of this position.Responsibilities:Prepare and verify daily reportsComplete  daily income/sales report and prepare daily journal entryDaily deposits of ticket sales receiptsReconcile bank account for ticketing officeCommunicate with ticketing managers and others working on the ticketing systems problemsPrepare authorized refund vouchersCompile monthly reportsPrepare monthly balance sheet schedulesQualifications:Bachelors in accountingFam iliarity with Oracle and Microsoft Excel is a plusFrom this job description, we can include the following keywords on your resume:Bank account reconciliationJournal EntriesBalance SheetMicrosoft ExcelOraclePrepare daily, weekly and monthly reportsYou can include these keywords in a core competencies or skills section.Example of using keywords for an ATS scan:One thing thats just as bad as not having the correct keywords is over-using them. Many applicants try to stuff as many resume keywords as they can in hopes of beating the ATS and earning a high ranking.Nice try! It won’t happen. The ATS will reject an overstuffed resume as quickly as it would a resume with insufficient keywords. Work on finding the right balance in your resume.2. Format your resume correctly for ATSStick to a traditional resume format at all times. This ensures that your resume can be scanned by the ATS and that it is easy for a recruiter to read. There are three basic resume formats acceptable for use:Revers e-chronological (most popular) This is the most popular resume format and is ideal for someone who has a good work history and is staying in the same line of work. We wrote a post on how to write an awesome chronological resume here.Functional This resume format is ideal for those who have large employment gaps or plan on switching industries. A functional resume format allows you to lead with skills and qualifications instead of work experience. You can also find our article on writing a good functional resume here.Hybrid This is a combination of a reverse-chronological and a functional format. It allows you to use the best features of both formats. However, if you have large employment gaps or very little experience, you should avoid this format.Example of an ATS-Friendly Resume:Here is a good example of a chronological resume formatted for ATS:3. Send the correct file typeApplicant tracking systems need to be able to scan and read your resume. The safest way to ensure that you r resume will be read is to submit it in a Doc file. (Microsoft Word)Even though many of the systems are now advanced enough to read a PDF, you should still send a Doc file to be on the safe side. A Doc file is the preferred file type for both ATS and many recruiters.You should also always check the job description to see if the employer wants a certain file type. Often times, employers will specify a certain file type, so you should always have a .doc and .PDF version of your resume on file.4. Label sections on your resume correctlyYou need to ensure that the system can read all the sections of your resume correctly. Label your resume sections properly, using subheadings such as work experience, education, and interests.Verify that the location, position, and length of employment information that you provide is clear and consistent throughout your resume.If your layout is not done properly, the ATS may have trouble identifying where you worked, what you did, and how long you were t here. Here is an example of a good layout for work experience:Ensure all other labels on your resume are correct. Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, Certifications so ATS can understand the start of each a new section. Here is a post on  headers and sections to include on a resume.  5. Use a popular and professional font for ATS scanningStick to a professional font that an ATS can process.This is not only important for enabling the ATS to process your application correctly, but is also vital for retaining a recruiter’s interest. You have to remember that if a recruiter reviews your resume, it will be a major turn-off to see a font like comic sans.The best fonts to use for your resume are:ArialCalibriGeorgiaHelveticaWe have a post on the best resume fonts here you may want to check out so you can choose the right one for you.6. Avoid fancy designs, colors and imagesOkay, this ties in with formatting, but its something we need to mention because we see it so often.Don’t put fancy colors, images or fonts on your resume. Not only does it create a problem for the ATS, but recruiters hate it as well!Here is what career expert Allison Green says:“There have always been a small number of job applicants who do this, and it is a really, really bad idea. It makes them look naive and unprofessional, raises questions about why they think you’d want to see their photo, and just generally … no.”Source: Allison GreenThere you have it. Stick to a professional resume format as discussed in Tip #2.7. Avoid spelling and grammar errors like the plague!58% of resumes contain spelling and grammatical errors, according to a CareerBuilder survey.Spelling errors can cause a resume to be automatically rejected. The majority of recruiters will also dismiss a resume even if it contains only a single error.Microsoft Word is not enough to correct all of your spelling and grammatical errors. You should read over your resume a couple of times and even have a friend or pr ofessional look it over.8. Spell out abbreviationsAvoid abbreviating words, titles or certifications on your resume. If you do abbreviate, make sure you spell out the abbreviation as well. Example:CPA: WrongCPA (Certified Public Accountant): RightYou don’t need to spell out every abbreviation, but make sure that you spell it out at least once.This ensures that whether the ATS is scanning for the full word or the abbreviation, your resume has both. The ATS may also be unable to recognize certain abbreviations like CPA instead of C.P.A.9. Make sure that your resume file name is correctYes, what you name your file matters. Even though it might get through the ATS, recruiters will often ignore unprofessional resume names.Use your first and last name, or a combination of the two. You should also add either the word “resume” or the position you seek.Examples:JohnS.Resume.docJohnSmith.Resume.docJohn.SalesManager.docThis is also important because if a recruiter needs to go back and find you in the system, they can easily do so by searching your name in the database. This also holds true if someone is referring you for the job. Your resume needs to be easily found should the recruiter want to pull up your file.Most recruiters won’t do the work for you and rename the file, so make sure you have the correct file name!10. Make sure you are qualified for the jobTo sum it all up, make sure you meet the qualifications of the job posting. Blindly sending out tons of resumes is a waste of your time.It’s better to take your time and go through each job description to verify that you’re qualified. The ATS is designed to see if the candidate is a good match for the job and verify that he or she has the qualifications needed.However, don’t be discouraged from applying for jobs where you meet most of the qualifications. If a position asks for two years of experience and you only have one, go for it anyway!SummaryYour resume has a lot to contend with in 2020, but with these 10 tips, you can rise to the top of the pile and get noticed by hiring managers. Write first to pass an ATS scan, and second to impress an employer.If you want to see how your resume w ill perform in an ATS test, be sure to try out Zipjobs free resume review. How to Get Your Resume Past Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) - 2019 Spread the loveNearly all resumes submitted online today are scanned with an ATS. To earn more interviews, you need to appeal to these computer scans and this article will show you how. There are 10 things you need to consider.Well cover everything you need to know about these Applicant Tracking Systems and how to get your resume past the most popular ones including BambooHR or Zoho.What is an ATS? (Applicant Tracking System)These Applicant Tracking Systems, commonly referred to as resume robots, scan your resume for keywords, experience, and education before the document is ever seen by human eyes. If the ATS determines that the resume is an appropriate match for the position, it is approved for human review.Lets learn a bit more about who uses these systems and how they work, as this will help us craft a resume that can beat the bots.How Do Companies Use Applicant Tracking Systems?The use of Applicant Tracking Systems has increased dramatically in the last few years.As shown in the image above, over 95% of large companies and over 50% of mid-sized companies use an ATS.So what does the ATS look for in your resume?The ATS algorithm scans for keywords that are related to the advertised job. It also scans for information related to your work experience and education.  If the ATS determines that your resume is a good match for the position, it gives you a high ranking. This ranking improves your chances of being seen by a recruiter and ultimately landing the interview.Here is a popular ATS resume analyzer called Taleo, which demonstrates how an employer sees candidates for a particular job opening:As you can see, the ATS judges the candidates to the best-matched position and are given higher ranking.Why is it so important to optimize your resume for an ATS?Your resume is up against a lot, so optimizing your resume for ATS scans will give you the best chance of getting noticed by an employer.Let’s take a look at some numbers. Here are some statistics that show wh at your resume is up against when you apply for a job.Source: Inc.comSo out of 250 resumes sent, 75% are deleted by Applicant Tracking Systems. Of the remaining candidates, 4-6 will be interviewed and one person will get a job offer.Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Enough with these scary statistics â€" how the heck do I get my resume past the bots? Is it possible to beat applicant tracking systems?Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 tips to get your resume past the ATS!ATS Resume Checker  We also have a tool that lets you scan your resume with an actual ATS:ATS Resume Checker10 Tips to Beat Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)1. Use resume keywords correctlyThis is one of the most crucial elements to not only get your resume past the ATS, but to ensure that it gets a high ranking as well.The software is designed to scan for keywords that relate to the job and industry. A good place to start would be the job description. If you’re going for a job within a particula r industry, you should already have identified the major keywords that relate to that industry or the position that you seek.If you need some guidance, you can look at a few job descriptions which will help you decide which keywords to include in your resume.Lets take a look at a job description for an accounting position and see what keywords we can use:Position:  We are seeking an Accounting Assistant to report and record ticket sales, prepare deposits and reconcile bank accounts. Dealing with any ticketing accounting situations is a major function of this position.Responsibilities:Prepare and verify daily reportsComplete  daily income/sales report and prepare daily journal entryDaily deposits of ticket sales receiptsReconcile bank account for ticketing officeCommunicate with ticketing managers and others working on the ticketing systems problemsPrepare authorized refund vouchersCompile monthly reportsPrepare monthly balance sheet schedulesQualifications:Bachelors in accountingFam iliarity with Oracle and Microsoft Excel is a plusFrom this job description, we can include the following keywords on your resume:Bank account reconciliationJournal EntriesBalance SheetMicrosoft ExcelOraclePrepare daily, weekly and monthly reportsYou can include these keywords in a core competencies or skills section.Example of using keywords for an ATS scan:One thing thats just as bad as not having the correct keywords is over-using them. Many applicants try to stuff as many resume keywords as they can in hopes of beating the ATS and earning a high ranking.Nice try! It won’t happen. The ATS will reject an overstuffed resume as quickly as it would a resume with insufficient keywords. Work on finding the right balance in your resume.2. Format your resume correctly for ATSStick to a traditional resume format at all times. This ensures that your resume can be scanned by the ATS and that it is easy for a recruiter to read. There are three basic resume formats acceptable for use:Revers e-chronological (most popular) This is the most popular resume format and is ideal for someone who has a good work history and is staying in the same line of work. We wrote a post on how to write an awesome chronological resume here.Functional This resume format is ideal for those who have large employment gaps or plan on switching industries. A functional resume format allows you to lead with skills and qualifications instead of work experience. You can also find our article on writing a good functional resume here.Hybrid This is a combination of a reverse-chronological and a functional format. It allows you to use the best features of both formats. However, if you have large employment gaps or very little experience, you should avoid this format.Example of an ATS-Friendly Resume:Here is a good example of a chronological resume formatted for ATS:3. Send the correct file typeApplicant tracking systems need to be able to scan and read your resume. The safest way to ensure that you r resume will be read is to submit it in a Doc file. (Microsoft Word)Even though many of the systems are now advanced enough to read a PDF, you should still send a Doc file to be on the safe side. A Doc file is the preferred file type for both ATS and many recruiters.You should also always check the job description to see if the employer wants a certain file type. Often times, employers will specify a certain file type, so you should always have a .doc and .PDF version of your resume on file.4. Label sections on your resume correctlyYou need to ensure that the system can read all the sections of your resume correctly. Label your resume sections properly, using subheadings such as work experience, education, and interests.Verify that the location, position, and length of employment information that you provide is clear and consistent throughout your resume.If your layout is not done properly, the ATS may have trouble identifying where you worked, what you did, and how long you were t here. Here is an example of a good layout for work experience:Ensure all other labels on your resume are correct. Summary, Skills, Work Experience, Education, Certifications so ATS can understand the start of each a new section. Here is a post on  headers and sections to include on a resume.  5. Use a popular and professional font for ATS scanningStick to a professional font that an ATS can process.This is not only important for enabling the ATS to process your application correctly, but is also vital for retaining a recruiter’s interest. You have to remember that if a recruiter reviews your resume, it will be a major turn-off to see a font like comic sans.The best fonts to use for your resume are:ArialCalibriGeorgiaHelveticaWe have a post on the best resume fonts here you may want to check out so you can choose the right one for you.6. Avoid fancy designs, colors and imagesOkay, this ties in with formatting, but its something we need to mention because we see it so often.Don’t put fancy colors, images or fonts on your resume. Not only does it create a problem for the ATS, but recruiters hate it as well!Here is what career expert Allison Green says:“There have always been a small number of job applicants who do this, and it is a really, really bad idea. It makes them look naive and unprofessional, raises questions about why they think you’d want to see their photo, and just generally … no.”Source: Allison GreenThere you have it. Stick to a professional resume format as discussed in Tip #2.7. Avoid spelling and grammar errors like the plague!58% of resumes contain spelling and grammatical errors, according to a CareerBuilder survey.Spelling errors can cause a resume to be automatically rejected. The majority of recruiters will also dismiss a resume even if it contains only a single error.Microsoft Word is not enough to correct all of your spelling and grammatical errors. You should read over your resume a couple of times and even have a friend or pr ofessional look it over.8. Spell out abbreviationsAvoid abbreviating words, titles or certifications on your resume. If you do abbreviate, make sure you spell out the abbreviation as well. Example:CPA: WrongCPA (Certified Public Accountant): RightYou don’t need to spell out every abbreviation, but make sure that you spell it out at least once.This ensures that whether the ATS is scanning for the full word or the abbreviation, your resume has both. The ATS may also be unable to recognize certain abbreviations like CPA instead of C.P.A.9. Make sure that your resume file name is correctYes, what you name your file matters. Even though it might get through the ATS, recruiters will often ignore unprofessional resume names.Use your first and last name, or a combination of the two. You should also add either the word “resume” or the position you seek.Examples:JohnS.Resume.docJohnSmith.Resume.docJohn.SalesManager.docThis is also important because if a recruiter needs to go back and find you in the system, they can easily do so by searching your name in the database. This also holds true if someone is referring you for the job. Your resume needs to be easily found should the recruiter want to pull up your file.Most recruiters won’t do the work for you and rename the file, so make sure you have the correct file name!10. Make sure you are qualified for the jobTo sum it all up, make sure you meet the qualifications of the job posting. Blindly sending out tons of resumes is a waste of your time.It’s better to take your time and go through each job description to verify that you’re qualified. The ATS is designed to see if the candidate is a good match for the job and verify that he or she has the qualifications needed.However, don’t be discouraged from applying for jobs where you meet most of the qualifications. If a position asks for two years of experience and you only have one, go for it anyway!SummaryYour resume has a lot to contend with in 2020, but with these 10 tips, you can rise to the top of the pile and get noticed by hiring managers. Write first to pass an ATS scan, and second to impress an employer.If you want to see how your resume w ill perform in an ATS test, be sure to try out Zipjobs free resume review.

How 10 Minutes of Coaching = $5,000 Pay Raise - Work It Daily

How 10 Minutes of Coaching = $5,000 Pay Raise - Work It Daily I couldn’t resist sharing this story with you because it demonstrates the power of career coaching and why anyone who wants to make more money needs a coach on their side... Last week, one of my CareerHMO.com members reached out to me in a panic. She had been offered a job with a company she had been doing some contract work for. The job wasn’t her dream position, but she felt established there, knew she could do the job well, and frankly, was in need of full-time employment with benefits. The problem was the offer was $5000 less than what she had hoped for. In fact, if she was to accept the job, she admitted she’d need to find a way to make the extra income. She was already taking a pay decrease from her last job, but this was just more than she was willing to accept. So, she was contacting me to get my perspective on whether she should: A) Pass on the job. B) Take the job and look for a new one with higher pay and leave as soon as she could. My response was, “You should do neither.” You see, there should have been a third option there: Ask for the money. I realize in this economy, most folks (ESPECIALLY women!) are just grateful to get a job and think, “If I work really hard and show them my worth, they’ll see it and give me more money.” But gang, this is business. Tell me one business you’ve gone back to and said, “Wow, I love your product/service so much, I’m going to give you more money for it!” It doesn’t work that way. You need to negotiate your worth before you accept the job. So, I spent 10 minutes walking this CareerHMO.com member through the right way to approach the conversation with the recruiter. We developed all the key points she needed to address and then discussed how she should say it. These points included: Appreciation for the offer. Acknowledging her respect for the company and the hiring manager. Being tactful but candid about the disappointment in the starting salary. Evidence to support why she wanted more money. Examples of how she would make it more than worth it for them if they could give her the additional funds. A simple ask if this would be something they could consider. Within just a few minutes, she was ready to have the conversation. While she wasn’t excited to do this (who is?), she felt confident she could present it in a way that would be well received. We even discussed what to do if the answer was a flat out “no” and how she could still take the job but at least know in her heart she tried and could therefore take a new job with higher pay without feeling guilty. Well 20 minutes later, I got word the conversation had gone well and she had gotten the additional $5K pay raise she wanted. And, here’s the best part: The recruiter’s response was, “I’m glad to see you know your worth.” The moral of the story: Retain a coach and use them regularly. The 10 minutes you spend getting coached on your situation could be worth a lot more than the investment in retaining one. Especially, if you are in the most cost-effective career coaching program in the United States: CareerHMO.com. J.T. O’Donnell is the founder of CAREEREALISM.com and CEO of CareerHMO.com, a web-based career development company. Pay increase image from Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!