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5 Resume Trends for 2023 to Boost Your Job Search
Reading Time: 7 minutes
If you are preparing to search for a new job in the New Year, you might be asking yourself, “Is my résumé good enough?” A lot has changed in the job market over the past several years, and I am happy to report that effective résumés prioritize decision-makers’ needs. Here are five resume trends for 2023 that you can use to succeed in the job market and secure your next position.
Table of Contents
Trend 1: Market-Driven Résumé
Gone are the days when effective resumes focused on what job seekers wanted to say about themselves. Now, it’s about addressing market needs. In 2023, you must know what keeps CEOs and hiring managers awake at night. A recent survey of CEOs suggests that CEOs are worried about critical issues like growth, talent retention, and technology. To showcase your skills in driving growth, include quantified growth stories at the top of your accomplishment bullets. If you have built and retained a great team, be sure to highlight this on your résumé. Also, if you have worked on any digital, artificial intelligence (AI), or machine learning (ML) initiatives, they must be on your résumé in 2023. Look at job postings to better understand hiring managers’ pain points and tailor your résumé to address them.
Trend 2: Progression from Achievements to Impact
Decision makers will want to understand the impact of any given achievement. It’s not enough to list accomplishments; you must quantify the impact. For example, instead of saying, “Collected 30% of past-due accounts receivable,” you should say, “Collected 30% of past-due accounts receivable. Enabled $1 million loan pay-down and $70,000 annual interest expense reduction”.
Demonstrating impact in a resume means showcasing specific examples of how your contributions have made a positive difference in the organizations you’ve worked for. Here are some tips for effectively demonstrating impact in your resume:
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Focus on quantifiable achievements: Instead of just listing your job duties, highlight specific achievements that are quantifiable and measurable. For example, if you were a sales manager, you could list how much revenue you generated for the company or how many new clients you acquired.
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Use action verbs: Start each bullet point with an action verb that conveys the impact of your work. For example, “Implemented a new marketing strategy that increased website traffic by 50%” is much more impactful than “Worked on marketing campaigns.”
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Show before and after: If you were part of a project that made a significant impact on the company, highlight the before and after. For example, “Led a team that reduced customer complaints by 75% in six months.”
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Customize for the job: Tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for by highlighting achievements that are relevant to the position. For example, if you’re applying for a management position, focus on leadership and team-building accomplishments.
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Use metrics and data: Use specific numbers, percentages, and data to demonstrate your impact. This makes your achievements more tangible and impressive to potential employers.
Trend 3: Proving Skills
CEOs are concerned about finding and keeping people with the skills they need to grow their organizations. Hiring decision makers have become skeptical about applicants’ skills claims on résumés. To prove your skills, identify the five most critical skills required by the job and weave proof of using those skills into accomplishment/impact bullets. If you can’t do that, see if you can earn a certificate to demonstrate baseline competency.
Here are some tips on how to effectively prove your skills in your resume:
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Use keywords: Review the job posting and use keywords relevant to the job description throughout your resume. This shows that you have the skills and experience that the employer is looking for.
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Provide examples: Provide specific examples of how you have used your skills to achieve results in your previous roles. Use bullet points to showcase your achievements and how you contributed to the success of your previous employers.
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List your certifications: If you have any relevant certifications or training courses, list them in your resume. This demonstrates that you have invested time and effort into improving your skills.
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Mention software and tools: If you have experience with specific software, tools or technologies that are relevant to the job, be sure to mention them in your resume. This shows that you have practical experience and knowledge of the tools and technologies used in the field.
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Customize your resume: Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for by highlighting your skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position. This makes it easier for the employer to see how you fit their needs.
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Trend 4: Simplicity
The trend for résumés in 2023 is simplicity. Recruiters don’t want to see adjectives, adverbs, charts, and fancy designs on résumés. Many organizations will clearly state that they don’t want these flourishes. Hiring managers want simply stated facts and hierarchical, easy-to-follow, reverse-chronological formats. Ensure that your résumé is simple and easy to read.
To write a resume that is simple and clean, you should focus on presenting your information in a clear and concise manner. Here are some tips to help you achieve a clean and simple resume:
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Use simple fonts: Choose a simple, easy-to-read font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Avoid using too many different fonts or font sizes, as this can make your resume look cluttered.
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Use bullet points: Use bullet points to organize your information and make it easier to read. Keep your bullet points short and to the point, highlighting your key achievements and responsibilities.
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Keep it concise: Your resume should be no longer than two pages. Keep your sentences short and avoid using unnecessary words. Stick to the relevant information that showcases your skills and experience.
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Use white space: Leave plenty of white space around your text to make your resume look clean and uncluttered. This can make it easier for the reader to focus on your key points.
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Be consistent: Use a consistent format throughout your resume. Use the same font, font size, and bullet point style for each section of your resume.
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Tailor your resume: Customize your resume for each job you apply for. Focus on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job, and highlight them in your resume.
Trend 5: New Tools
In 2023, job seekers will have the opportunity to use new and powerful tools to supercharge their search process. There are several digital tools available for people writing their resume. Here are a few examples:
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Resume builders: These online tools help you create a professional-looking resume quickly and easily. They often provide templates and suggestions for formatting and wording to help you create an effective resume.
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Grammar and spell-checking tools: These tools can help you identify and correct errors in your resume, ensuring that it is polished and professional.
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Job scan tools: These tools can analyze your resume and compare it to a job posting, identifying keywords and other factors that can help your resume get noticed by hiring managers.
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Online portfolio tools: These tools can help you create an online portfolio that showcases your work samples, skills, and accomplishments. This can be a powerful way to demonstrate your expertise and stand out from other applicants.
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Video resume tools: Some digital tools allow you to create a video resume, which can be a great way to showcase your personality and communication skills to potential employers.
Final Thoughts
To succeed in the job market in 2023, your résumé must address market needs, quantify the impact of your achievements, prove your skills, be simple, and take advantage of new tools. By following these five trends, you’ll be able to outshine the competition and secure your next position.
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