An in-depth guide to optimizing your resume and cover letter

With remote roles on the rise, and a push for more diversity and inclusion, the professional landscape is transforming like never before. But there's one constant amidst this whirlwind of change, the need for an updated, trend-savvy resume.

Yes, this humble document still holds the power to open doors and land you your dream job. Whether you're a seasoned professional, or a fresh face in the job market, a well-crafted resume can make all the difference.

In this blog, we're serving up the hottest resume trends, and how they can help you shine in today's dynamic job market.

A resume isn't just a piece of paper, it’s the first impression you make on potential employers. Think of your resume as a highlight reel of your career journey. It distills your skills, experiences, and achievements into a concise, compelling narrative.

Your resume’s purpose is to:

• Spotlight your unique capabilities
• Confirm your suitability for a specific role
• Accompanies recruiters throughout the hiring process

When it comes to developing a successful resume, there's one overlooked tool—research.

Research isn't just about finding facts about the company, it's about understanding context and anticipating needs. By analyzing job postings, we can decode what potential employers are looking for. This helps us to tailor our resumes, matching our skills, and experiences with the needs of the job.

Reaching out to industry contacts is another important step. Not only does this keep us in the loop about potential opportunities, it also provides important insights, like what skills are in demand, or what qualities employers value.

Knowing how recruitment software, like Applicant Tracking System (ATS), works can make all the difference. These systems scan resumes for keywords related to the job description, and choose who has a chance within seconds. By using strategic keywords in your resume, you can improve your chances⁠(opens in a new tab or window) of passing through these digital gatekeepers and land an interview.

Knowing what to list on your resume is crucial for success. It serves as your professional showcase, telling your unique story in a way that resonates with recruiters, and sets you apart from the competition.

Here's your recipe for success:

1. Contact Information: Start with the basics: your name, phone number, and email address. If you have a professional website, include that, too. Avoid personal details like age or marital status.
2. Objective Statement: This is your elevator pitch. In a few crisp sentences, introduce yourself and outline the kind of role you're seeking. Feel free to mention your goals, desired work environment, or personal attributes that make you a great fit.
3. Experience: Adopt a chronological format, starting with your most recent role. Mention the organization, location, and tenure. Instead of listing tasks, focus on your achievements and back them up with evidence, wherever possible.
4. Relevant Skills, Education, and Certifications: Highlight skills and qualifications which align with the role. While high school or college information is often unnecessary, do include any relevant certifications.
5. Awards and Appearances: Showcase your holistic personality by mentioning hobbies, languages, volunteer work, or industry-specific publications, or awards. Keep this section brief and professional.
6. References: Include one or two references who the employer can contact for verification. Remember to inform your references beforehand.

Keywords are the secret code to making your resume relevant to the job you're applying for. How do you find these magical words? Simple! They're usually hiding in plain sight within the job posting you’re responding to. Look out for the required skills and proficiencies, and make sure you weave these into your resume.

Here are a few special language considerations for your resume:

• Language: Keep the tone professional and polite. Use language that feels natural to you, no need to throw in big words just to impress.
• Length: Be succinct. Every word on your resume should serve a purpose. If you're struggling to keep it concise, try reading it out loud to spot any redundancies.
• Use action verbs: Action verbs are dynamic words like 'operated,' 'executed,’ 'coordinated,' and 'produced' which paint a picture of your previous experience. They're a fantastic way to highlight accomplishments.
• Bullet Points: These are your friends! They make your resume easy to scan and help highlight your key achievements.
• Mirror the job posting: Another trick is to mirror the language used in the job description. This doesn't mean copying it verbatim, but rather aligning your resume's language and tone with that of the job description. This can make it easier for recruiters to see the direct link between your experience and the job at hand.
• Back it up with data: Incorporating data into your resume gives you a competitive edge. You should focus on three key areas: growth, reduction, and impact. To showcase your growth, focus on stats about how much revenue you generated, or how many clients you acquired. To prove your reduction capabilities, focus on stats like how much money you saved the business, or how much time you saved by implementing a new process. To emphasize your overall impact, mention stats like how many teams you’ve led, how many clients you’ve managed, or how many projects you delivered in a set time period. For instance, saying you increased your company’s social media reach is great, but saying you increased it by 60,000 Instagram followers is impressive. Using metric-based lists or icons to highlight career stats can be an eye-catching way to say a lot in a small section.

Recruiters typically scan resumes rather than read them in detail, so creating a strong visual hierarchy ensures the key details about you jump out.

Typography helps establish a strong visual hierarchy. For example, if you've worked at impressive companies, making those company names larger will draw a recruiter's eye to them instantly.

Graduated with honors from a prestigious university? Bold the school name to make it stand out. Using different font sizes, weights, and styles can help differentiate between sections and highlight key information.

Color isn't just for aesthetics either, it's a powerful tool. You can use a bold color for section headers or key achievements to make them pop. But remember, balance is key. Stick to a cohesive color scheme, one which aligns with your personal brand, but doesn't distract from the content.

When it comes to designing your resume, every element counts.

Here are some key formatting tips to consider:

1. Legibility: Choose a font size that's easy to read. If you have lots of information, it's better to let your resume spill over into two pages, rather than squeezing everything into tiny text.
2. Margins: Always leave enough space around the edges. This ensures nothing gets cut off if a recruiter decides to print your resume.
3. Images: Keep imagery to a minimum. A professional headshot may be appropriate depending on the role, but too many images can be distracting.
4. Section Headers: Make these stand out with bold text, a box, or a pop of color. They help guide the reader through your resume, making it easier to digest.

With an emphasis on simplicity and readability, there are three main types of resume formats to consider: chronological, functional, and combination.

While the chronological format is the most common, and generally expected by employers, there are circumstances where the functional or combination format might better showcase your skills.

• Work history: Lists work history in order of date, with the most recent position first. Best for those with a consistent work history in the same field.
  
• Familiarity: The chronological resume is the most recognized and commonly used format, meaning hiring managers are accustomed to reading and understanding this layout.
  
• Highlight recent achievements: By starting with your most recent role, you immediately highlight your current skills and achievements.
• Ideal for traditional career paths: If you've followed a traditional career path within the same industry, this format helps demonstrate your commitment and depth of experience.
  
• Easily scannable: Recruiters can easily scan your most recent experiences and qualifications, making it more likely they'll notice what makes you a great fit.
  

• Lead with skills and experiences: Instead of organizing by work history, you can group your resume by skills most relevant to the job you’re applying for.
  
• Ideal for career shifters: This format is a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a career shift, or entering a niche field, like acting.
• Beneficial for varied work history: If you've experienced long gaps in your professional life, or if you're a fresh graduate with no work experience, this format can help highlight your potential over your past.
  

• Balance skills and experience: If you want to display an equal emphasis on both your skills and employment history, this is the format for you.
  
• Long-term employment: If you've worked with the same employer for an extended period of time, this format can help highlight your loyalty and growth within the company.
  
• Career changers: If you're transitioning careers, but have worked for some well-known companies, this format can help leverage your past experiences.
• Address employment gaps: If necessary, this format allows you to tactfully address any gaps in your work history. Gaps in employment history are no longer held against prospective employees. Focus instead on how hiring you can benefit your employer.
  

The job market is competitive. By leveraging the power of social media and an online portfolio, you're able to give employers a glimpse into your life and values.

Invest time in personalizing your social feed and keep these considerations in mind:

1. Showcase your personal brand: Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook are more than just social networks, they're platforms to showcase your unique skills, experiences, and personality. Around 70% of recruiters look at these platforms when screening applicants, so it's vital to keep them updated and professional.
   
2. Reflect your character: Your social media profiles offer a glimpse into your character, passions, hobbies, and interests outside of work. This additional layer of personality can make you more relatable to potential employers who value a cultural fit.
   
3. Highlight your creativity: For creative professionals, such as writers, graphic designers, illustrators, actors, and filmmakers, an online portfolio is a must. It enables you to present your best and most recent work in a visually appealing way.
   
4. Create a dynamic resume: A resume website allows you to showcase your achievements in an interactive way⁠(opens in a new tab or window). Unlike a traditional paper resume, a website can include multimedia elements, links to your work, and testimonials.
   

• Double-check everything: Spelling, grammar⁠(opens in a new tab or window), and punctuation⁠(opens in a new tab or window) errors can leave a negative impression. Use tools like Grammarly or Canva's AI proofreader⁠(opens in a new tab or window) to catch mistakes, but also manually check your document as automated tools might not catch everything.
• Consistency is key: Ensure you’ve used consistent fonts, bullet points, and headings throughout your resume. Also, maintain consistency in tense and voice.
• Ask for help: Have a friend or family member review your resume. They might spot errors you've overlooked, or offer valuable suggestions.
• Read aloud: Reading your resume aloud can help you identify awkward phrasing and typos.

• File Format: Save your resume in PDF format to preserve its formatting across different devices and operating systems.
  
• File Naming: Use a professional file name like "JohnDoe_Resume.pdf" instead of something generic.
  
• Version Control: If you're customizing your resume for different roles, keep track of versions by including the job title or company name in the file name.
  

• Email subject line: Make it specific and professional. Include the role you're applying for and your name, e.g., “Application for Marketing Manager - John Doe.”
  
• Email body: Don't leave it blank. Write a brief, polite message noting your attached resume and cover letter, and expressing your interest in the role.
  
• Attachment: Double-check you've attached your resume before hitting send.
  

Remember, your resume is often your first point of contact with a potential employer. Presenting a polished, professional, and comprehensive resume⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is crucial to your success.

A cover letter adds a personal touch to your application, and allows you to introduce yourself to the employer in a more personable way, rather than only relying on your resume. A cover letter also enables you to express your enthusiasm for the role and the company, showing recruiters you are genuinely interested.

Customizing your cover letter for each job you apply for shows the employer you've done your research, and you’re serious about the role, making you stand out from other candidates who send generic letters.

Here are some tips on creating an effective cover letter:

• Start strong: Begin with a compelling opening line to grab the reader's attention. For example, "As a seasoned digital marketer with a passion for data-driven strategies, I was thrilled to see your job posting for a Digital Marketing Specialist."
  
• Tailor your letter: Customize your cover letter for each job by mentioning the specific role and company, and explaining why you're a good fit.
  
• Use evidence: Back up your claims by citing specific examples of your achievements. Instead of saying "I have strong project management skills," say "In my previous role, I successfully managed a team of 10 and delivered all projects on time and within budget."
  
• Close with confidence: End your letter on a confident note, expressing your interest in discussing your qualifications further. For example, "I'm excited about the prospect of bringing my unique skill set to [Company Name], and I look forward to the possibility of discussing my candidacy further."
  

Designing a resume and cover letter that truly represents you and your professional capabilities can be a game-changer in your job search. Whether you choose a chronological, functional or combination resume format depends on your industry, the role you're applying for, and your personal style. Each has its own set of advantages tailored to different situations.

The goal is to create a resume that not only showcases your skills and experiences, but also captures the attention of hiring managers in a sea of applications. It should speak to your professionalism, while also giving a glimpse into your personality.

If you're looking for more guidance or inspiration, Canva's YouTube channel is a fantastic resource⁠(opens in a new tab or window). These tutorials and design tips help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in resume design.