6 Signs You Need A Resume Refresh, From Entry-Level To Experienced
As old-school as it might seem, a resume is still your key to letting people know what you offer to the job market. The way you communicate your skills, talents, and experience on paper can make or break landing that dream opportunity. And though many things about the job search have gone digital and the process has gotten quite casual with more jobs transitioning to remote work, a good resume is still a requirement for top companies and brands, even if you're a freelancer or self-employed.
According to a survey by Careerbuilder, one of the leading employment platforms, almost 24% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds even looking at a resume and another survey showed that 54% of job seekers don't customize their resume for each employer, leading to the less of a chance of even getting a call for an interview, nevertheless an offer. Also, 75% of recruiters "use some form of recruiting or applicant tracking software," or ATS, according to Capterra, an online business software resource.
Need any more proof that what you include in a resume—and how you include it—is important, sis? Take a look at a few tips for refreshing your resume to get optimal results when job-seeking:
Entry-Level: Your resume includes irrelevant, poorly worded, or hard-to-understand sections or formatting.
There's always the debate about whether or not to include an "objective" or "summary" section, however, if you do include either, experts recommend not only customizing it to truly tell, in a conversational manner, what you bring to the table but tell it in a way that will capture a prospective employer's attention.
Experts at Indeed, an OG job-listing website, suggest staying away from overused words and phrases like "team player," "go-getter," or "detailed-oriented," and replacing such expressions with actual details about your work history that illustrate that you embody those phrases.
For example, what specifically classifies you as a "go-getter"? Were you able to secure 20 new clients in the past 3 years working for a company? Did you start a new initiative that brought in revenue? Say that.
And since many recruiters and hiring managers use ATS, you'll want to be sure that you have a Word doc or rich text version of your resume that can be easily understood and dissected through any system that filters resumes for relevance to the position. The experts say that the ATS has a hard time reading specialized formatting like headers, footers, certain text boxes, and colored ink, so using traditional fonts and spelling out acronyms is recommended.
Entry-level: You're not selling your skills in a way that's dynamic.
You might have little to no traditional job experience, but that doesn't mean your resume should be bland or sparse. A good idea is to redirect focus from what you don't have (i.e. experience) to what you can offer. If you've volunteered, interned, or started your own side gig while unemployed or a student, market the skills you used in doing that, and tell the story as if you're the best person for the job you're going for. Don't downplay the time spent doing those things because your talents are valid and those projects often require skills that are transferable to almost any entry-level position.
Be sure to include information on any special certifications, training, or secondary education you've excelled at. Again, the key is to play up what you do offer, not what you don't.
You were the treasurer for your sorority, raising $2,000 for a benefit, collecting yearly dues, and handling the accounting for events and expenses? Talk about what you did and detail the results. Did you volunteer at a local pet shelter, grooming more than a dozen animals per month? Talk about your time management, animal care, and empathy skills in doing that. Did you intern for a small business owner, taking photos, scheduling Instagram posts, and coordinating Reels? Well, sis, that's a social media manager in the making. Toot your horn!
Mid-level: You're using descriptions that signify amateur or vague results.
Yes, the phrases and words you use in your resume can be a reflection of where you are in your career and your level of expertise. You don't want to give the impression that you're not a competitive match for your mid-level peers. Careerbuilder experts point to survey results that show that 38% of HR pros and recruiters aren't keen on "deal-breaking" phrases like "best of breed," while 26% are not fans of "think outside the box," for example.
Also, if you're using jargon or "industry-speak" that was all the rage back when you were in college in the early 2000s (See what I did there!), you might want to freshen up on your industry's language or even up your skills and training to reflect the times.
As a mid-level professional, you're at a level where you've gained quite a few career receipts, so speak on them boldly and with consideration of today's technology, deliverable expectations, and success metrics.
Get into percentages when you talk about growth, increase, or management of anything, name those brands you've done campaigns for, and talk about the talent you've attracted, mentored, and cultivated. Indeed experts recommend using words like "overhauled," "chaired," "championed," or "strategized" and including a professional title at the top of your resume to describe where you are in your career.
Mid-level: You're taking for granted the soft skills and omitting them.
By the time you've gotten to mid-level status, you might have been so focused on climbing up the ladder and getting results that you forgot about the soft skills that are the foundation of success. What's a soft skill? Well, if you have savvy with communicating with a certain audience, you're a great listener, you're a person people just like to work with, or you're great at connecting folk for lucrative collabs, those are soft skills.
And when you're looking at advancing beyond associate or assistant, it's the soft skills that CEOs look for when filling VP and other executive seats.
How do you express these via your resume? By, again, showing vs. telling. So, for example, adaptability is a key soft skill that leaders look for. Add in how you helped your company transition from an old system to new software or how you managed remote workers while bringing in new talent during the pandemic.
Experienced: You're listing information that's more than a decade old.
When you've worked in your industry for more than 10 years, it can be challenging to edit and omit job experience that you are proud of, but experts recommend that job seekers limit their resume to two pages, even if you have lots of experience. (For some jobs, like government service positions, you might have to submit a longer resume, but that's one of the very few exceptions.)
Experts recommend that seasoned professionals with more than a decade of experience list only what's relevant to the job they're applying for or their most recent experience.
There's no need to include your first job or details on a gig you had 10 years ago, especially if the duties you had aren't applicable to the job you're applying for.
Experienced: You're not highlighting long-term impact, honors, and awards.
Experts also recommend that professionals with more than seven years of experience highlight impact. That means if you were responsible for revenue increases, talent acquisition, business wins, or long-term investment projects, include that. If you were able to create overarching innovation that benefited the company, detail the how and why on that. You want to be concise, but don't downplay the larger successes you've had in your career, especially at your level. High-achievers respect results, so show them what you got!
Whatever stage you are in your career, be sure to plan accordingly in order to land that dream gig. If you have to get professional help, do that, but just be sure to be strategic and smart. It's the only way you'll continue to live in your purpose and advance in it.
Featured image via Prostock-Studio/Getty Images
- What Is LinkedIn Easy Apply? - xoNecole: Women's Interest, Love ... ›
- 6 Tips For Stepping Up Your Resume Game - xoNecole: Women's ... ›
These Newlyweds Found Love Thanks To A Friend Playing Matchmaker
How We Met is a series where xoNecole talks love and relationships with real-life couples. We learn how they met, how like turned into love, and how they make their love work.
Jason and Elise Robinson’s union is a reminder that kind people still get their happily ever after. The pair had their first date in October of 2021 and tied the knot on June 15, 2024. Both of them have dedicated their lives to celebrating and supporting Black culture so it was only fitting they get married in what's considered the Black Hollywood of America during the Juneteenth celebration weekend. From the florists to Elise and Jason's gown and suit designers to the table signage and so much more, everything was Black-owned. It's no wonder their love for Black culture was the jumping-off point for their love story.
When they met, Jason had just moved to Atlanta for a new job opportunity, and Elise was living happily in her career and had put dating on the backburner. But luckily, a mutual connection saw something in both of them and thanks to a yoga-themed baby shower and a chance text message, they found their forever. Check out their beautiful How We Met story below.
I’ll start with the easiest question. Can you both tell me a little bit about yourself and your background?
Elise: Sure, my name is Elise. I’m actually from Atlanta, GA – not a transplant. I grew up here and left right after college to pursue my career. Now I’ve been back going on eight years, and I’m in my early 40s.
Jason: And I’m Jason. I’m originally from Racine, Wisconsin. I went to school at Florida A&M University, so I am a rattler. I went back to the Midwest for a period of time, in Indianapolis. Now, I’ve been in the Atlanta area for a little over two and a half years.
Jason and Elise Robinson
Photo by FotosbyFola
Wow, that’s nice because Atlanta gets a bad rap when it comes to relationships. So you have to give us the deets. How did you two find each other?
Elise: So I work in TV and I was on-air for a number of years and then transitioned into being a producer and then a manager. As a producer, I’d always have guests on. And there was a woman who came on frequently named Rosalynn (@Rosalynndaniels, often referred to as The Black Martha Stewart), and we connected instantly. Anyway, she got pregnant right before COVID and invited me to a “modern-day yoga baby shower.” I came to support, but was also just curious about that theme.
I had an amazing time. And when it was over a few of us stuck around and convos got personal. She ended up asking me the infamous ‘Are you dating’ question. When I told her no, she decided to set me up. So I should tell you, in both of my only two serious relationships, I was set up – so I was like no.
But she pointed at her husband, who was folding up chairs, and said that another friend set her up with him. Sometimes, it takes people outside of us to see what we need. A few months later, she reached out and said she had family relocating and thought I’d really like him. So she gave him my number, and I reached out with a text. He responded with a call, and that night, we talked for about 2-3 hours. So that’s how we met. I was a little nervous because me and Rosalynn were starting a friendship, and here I was, talking to her family!
Jason: It was new for me too. Remember, I was new to the area, and I had heard so many “stories” about how people have been done wrong in the dating world. Whether it’s by theft or scamming (laughs). Plus, I had just got a new job and wanted to focus on that. But I did want to be able to date someone in a more personal way and see where it led. I felt like who better than someone who I trust to connect me. Rosalynn knows I’m private, about business life, and my personal life is important to me.
So let’s get into your courtship. What was your first date like?
Elise: We had our first convo on a Monday, and he asked me out the next day. I didn’t have any plans, but I still said no. I was just playing hard to get (laughs). But we were talking every day, and he told me he wanted to take me somewhere I’ve never been. And I’m like, you’re in my city! But he sends me three options, and sure enough, two of the places I hadn’t gone to. So, our first date was October 1, 2021, and somebody was 45 minutes late.
Now Jason, why were you 45 minutes late?
Elise: It was me – in my own city. I just got turned around, and the traffic was horrible. I kept calling him and giving him permission to leave. Full transparency: I probably wouldn’t have waited if the shoe was on the other foot. But this was my first sign of what I now know and love the most about him. It’s his patience. When I got there, I was frazzled and everything, but he was just super calm. It ended up being a great first date.
Jason: I remember just waiting and being concerned for her well-being. Because I know how traffic can be, especially when someone is rushing. I was just scrolling through my phone and looking through the menu. It was cool.
Elise and Jason Robinson
Courtesy
That’s beautiful. Now let’s talk about the “what are we” convo? Did you have one of those and if so, who initiated it and how was it?
Elise: I initiated it. Jason was dating me – and still does. But by this time, we had been on a number of dates. We were on our way to a winery, and we had a bit of a drive. So I decided to state my intention. We were just a few weeks in, but we were spending a lot of time together and we are people of a particular age. So I told him, I know Atlanta can be a Black man’s playground. There’s so many beautiful professional women here. But I’m dating with intention. I don’t want to kick it or hang with a good guy even though he’s not my person. I was done with all of that. So I’m “laying down the law” in my eyes, and he didn’t flinch. He let me finish and basically let me know we were on the same page. He was not trying to sow his royal oats.
Jason: Yeah, I was not trying to be Prince Akeem. But also, it was more so about setting a tone and goal for myself. My mama always told me to set my goals. And having a family was always one of mine. I think the biggest thing of it all, was I felt blessed – in terms of moving for work and meeting Elise, now being married. There’s victories being placed in my life.
I love that you both shared that because sometimes I get feedback on these stories and it seems like sometimes we’re afraid to really voice what we desire, no matter what that looks like.
Elise: Yeah, I think sometimes women feel like they don’t want to put pressure on their partner. But it’s not pressure. Look, Jason and I are based in faith, and what is for us is for us. Being upfront and honest is best – and early makes sense. You don’t have to convince someone to be your person.
Jason: I think her sharing those values resonated with me, and hearing her “lay down the law” was fine because I was there, too. I would say to millennial women, don’t be afraid to tell a mate what you want. You never know what that would lead to. Time is a precious commodity. Elise saying that early on showed me that she values both of our time. It showed her heart, character, and integrity, and I was drawn to that and the mature conversation. In the social media world, we don’t have those pointed conversations face-to-face. I would challenge readers to have those conversations in person, and you would get more from that convo than any post or reel. Because you see body language reactions and have deeper communication.
Yeah, I think sometimes women feel like they don’t want to put pressure on their partner. But it’s not pressure. Look, Jason and I are based in faith, and what is for us is for us. Being upfront and honest is best – and early makes sense. You don’t have to convince someone to be your person.
You both have mentioned time, family, and integrity. I’m curious what other core values do you both share?
Elise: Early on, our faith. Not just do you believe in God. It had to be deeper in that. I needed someone who would lead me, our home, and our family. I didn’t want to be in a push-and-pull relationship about prayer, church, or have conversations about being better people. Also, we discussed finances. That doesn’t just mean going to work. We chatted about ownership and what it looks like for us. How do we support each other individually and together? I know I like having my hands in a few different pots, and I needed someone who was supportive of that and likewise.
Jason: My background is that I was raised in the church. My father is a deacon and my mom is a deaconess. They've been married for 55 years. Faith was very important to me and it was crucial that my wife have that relationship as well.
Elise and Jason Robinson
Photo by FotosbyFola
Can we talk about challenges? Big or small, what are some things you had to grow through together?
Elise: I have never lived with anyone – not a roommate, a sister, friend, boyfriend or anything. Now, I’m in my 40s and I'm living with someone. When you’ve been by yourself for so long that was a challenge for both of us. We weren’t pulling each other's hair out but I’m a bit extreme. Things are color-coded in my closet. For me, working in news is chaotic so I want my home to be peaceful and organized.
Jason: I’m a man, and she’s a woman. That dynamic alone adds a flair to it. She wants things a certain way. She’s a Capricorn. But just in terms of how she wants to keep a home was a big adjustment for me. It took time.
On a smaller level, what are some of the things you disagree about day-to-day?
Elise: Cleanliness and systems. Like, he recycles and I do not. But sometimes I just have to decide if it really needs to be a thing or if I can just take care of it.
Jason: This is where my organization takes over (laughs).
What are your love languages? Do you know?
Elise: Jason’s is an act of service which works because I love cooking for him. It doesn’t feel like a chore to me. I love when I’m out, picking up his favorite juice. The other day I saw he needed t-shirts while folding clothes. So I just like doing small things for him that he doesn’t expect. He’s very much that guy that will ask to help so it doesn’t bother me.
Jason: I’d say Elise is all of them, but physical touch would probably be the biggest one. I had to get used to that. She’s taught me it in a number of ways. I remember we actually talked about love languages, and I sent her this song called “More Than Words” by Extreme. That explained to her how I felt.
Finally, can we end with the proposal? Tell us everything!
Jason: It was at a restaurant. And again, I was trying to find somewhere she hadn’t been. Also, I didn’t want to do it on our anniversary because that would have been too obvious. I contacted one of the restaurant’s staff and decided to change up the dessert menu. Each item was something special to us.
Elise: We go on so many date nights, so I just thought it was a regular night. We had finished eating, and I had to go to the bathroom. They had a nice mirror, girl. So I’m in there taking videos and stuff.
Jason: While she’s in the restroom, I’m getting everything in place with the waitress.
Elise: So as I’m reading the menu, I realize it’s telling our story and he eventually proposed. It was so special; I actually had the menu framed! It was so beautiful and thoughtful.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by FotosbyFola
Cancer is the moonchild of the zodiac. They are the only astrological sign ruled by the moon and have an intuitive, creative, affectionate, and compassionate nature. They are known for their sweet and caring approach to life and deeply value their loved ones and close relationships.
Don’t confuse Cancers with being emotional cry-babies who are too soft to stand up for themselves, however. Cancers are tenacious, boundary Queens who know how to stand their ground when necessary. Cancers are the type of people who not only excel in the home but are also quite business- and money-savvy. This dynamic sign brings a lot to the table, and many who have a Cancer in their life, know just how special they are.
Cancer (June 21 - July 22)
CancerKyra Jay for xoNecoleElement: Water
Modality: Cardinal
Symbol: The Crab
Planetary Ruler: The Moon
Tarot Card: The Chariot
Lucky Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays
Lucky Stones: Moonstone and Pearl
Colors: Blue, Silver, and Magenta
Cancers feel everything in a more in-tune and in-depth way than most. There are many sides to a Cancer, and they choose which sides they want to show you and when. They are the type of people who can go through many emotions in one day and are often seen as more moody than others. When they withdraw into their shell, it’s usually because emotions are running high for them or they need time and space to process.
Cancers are very self-protective of their energy, and rightly so. They prefer to be at home or in their safe spaces, and most Cancers are homebodies.
This makes sense because Cancer is the ruler of the fourth house in Astrology, which is the area of life that signifies the home, family, foundations, history, the inner world, privacy, and traditions. They are consistent in the way they give love and are some of the most loyal and dedicated people of the zodiac.
Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images
Cancers are “the mother” in Astrology and often make great moms, wives, caretakers, or motherly figures, and they bring this type of nurturing quality to people’s lives effortlessly. They have a service-oriented mindset and are often thinking of how they can be there for others or support people in any way. They thrive when they have a good support system around themselves as well, and are very particular about the type of people they let into their lives. Once you’re in a Cancer’s inner circle, however, it’s usually forever, as the crab doesn’t easily let go of anyone.
Cancer Likes and Dislikes
Cancers love hosting, being around friends and family, building a legacy for themselves, all things cozy and comfortable, and being in more intimate settings. They value deep conversations and undivided attention, and their love language is quality time. A comfortable atmosphere is everything to a Cancer, and they love to feel safe and nurtured and to be giving this type of energy to others as well.
This is not to say that Cancers don’t like to travel and explore, but if they do so it’s usually to visit someone they know, to do something creative or inspiring, or it’s something they already have a stable plan for. Some of Cancer’s dislikes are large crowds or groups, unemotional people, instability, rejection, and isolation. They aren’t the best with change, and they don’t like anything that disrupts their routine, foundation, or familiarity, and can be stubborn in that way.
Career Life for Cancer
Cancers have a creative soul and love all things that are soul-expressive. They deeply value time and history, and have a sentimental heart that gives them a good eye for art, antiques, interior design, and real estate. They would also excel in careers as a teacher, doctor, nurse, chef, architect, social worker, and more.
Cancers overall thrive in professions that allow them to work with others in more team settings and that give them an outlet to be supportive or encouraging of another’s growth.
Security and financial stability are very important when it comes to a career for Cancer as well, and they need a career they feel safe in and one where they can see the opportunity for continual growth within the company or business. Cancers are a cardinal sign and they are more ambitious and hard-working than most people recognize or give them credit for when they think of Cancer. They are also very money-savvy and tend to be good at saving and acquiring assets for themselves.
jeffbergen/Getty Images
Compatible Zodiac Signs for Cancer
Cancers are devoted lovers. They wear their heart on their sleeve, and will always let you know where they stand with you and how much they care for you. In partnerships, Cancers often take on a more submissive role, and they truly just want to nurture and care for their partners in any way they know how to. They are highly emotional individuals, and being honest with them on how you are feeling and what you love about them, does wonders to the relationship with a Cancer.
Cancers find the most compatibility with water signs and earth signs. Scorpio and Pisces make great partners for Cancer because they understand where Cancer is coming from. The emotional world of this sign is not too much for a fellow water sign, and they often form a deep, unbreakable bond with one another.
Earth signs Virgo, Taurus, and Capricorn also make great matches for Cancer. Earth signs provide a stable, safe space for Cancer that they yearn for, and these two signs balance each other out well. Taurus specifically, is a great match for Cancer, as these two are a lot alike and can build a great life together.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Mireya Acierto/Getty Images