Resume Writing is an Art

8/30/2023

Have you heard? “Resumes are dead” (Richie Norton).

Recruiters are examining your LinkedIn Profile. Hiring managers are checking your Facebook page. Employers are scrutinizing your Instagram. Is it time to add your resume to these profiles? How to design a resume for the times of social media? It depends on your story.
Let us go through resume types 101. Did you know there are many types of resumes? I have simplified them into three categories.

Traditional

Typically needed to follow the job application guidelines. A traditional resume is the most commonly used type of resumes and it is meant to be ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly; the software system commonly used to narrow down applicants. A traditional resume can be:

Chronological/reverse chronological
Functional/skills-based
Combination/hybrid/chrono-functional

You may be able to create this category of resume on your own. If you decide to write your own resume, I do recommend you share it and have it edited by a friend or mentor. Typos or grammatical errors are not a good thing to have on your resume.

Purposeful

If you want to focus on a specific job market, then purposeful resumes are required:

Targeted – A specific position
Task oriented
CV (curriculum vitae)/academic– For academia such as grad school or academic positions
Federal – Commonly used in the U.S.

Despite my years of experience, I would definitely advise you to hire a resume writer for this type of resume.

Innovative

Writing innovative resumes is an art, so you should be willing to spend time to craft them well. For those of you with creative career paths, these non-traditional resumes allow you to show your artistic style. For others, innovative resumes will help you stand out.
While I do not recommend using innovative resumes for traditional job application methods since they are non-ATS compliant, I do endorse creativity when networking and for social media profiles. In this virtual age, innovative resumes are powerful job seeking tools if crafted well.
Think of yourself as a brand. Use innovative resumes to market the story of your brand and to tantalize readers into wanting to learn more:

Infographic – yes, you can use graphic design elements. Check out My Career Snapshot website for one example. While this example is not officially a resume, it is a great networking tool.
Portfolio – allows you to show samples of your work.
Mini – think of it as your elevator pitch i.e. it can be read in 30 seconds. This would a great type of resume for your social media profiles.
Video – show off your personality. Check out the YouTube video I use with my young clients as an example.
Resume with Profile – features skills and experiences at the top of your traditional resume.
Personal website – shows off your creative work or accomplishments such as academic publications or previous speaker engagements.

Resumes are not dead

Resumes are not dead; they are an art form that is transforming and adapting to the latest technological advancements and the social media arena!
Which one of the three categories of resumes you choose will depend on your career journey and the story you are trying to weave for the job you are applying.

Author

I am Hoda Kilani, your Certified Professional Career Coach. I provide you with the latest strategies to innovatively craft your career journey your way! Let's chat.

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