Its okay to break these resume rules

Its okay to break these resume rulesThose of us who have spent any amount of time in the job market have undoubtedly devoted a great deal of blood, sweat, and tears to getting our resumes just right. We know the prize thats at stake and the level of competition were likely facing in pursuit of our dream job, so putting in the extra time and effort to getting things just right is time well spent, and a worthwhile investment in our professional futures. And nothing sinks your chances of getting hired quite so quickly and absolutely as a poorly crafted resume. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Every job seeker carries the weight of their resume as they mold and shape it in pursuit of perfectionand although the perfect resume may never be an attainable goal, that certainly doesnt stop us from trying. This includes carefully following all the well-worn rules of resume writing that weve convinced ourselves are tischset in unmovable stone. But th e truth is, they arent, at least not anymore. The rules for job hunting have certainly changed over the past several years, so doesnt it stand to reason that the rules for resume writing have changed as well?Lets behonestthe merging of technology and culture have changed nearly every aspectof how we live our lives and continues to tear down all the old rules and waysof doing things, and job hunting and resume writing are no exceptions. Thosewho are best at keeping up with the breakneck pace of change, and resistinggetting mired down in stodgy old rules, are best positioned for success. On topof this, a little strategic rule breakingwhen applied effectivelycan reallyhelp you stand out from the crowd and grab the attention of the gatekeepers whostand between you and your next job.Hopefully by now weve convinced you that its sometimes okay to occasionally break the old resume rules in pursuit of your next job. Lets take a closer look at some specific rules that are now ok to break.No s torytellingWeve all heard before that a resume isnt a venue for you to tell your lifes story. Rather, it should primarily be a tool to tell potential employers what value you offer. Not anymore Todays employers are interested in learning more about your personal brandwhat makes you a unique individual as well as your specific value proposition. They want employees wholl fit well in their culture and support their mission to promote their unique brand, and they want to know what makes you caprice and what motivates you.Your resume couldand shouldbe a holistic document that chronicles your passions, pursuits, and key professional decisions as well as your work achievements. When writing your resume, dont shy away from telling your storywhen weaved effectively into your professional journey, itll help you stand out from other potential candidates and make you seem like much more than a boring, bulleted list of job responsibilities.Quantify everythingThe old rules of resume writing ofte n dictated that if an achievement cant be mapped back to the bottom line numericallywere talking about things like revenue, percentage growth, and numbers of new customers herethen it isnt something worth including on your resume. This is simply not true Todays savvy employers can appreciate and recognize the value of contributions that dont always translate immediately to a companys bottom line. Perhaps you came up with a helpful or intriguing new idea or work policy at your old job that you cant tie specific numbers to. Thats okay. As long as it supports your personal brand and message and demonstrates your value as a potential employee, include itKeywords everywhereNothing puts hiring personnel to sleep faster than an endless pile of resumes that are all laden with the same overused keywords in an attempt to convince them that youre in the know when it comes to the industry. A resume thats nothing but keywords runs the risk of making you seem robotic and less like a human theyd l ike to work with. Sure, keywords are important and should be used strategically, but forcing them awkwardly into everything on your resume can make your document come off as boring and artificial. Dont be afraid to have a resume that shows that youre an actual personand preferably one that theyd likely enjoy working withThere you have ita few of the old rules that you may want to consider leaving behind when crafting your resume. In the end, dont forget that at some point in the job-searching process an actual person is going to be tasked with reading and evaluating your resume, and theyll likely want to know what makes you you as much as what you potentially offer their companys bottom line.

7 Ways To Get An In At The Company Where You Want To Work

7 Ways To Get An In At The Company Where You Want To Work unterstellung days, landing a new job seems to be infinitely easier if you have connections. Without having some kind of in at the company where you want to work, it can be nearly impossible to make your resume stand out. And while LinkedIn may be a treasure trove of information and contacts, getting someone to respond to you about a job opening at their firm is probably going to be an uphill battle.So how do you connect with someone inside a company whos willing to help your job application and resume get to the right person? From what Ive seen at Fairygodboss, it seems that specialized groups and closed communities are where people may be more inclined to help a stranger out.There are thousands of womens organizations out there, so the key is to find a community or group where theres a practice of paying it forward. If the DNA of the community allows (and even encourages) asking and giving help, thats incredibly valuable.Her e are 7 professional communities that focus on connecting women with each otherFairygodboss is probably best known for anonymous employee reviews. Lesser known is the fact that women in our community anonymously send messages to each other with questions they have. Members initiate conversations about how to best apply for open positions, and other questions around company culture and policies that may be difficult to ask directly to HR.Ellevate Network is a global womens professional network. As a membership based organization (previously known as 85 Broads), Ellevate Network encourages career growth through information and events. Members network and share job opportunities and advice at live events or through online discussion boards.Tech Ladies started as a facebook inc group but has grown into a vibrant online community that welcomes and supports all women working in technology. Its free to join, and women in the community ask and give each other advice and support. Best of all , job postings come with real email contacts so you know a human being will be receiving your application. The Li.st describes itself as a visibility platform for professional women, and this group has an enviable membership base of executives, celebrities and other hard-working and high-achieving women working in a wide range of industries. Members must be invited to join and enjoy discussion, networking introductions, information and advice.PinkPetro is a social media and learning community for women working in (or interested in) the energy industry. Members can meet each other online and offline for networking, support and conversation about career development and jobs.100 Women in Finance (formerly 100 Women in Hedge Funds) is a global community of women in the financial services industry. Members meet in person and online for networking events, to stay on top of industry developments as well as to share job opportunities.Adas List. Named for computer scientist Ada Lovelace and originally based in London, Adas List has recently expanded to the U.S. Its free to join this community of women in tech, which is wide-ranging in its interests. The supportive vibe in this community is deliberate as the group is based on principles of inclusion, empowerment and diversity.These communities are just a few examples of the ones in which women are banding together to help each other in a professional context. And help is something every job-seeker benefits from. An introduction to a current employee can make a world of difference if youre trying to stand out as a job candidate--A version of this article originally appeared on Forbes.Fairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer