Cracking the Code: Step 1 — Resume Update

TLDR: This is the 1st of the 8 steps in my journey of networking, interviewing, and landing my dream job during layoffs. So stay tuned!

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

Resume Format

1. Format — Opt for a polished layout. Consider utilizing established formats like the Harvard sample resumes. For editing, Overleaf worked well for me; alternatively, Google Docs offers a simpler option.
2. One pager — Aim for a concise single-page resume, unless you have over 10 years of experience.
3. Limited bullet points — It’s advisable to keep bullet points limited to a maximum of 3 per section, such as each project or role at a company.
4. XYZ format — Emphasize the XYZ format — this entails structuring each resume point as follows: X (your accomplishment) + Y (quantifiable results) + Z (skills/experience that contributed to the outcome).
5. Summary(Eye catcher) — Including a concise 3–4 line summary at the top of your resume can be impactful. This provides recruiters with quick insights like your years of experience, specific skills, and contributions to a company.
6. Get high ATS score — While it’s uncertain if this strategy is effective, I ensured that my resume would clear any ATS check. I used a website like this one, and adapted my resume based on its suggestions.
7. Relevant work — Highlight your most recent experiences, projects, and awards. Focus on those within the last 5 years for optimal relevance.
8. Targeted resumes — Crafting 2–3 distinct resumes for varying role types proved beneficial for me. For instance, I made separate versions for technical and non-technical roles to align with specific job requirements.

Tip: You might already be familiar with this, but I used ChatGPT to refine and fine-tune my resume.

Some of the ChatGPT prompts I used:

1. Enhance this sentence: “Insert your sentence here”.
2. Condense this into 3 bullets: “Insert your sentences here”.
3. Transform this project into an XYZ resume format: “Insert your project description here”.

Follow for Step 2 — LinkedIn Profile Update

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