Top Resume Trends for 2017

Top Resume Trends for 20172017 offers great opportunities for all job seekers both actively searching, and for those passively looking for new job opportunities. The average job search can take around six months, so if you want to change jobs this year, its definitely time to get serious about the process. The more work you do now on yur resume and application package, the less work youll have to do laterand the more flexibility youll have if a great opportunity suddenly comes along. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Resumes and job searches dont change too drastically year-to-yearmeaning, you likely wont need to suddenly learn how to make a hologram resume for your next job. What does change is the following areasTechnologySkill trendsEconomic realities and available jobsThe last one, well, theres only so much you can do about that. Unless you are the Chairperson of the Federal Reserve, or in a similarly major position of power in the eco nomic sector, its unlikely that youll be able to sway how much leeway companies will have to bring on new talent and fill existing openings. Its mucksmuschenstill an important factor to keep in mind when you think about your near-future job hunt, thoughknowing the general health of the economy and how your industry is doing in particular can help you decide when its time to get out there and look for a new job, or hold back and see if things are brighter in a few months. If you need a new job regardless of the economy or how many openings there are in your field, its still important to know whats going on.The other two (technology and skills trends) are areas you can seize upon to get your resume ready for 2017 and beyond.To get a quick start,you can also download free templates from our Resume Library to get started on your resume creation. What to Include for Your 2017 ResumeSocial Media DominanceEvery person is a brand these days, and that trend will continue to grow stronger in 2017. Make sure yours is in great shape as you look ahead to the next year. Your resume should include links to your career-relevant social media profiles, like LinkedIn, or Twitter if you use it to talk about things related to your field. You can slip those right into the header, where you put your contact information.Jesse Myname21 Jump StreetNew York, NY 88888JesseMemaildomain.comLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/JesseMynameTwitter www.twitter.com/JesseMynameThoughtsIf you use your accounts primarily for personal stuff, dont include them on your resume. And if you really dont want hiring managers or recruiters poking through the Facebook page youve had since you were young and making incredibly questionable choices in friends and photo ops, make sure those accounts are set to private. Even if you dont provide direct links, you can assume that people will do a Google search on your name, and you dont want any preventable issues to come back and haunt your 2017 professional self.In additio n to any social media cleanup, you can start building up your professional social media presence. If you dont have active social media accounts, start them Create a Twitter feed, and start following movers and shakers in your field. If you dont feel comfortable creating your own content yet, you can still retweet others or post links to interesting (andagainwork-appropriate) links. If you have accounts but have let them anliegen by the wayside (of which I plead guilty), theres no time like the present to get them back up and running with current content and an updated profile. Its all about increasing your visibility as a solid professional voice.Your Vast Tech KnowledgeThese days, theres an online tool or an app for just about everything. Know what apps and programs are hot in your field right now, but also keep an eye on trends that are just starting, or just picking up speed. Blogs are a good resource for trends, and in addition to any blogs or publications that are specific to y our industry, places like Forbes and U.S. News are handy resources for whats happening now, and whats coming along soon.Once you know the tech thats most relevant to your field, you can get more familiar with them and then add them to your resume. Technological skills and mastery are hard skills, and should get their own section on your resume. Youll want to include bullets for all of the systems or programs youve worked with, as well as any apps.Evidence of Emotional IntelligenceOne trend thats been emerging in hiring, and will continue to grow, is the hunt for emotional intelligence. Remember, companies arent just hiring people to do a jobtheyre also hiring a colleague. Emotional intelligence is kind of the web of soft skills/people skills that you bring to the table. Its important to employers because theyre looking for a team member, which means they have a vested interest in finding candidates who not only have the skills and experience to do the job well, but also to work with other team members, clients, etc.So how do you demonstrate your emotional intelligence on your resume? When listing your skills as bullet points, provide a brief example of how you put that skill into play. For exampleManagement skills Led a multi-city team of sales reps to an 8% increase in overall sales.Communication skills Messaged quarterly revenue reporting to internal stakeholders and clients.Team-building skills Hosted on-site training sessions for new hires, and spearheaded the creation of an in-house mentoring program.Your resume wont provide too much space for stories, so keep the bullets short and to the point. You can come prepared with more anecdotes and examples of your soft skills once you have an interview.To get a quick start, access our Resume Library to download resume templates to help you create the perfect resume.What NOT to Include for Your 2017 ResumeToo Many Bells and WhistlesYou might be hearing all sorts of things about how everyone is going to have a video resume soon, or a fancy graphic resume. Those may be moving somewhat ahead of the holographic resume I mentioned earlier, but at this point you really dont need to worry about fancy formats. Unless youre a graphic designer, theres really no need to go out and cute-ify your resume.And right now video resumes are best for actors and reality show auditioners. Unless you fall into either of those categories, the classic resume document is best. But the good news is that you can play around with styling and templatesAn Objective/Summary StatementThe simple objective or summary statement (a one-liner outlining your experience/goals and their application to the job at hand) is actually a pretty controversial debate.Theres no hard and fast rule with this one, but if your leaner, meaner resume for 2017 looks better without, you shouldnt feel obligated to include that statement. Just make sure that your bullet points are very strong, and convey the specific homilie you want the reader t o get.ReferencesThe days of appending a list of names and contact information to your resume are gone, my friend. Its pretty well understood by potential employers that if you get to the next level (interview, background check, or other vetting) that youll pony up the names of people who will vouch for your awesomeness. Theres no real need to provide that up front, unless the company or job description specifically asks for it. You also dont need to include a line about references being available upon request. Its kind of redundant, and it takes up valuable space on your resume. So take that line, and add another concrete skill or experience bullet that further illustrates how great you are for this job.As you get ready for your 2017 resume, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want to expand your horizons with new skills, and show that youre plugged into changes and shifts in your own industry. Those come faster than ever these days, so the more you can show your nimbleness w ith new skills and social media, the better youre positioning yourself for a very successful career year.Example resume templates for different jobsHow to Write a Perfect Customer Service Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Administrative Assistant Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Retail Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Teaching Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Human Resources Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Food Service Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Construction Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Internship Resume (Examples Included)How to Write a Perfect Receptionist Resume (Examples Included)For more resume templates, access our Resume Library.