You’re ready to find the next step in your career. You’ve learned a lot since your last job search, have a lot more work experience, and want to spread your wings. The trouble is, you haven’t even looked at your resume (let alone updated it) since 2015.

You know it’s the mission-critical document that will help you get your foot in the door at a terrific new company. It displays pertinent contact information and demonstrates your skills and experience. It also serves to communicate your career achievements, along with your level of professionalism. And it can make or break your chances of finding a rewarding new job.

With so much at stake, it’s hard to know where to begin. But as a leading St. Louis recruiting agency, Burchard & Associates knows creating or enhancing a resume for job search success is easier than you think. Below are five essentials to make sure you include on yours:

1. Summary of qualifications

In today’s world, most managers spend a few seconds – about six – skimming resumes. They don’t read every detail. That’s why it’s important for you to include a bullet list at the top of your key qualifications that are the best fit for the job. These qualifications need to make the case as to why you should be considered.

2. Keywords

If you’re applying to a larger company, it’s likely that a live person might not even review your resume at first. It’s important to include keywords from the job description to ensure a company’s applicant tracking system doesn’t filter you out. 

3. Accomplishments

Your resume should give a brief overview of the day-to-day work you were responsible for in past positions. But it also needs to highlight your achievements, as well. For instance, instead of saying you “increased accounting efficacy,” say you “increased accounting efficacy by 30% by altering processes, saving the company $X.”

4. Easy-to-read formatting

Don’t crowd your resume onto one page with 8 point font and no white space. This makes it hard for the hiring manager to read. Instead, add line breaks after each position; include a little space after each bullet. It’s ok if your resume is on two pages. As long as it’s not so crowded that it’s hard to read.

5. A logical flow

Your resume should be easy to navigate. That means following a logical flow in terms of the information presented. Your contact information should be at the very top, followed by your summary of qualifications. After that, your employment history should be listed in chronological order, followed by your education and then any pertinent awards, industry association memberships, certifications, or volunteer work.

Overall, when crafting your resume, keep in mind your audience is busy and doesn’t have a lot of time on their hands. That’s why you need to focus on attention-getting facts – and organize it all in a reader-friendly way.

Now Your Resume is Ready

With your resume done, now you’re ready to start your job search with Burchard & Associates. We help connect accounting and finance professionals with career opportunities in the St. Louis area and beyond. Check out our available opportunities, or contact us today to discuss finding the next step in your career.