HOW ARE YOU GUYS??
It’s nearly impossible to not talk about coronavirus…
Regardless of where we were when the pandemic started –studying, working full time or part time, or unemployed– we have all been affected.
I wrote about how coronavirus flipped my dietetic internship upside down to provide insight to prospective dietetic interns, but I also wanted to acknowledge those who lost a job or who are looking for a job.
My Insta-GF, Julia from @smarterinasec, has experience editing hundreds of resumes and cover letters and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to anything from resumes and cover letters to INSANE fun facts! I’m so excited to have her takeover AHTK today to share her top tips to writing a kick-ass resume for anyone looking for a job. Julia has got your back. 😉
Without further ado, here is Julia!
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Introduce yourself!
Hi! My name is Julia (aka @smarterinasec). I work full-time as a strategy consultant, and have been running my account since late 2019 (it’s been a ton of fun so far!) I went to NYU for undergrad (majored in Media, Culture, and Communication), and went to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University for a master’s in management studies (essentially a mini-MBA).
I’ve been editing resumes for about five years now. I first got into it when I lived in China post-NYU and worked for an educational consulting firm that helped Chinese students apply to college / boarding school in the U.S. / U.K. A big component of this job was helping students tell their stories through their resumes & admissions essays—which I loved! Clients ultimately referred me to their friends, and soon, I began working with professionals at the executive level in addition to students. I’ve been editing resumes / cover letters ever since—and have helped hundreds of people (from new graduates to career changers) land their dream jobs. In addition to being a resume / cover letter editor, I also work as a freelance career consultant—spanning everything from helping aspiring strategy consultants nail the tough case interview process to pinpointing what a career changer should do next.
I’m obsessed with your Instagram account (@smarterinasec)! How did it come about?
Thank you so much! I started my account in late 2019, as I was obsessed with Instagram—but felt that there was no fun, female-led account where you could learn something new every day. So, I decided to create just that! Every day on Stories, you’ll find fun facts, riddles, deep dives into different topics, podcast recommendations, and so much more. My goal is to make every follower the most interesting person at the (quarantine) party 😉
I’ve learned a ton along the way—and looking forward to seeing what the future holds!
On your account, you offered services free of charge to anyone who is unemployed (or soon to be) due to COVID-19. Are there any skills or attributes that are especially applicable during these trying times?
Yes! I emphasize the importance of networking throughout COVID-19 to everyone whose resume / cover letter I’ve edited.
I know it’s super tough out there right now, but I’ve been encouraging everyone to leverage LinkedIn as a tool as much as possible. If you’re interested in a particular company, shoot a note to an employee who works there to ask for a 15-minute informational chat before you end up applying to a job (because they’ll likely have the time to do so, and end up passing your resume along to the hiring manager in the process).
Plus, everyone is craving human contact—so people may be more apt to respond to you now more than ever!
What are the most common mistakes you’ve seen in resumes?
#1—Lack of a strong format. Even if the content of your resume is excellent, a clean format is just as critical. I’ve seen so many resumes with awesome experiences—but the strength of those experiences isn’t coming through because of a poor format. If your resume format needs a refresh, here are a few that I love.
#2—Super long resumes; less is more! Though it’s tempting to include every single accomplishment on your resume, only your mom cares about that environmental ally award you got in high school. I’ve seen resumes from college seniors that are seven pages long—which should never be the case. As a general rule of thumb, your resume should be one page when you first start your career, can expand to two pages once you’ve accrued 5 – 7 years of experience, and can go beyond that once you hit the middle of your career. This article has some excellent tips for cutting down your resume if that’s something you’re struggling with.
#3—Bland bullet points. Recruiters don’t spend much time looking at your resume, so it’s critical that the bullet points on your resume are catchy & sharp. It’s difficult to sum up your experiences without stepping into generic territory (responsible for X, experience in X), but do your utmost to employ creative language to avoid doing so. This article spells out exactly how to craft strong bullet points that will get recruiters’ attention.
What are your top tips for writing resumes?
How can we make our resumes stand out?
If you’re armed with a one-page resume that’s formatted nicely and contains punchy bullet points, you’re already well on your way to standing out!
In addition, I recommend that everyone adds a crisp ‘objective’ at the top of their resume. This section captures your core skillset and what you’re looking to bring to your next position. For example: “Digital marketing professional with client-facing experience, a track record of interpreting data-driven insights, and familiarity with the e-commerce & technology landscape looking to apply my skills at XYZ firm.”
While I recommend that everyone adds an objective to their resume, this section is particularly critical for new college graduates or career changers. This is because an objective gives you an opportunity to frame your skills in a way that’s aligned with the industry / position you’re targeting—as your resume alone may not tell that story. This article is a great how-to guide on crafting a stellar objective.
Should we include work experience if we got fired?
Yes—absolutely include any relevant work experience on your resume, even if you were ultimately fired. When summing up this experience on your resume, be sure to (honestly) focus on the positives—any aspects of the job where you excelled or were given particular areas of responsibility. This HBR article is a goldmine of information about next steps after being fired—from capturing the experience on your resume to tackling the job search.
Is it appropriate to include hobbies or interests?
Yes, absolutely! I always recommend that hobbies / interests become part of people’s resumes as a dedicated ‘INTERESTS’ section. In addition to showcasing your personality / who you are as a person beyond your professional experience, it’s a potential connection point with your interviewer—who knows if they’ll end up sharing the same hobbies as you?!
The ‘INTERESTS’ section is also a place to have a little fun! Instead of simply listing out your interests, you can also consider making them more narrative-driven (as in the examples below):
–A shameless Potterhead, adrenaline junkie, & barre fanatic with an insatiable sweet tooth
–A rom-com and Friends addict who’s obsessed with perfecting my choc-chip cookie recipe, eating said cookie dough, cooking in my kitchen, and doing Pilates every week
Should we have a different resume for different jobs or positions?
Yes, absolutely. This is exactly where an objective comes into play—it can be customized for different industries (or even specific positions you’re applying for). In addition, the ‘SKILLS’ section can be changed up per industry or per position.
Any other resources you would recommend?
Yes! I’m a member of three (completely free!) online professional communities. They are awesome ways to find unposted jobs, get industry intel, and network with people all around the globe. I’ve been a part of these communities for months, and have gotten SO much value out of them.
Ladies Get Paid: Female-only private Slack group that’s the epitome of women supporting women. Time and time again, I’ve seen women post that they’re interested in a position at XYZ firm—and then a woman working at that firm shoots her resume directly to the recruiter and nabs her an interview. It’ll take the moderators a few days to approve your request to join, but it’s so worth it.
The Riveter: Very similar to Ladies Get Paid—a super accepting, female-only space where you can feel free to ask any career questions & network with whoever you please. It’s a newer community than Ladies Get Paid, but is just as worthy of your time.
Fishbowl: An app limited to specific industries (marketing, finance, tech, consulting, & law) that’s a great source for industry gossip and unposted jobs. (Most users post anonymously, so networking is less of a thing on this app). In addition, entry is restricted to working professionals—a corporate e-mail address is required to gain access.
In addition, Remote Woman is a great source for remote positions at incredible companies—from startups to the Fortune 500.
Finally, I’ve been reading the Ask a Manager blog for years—and it’s an entertaining how-to on handling the stickiest professional situations. Former HR professional Alison Green authors the blog, and doles out honest workplace advice with grace & candor—I’ve learned a ton from her.
Are you still providing your services for individuals who are unemployed due to COVID-19? If so, how can we reach you?
Yes, I am! Feel free to DM me at @smarterinasec or e-mail me at smarterinasec@gmail.com to get started. My turnaround time is currently 3 – 4 days, so feel free to reach out.
Will you be providing your services after COVID-19?
Yes! While I won’t be providing my services free of charge, I will be accepting new clients for career counseling, interview prep, and resume / cover letter editing. I’m also happy to always answer one-off questions—so feel free to e-mail me at smarterinasec@gmail.com.
Where can we find you? (PLUG YOUR HANDLES! 🔌😜 )
You can find me on Instagram @smarterinasec, on TikTok @smarterinasec, and sign up for my weekly newsletter here (info & recommendations you won’t find anywhere else).
I also recently hosted a Zoom seminar with 305 Fitness called “Coming Out of Quarantine Stronger: Tips to Nail Your Resume, Get The Job You Want, and Make $ From Your Couch.” Here’s a link to the recording in case you want to check it out!
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Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your amazing tips, Julia!!
There’s a 99.9999% chance that we will have Julia back on the blog… LMK if you want her to come back on the blog and share more tips for getting a job –anywhere from cover letters, sending cold emails, to interviews!
Sending you all my love 💕
xx hails