Updated Resume 'Rules' According to the Wall Street Journal

Posted by in Career Advice


A recent article from the Wall Street Journal took a look at ways that a job seeker can update his or her resume to suit the needs of hiring managers in 2011. While the article focused on individuals who have been out of work for 10 or more years, the tips provided are well suited for anyone who is looking for a job in today's competitive workforce. If you are on the job hunt and are looking for advice, here are some highlights from the article to take with you as you work on your resume. Use Both Online and Offline Resume Tools One great takeaway from the WSJ article is that job seekers of today need to begin using the traditional Word document as well as online options to get their resumes in front of the eyes of hiring managers and recruiters. Making use of LinkedIn is highly recommended as a vehicle for getting noticed because it is a top tool used by companies to find quality talent. LinkedIn, along with Twitter, a Google Profile, or even your professional blog, allows recruiters and managers to contact you with one click to your e-mail, making communication flow more smoothly than it would with a traditional resume. Follow Hiring Managers Submission Guidelines The article points out that the job market is in the midst of a transition stage when it comes to how applications are submitted. To be safe, don't assume that you will always submit via e-mail, online form, or snail mail. Instead, read the submission instructions carefully in order to follow the guidelines specifically. Also, be sure to include all documents requested in order to ensure that you don't get lost in the shuffle. Move Beyond the One-Page Resume Another interesting point made in the article is that the one-page resume is no longer the standard for mid-career and executive applicants. While the shorter resume makes sense for the applicant with very little experience, candidates with a wealth of experience need not try to squeeze it all onto one page. Howard Seidel, a partner at Essex Partners in Boston who was interviewed by WSJ, explained that expanding the resume to two or even three pages is a good thing. However, he noted that giving the first page enough punch to entice the reader to delve further is also crucial. Avoid Overused Words and Phrases You may have been accustomed to adding go-to phrases like 'team player' and 'innovative' to your resume, but they have become overused in the eyes of managers, which is why it's a good idea to avoid them if possible. LinkedIn recently came up with a list of the top-10 overused terms. They include: dynamic, motivated, results-oriented, and proven track record, and should be replaced with lesser-used and more accurate descriptions of your accomplishments in the workplace. There's nothing like great advice from experts to keep you on the right path throughout your job search. These tips from the Wall Street Journal can give your hunt just the boost it needs for 2011.
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  • Odeh Ezekiel Abigwua
    Odeh Ezekiel Abigwua
    Thanks for these tips - very useful, I am about to update my cv, and was thinking I would summarise it into one page. ?Now I have better idea.
  • DWICBIOOM
    DWICBIOOM
    My only critique is that you didn't include the links for the WSJ and the LinkedIn articles that you referenced. Otherwise very insightful. Thanks.
  • matthew mckenzie
    matthew mckenzie
    Can you show us the format that is required?
  • Jorge C. Espino
    Jorge C. Espino
    Excellent advice provided. "Rules", by the Wall Street Journal is a great update for the job seeker. Once you've been out of the job search for three to four years, search and updating the resume is extremely important in these crucial times of a competitve workforce.
  • Gurudeva kalledevarpurada
    Gurudeva kalledevarpurada
    Some of the best advice. While 1 page resumes are succint, a 2-3 page relevant, well presented resume for the recruiter should help. Recruiters should use the resume as a starting step and conduct the interview to know how the candidate can help the company achieve its goals. Go for loyal employees rather than job hoppers.
  • Gurudeva kalledevarpurada
    Gurudeva kalledevarpurada
    Good advice. Healthcarejobsite.com offers some of the best tips for hiring in the US healthcare/IT jobs.
  • Nancy Moffatt
    Nancy Moffatt
    RE: article "Updated resume "rules" according to the Walls Street Journal.  Just another article where the advice seems to be geared towards upper level & executive positions. What about for those lower paying positions in smaller companies? Not necessarily minimum wage, but more around the $10-$20/hr. range. Not EVERYONE has a Bachelors degree or higher & has to wear suits.
  • Pearl Johns
    Pearl Johns
    Thanks for the excellent tips and instructions. I attended a workshop today that addressed a one vs. two-page resume and I personally disagreed with the one page version because I have extensive experience. So, thanks for the clarification. All other tips are great too.
  • Lisa Jackson
    Lisa Jackson
    Thanks for the advice
  • Lawrence Weinzimer
    Lawrence Weinzimer
    Excerpts of a longer article, in digest form, gives new ideas and hope on ?how to approach the most difficult hiring scenes in decades. Terse makes sense. Don't know about the two or three page resume, though I'm tempted.

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