Jobseekers struggling to know how to update your resume. Kathleen has some insight into what resumes today need to highlight.
Talent Tuesday: The New Rules of Resume Creation—What Actually Works in 2025 If a recruiter or hiring manager can’t tell within 6 seconds what job you’re targeting, what industry you’re in, and why you’re qualified, your resume isn’t working. Hiring teams don’t have time to guess what you do or where you fit. If your resume doesn’t get to the point quickly, it’s getting skipped. Here’s how to make sure your resume actually works in today’s job market. The Old Resume Rules That No Longer Work ❌ Generic resumes sent everywhere → Tailor your resume to your industry & skillset ❌ Long paragraphs → Use bullet points for easy scanning ❌ Responsibilities-focused resumes → Show impact, not just tasks ❌ Overstuffed with keywords → ATS-friendly doesn’t mean unreadable ❌ Fancy formatting & graphics → Keep it clean, white space matters The New Resume Rules for 2025 📌 Make your job title & industry obvious Hiring teams should instantly know what type of job you fit If you’re in sales, marketing, engineering, or leadership, say it clearly in the first few lines 📌 Keep it clean & easy to read Use bullet points, not paragraphs Prioritize white space over cramming in every detail Avoid tables, graphics, and over-designing—they don’t play well with ATS software 📌 Tailor your resume to the job you want Cut experience that isn’t relevant Highlight skills that align with the role Lead with results, not job duties 📌 Hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did—they want to see the impact you made 🔹 Instead of: "Managed a regional sales team." ✅ Say: "Led a team of 8, driving a 27% increase in revenue and securing $3.2M in new contracts in 2024." 📌 Make key achievements easy to find Length isn’t the issue, clarity is. A resume can be long if every word serves a purpose 📌 Quantify your impact whenever possible Numbers grab attention. Instead of "Improved processes," say: ✅ "Redesigned workflow, reducing project turnaround time by 30%" 📌 Ditch outdated fluff "References available upon request" → They know. No need to state it "Proficient in Microsoft Word & Outlook" → These aren’t selling points in 2025 "Hard worker, team player" → Show it with results, not just words The Bottom Line Your resume isn’t a life story, it’s meant to spark interest and start a conversation 📌 If someone has to hunt for key details or guess, you’re making them work too hard 📌 If you don’t differentiate yourself, your competition will have the leg up 📌 With hundreds of applications for some roles, how you position yourself can be the difference between an interview and a generic rejection email
