For the majority, 2020 has been an unconventional year. Work paradigms often shifted with little notice, fundamentally altering where and how people handle their responsibilities.
If you’re looking for a new job, you may be wondering if you need to approach your tech resume differently. After all, these times are a bit unique, and you may need to address points that you’d usually skip. Plus, competition may be fiercer now than ever before due to widespread unemployment and remote work growth.
Ultimately, it is wise to adjust your tech resume to reflect the changing priorities of today’s employers. If you don’t know where to begin, here are some tips.
Discuss Remote Work Skills
If you’re applying to positions that are currently remote, highlight your telecommuting expertise. Let the hiring manager know that you’re familiar with popular technologies and that you can exceed expectations while working from home.
For example, you can reference the tools you used and the results you achieved while working from home in your most recent position. That may give the hiring manager some peace of mind about your performance outside of an office.
Include the Right Soft Skills
While referencing your soft skills is always a smart move, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re discussing the ones that mean the most right now. For example, written communication is vital for employees working from home, ensuring that they can collaborate effectively with others who may also be working remotely. Emotional intelligence and compassion are more crucial in today’s climate, so they are worth addressing, too.
Ideally, you want to connect valuable soft skills to relevant recent achievements. That way, you can showcase how those capabilities led to positive results.
Be Concise
Today, employers may be receiving more resumes than usual. For remote positions, the company may attract resumes from candidates located all across the country. However, even if the role is local, higher unemployment often means more competition and more applications for every opening.
When you craft your resume, aim to be concise. You want the content to be incredibly skimmable, showcasing the best of what you have to offer quickly and clearly. Eliminate fluff as a starting point. Then, pare down your bullet points, focusing on those that are most relevant based on the must-haves in the job ad.
Additionally, create a standout professional summary that you can put at the top of your resume. That way, the hiring manager gets a quick glimpse at what you bring to the table, ensuring they view you as a potential fit immediately.
In the end, your resume shouldn’t extend beyond two pages and shouldn’t contain details that aren’t relevant to that hiring manager. Adopt a less is more attitude and make sure your application is highly focused. It will pay off in the end.
If you’d like to learn more about tailoring your resume for today’s employers, the staff at The Squires Group can help. Contact us today.
