Revamping Your Resume

You are looking for a new job, but before you start applying, you must review your resume to update your most recent achievements. Your resume is a work-in-progress; something that requires attention to detail and constant upkeep. If you don’t take the time to review this comprehensive document, your search efforts will be futile.

So, how do you condense your entire work history into a perfectly worded, typo-free, single page document? We hope that the following tips will ease your mind when beginning your efforts toward resume writing.

Make sure you have the basics.
Create a clearly defined resume by listing the must-haves: work experience, job titles, responsibilities, and years of experience. Organize this information in an easy-to-read fashion so your most important responsibilities will stand out to the reader.

It might seem obvious, but be sure to update your contact information. At the top of your resume, list your name, phone number, email address, and current city/state where you reside. I have come across many phone numbers that are out-of-service. How am I supposed to screen a candidate or more importantly, schedule an interview? Also, when choosing an email, consider creating a unique email address that you’ll use for job applications only, such as “GISLady@gmail.com.” Select an appropriate, professional, and personal (non-work) email.

Resumes are not one-size-fits-all.
The length of your resume depends on how long you’ve been in the workforce. The standard length is one page but if you need to expand on your experience to a second page, go ahead and do it, just be sure it is concise and to the point. Most recruiters will only spend a few seconds scanning your resume, so make sure your responsibilities are pertinent to the position you are applying for.

Add relevant keywords to your resume.
When recruiters search for candidates in their databases, they filter their search based on terms or phrases that specifically relate to the position. Sprinkle these terms loosely throughout your resume so it is readable and effective. For example, a land surveyor might include specific equipment they’ve used in their past such as TopCon, Trimble, Leica, etc. A GIS web developer would list all the development languages they have experience with such as JavaScript, HTML5, REST, iOS, Android, Python, etc. These types of specific keywords is how the recruiter generates their search.

Quantify your experience.
Show your reader how experienced you are based on your tangible achievements. Take your past responsibilities and fine-tune them into a relatable figure that will cause the reader to want to hire you on the spot. If you had a choice between a candidate who “developed sales leads” and one who “developed 15 new sales leads a week,” wouldn’t you pick the latter?

Make yourself more available to recruiters.
Lastly, register your resume to any and all relevant databases! Help yourself by allowing your resume to be seen by as many people as possible. If you are seeking employment in the GIS, GPS, photogrammetry, remote sensing, or civil engineering industry, we recommend registering. We are hired by companies of all sizes to fill their current openings, which means more opportunities for you!