The job market is constantly changing. Remote work is on the rise. Diverse types of work engagements such as contractual or project-based work and commissions have empowered more people to consider self-employment as a viable option. More work places are putting higher value on diversity and inclusion as employees make their voices heard and demand better treatment. Moreover, in the age of what is now called The Great Resignation, switching from one job to another is no longer taken against an employee. More and more people are opting less for stability and more for greater opportunities despite the risks involved.
One thing remains the same amid these changes: professionals need to keep up in order to thrive in the job market. One of the simplest but most effective ways you can achieve that is by keeping your resume updated and watch out for current trends in resume writing.
However, as with any trends, there’s no one size fits all. What may be relevant to other fields may not be applicable to yours, and vice versa. Therefore, studying them closely and figuring out what works best for your field of interest are crucial.
In this article, we’ve gathered some of the biggest 2022 resume trends and why they may be relevant to your interest as a professional.
With the rise of digital automation, more companies and workplaces, regardless of size, now utilize an Applicant Tracking System or ATS during the initial phase of the recruitment process. An ATS filters all resumes based on automated criteria such as skills, keywords, schools attended, and other information that may be relevant to a company or job description. Therefore, for you to pass this recruitment phase successfully, your resume must get through this automated system.
How do you make sure, then, that your resume is ATS-proof?
This helps the ATS scan your resume more properly. What does simple mean? No over-complicated fonts, easy on the different typefaces, plenty of white space.
However, simple doesn’t have to mean boring. After all, once your resume successfully passes through the ATS, humans will still handle the next phases of the application. Therefore, this trend from recent years remains true: your resume should be visually engaging.
A no-brainer but proven way to do this is by picking out the keywords on the job ad you’re responding to. They may include the job title, proficiencies, and skills.
Recent studies have shown that recruiters spend about 7.4 seconds looking at a resume. Therefore, not only do you want to catch their eyes with your visually engaging resume; you also want to grab their attention with a catchy and straight-to-the-point opening. You can do this by giving your resume a title and a 10- to 15-word executive summary.
The title of your resume can be as simple as stating your job title or expertise. A key tip is to match the job post you’re responding to, if possible, to make your resume ATS-proof.
And as for your executive summary or profile, the shorter, the better. This is your elevator pitch, so make it catchy and relevant to your employer. Show your achievements and how your addition to the team can benefit your employer. Again, to optimize your resume for the ATS, be sure to insert keywords directly referencing the job post.
Now that you’ve got your recruiter’s attention, you should now try to keep them reading. You can do this by tailoring your resume to your field and the job post you’re responding to. How do you do that? By keeping abreast of the trends in your specific industry and matching your skill set and accomplishments to the requirements specified on the job ad.
After pitching yourself and your unique value proposition in a concise executive summary, time to show the evidence behind your claims. There are various ways to present your work history. Here are the three best resume formats:
The reverse-chronological work history format is the most common and is especially ideal for anyone who’s on a traditional career trajectory. It lists your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your current engagement and ending with your first job.
The functional format can be organized by skills and experiences relevant to the job you’re applying to, rather than your work history. This is the perfect format for anyone who’s seeking a career shift or a niche field like acting.
It can also be beneficial for people who have long gaps in their professional lives, or for fresh graduates who have no work experience.
If you feel that showing off your diverse employment history will make you stand out, combining the reverse chronological and functional formats should work for you. Because you’re combining both formats, keep your executive summary succinct — or feel free to do away with it.
Choosing the right format is crucial to crafting the perfect resume. When deciding, take into consideration both your field and your own objective as a professional.
Also, employment gaps are no longer held against prospective employees - so if you have any gaps in your work history — worry not. Focus instead on showing how hiring you can benefit your employer.
An impactful resume doesn’t just end with the perfect format. Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re updating your 2022 resume.
Paint a picture of your work history by describing each relevant job you’ve held starting action verbs. Action verbs are recommended because they’re simply more dynamic and engaging for the reader.
If you can quantify your accomplishments using actual numbers and metrics, then great! Showing off actual numbers is the quickest way to catch your recruiter’s eye as it shows that you’re a very detailed- and results-oriented professional.
But don’t just put every number that you can — choose your most impressive ones and make sure they are relevant to the role you’re seeking.
ASIDE: Remote work skills are in high demand this 2022. If you can demonstrate remote work accomplishments (such as planning and hosting virtual events, mounting online training workshops, helping your workplace transition fully to remote work, etc. ), it’s time to highlight them now.
While technical skills, accomplishments, and metrics are important, displaying your soft skills is crucial as well. A recent LinkedIn global study shows that 91% of talent professionals believe in the importance of soft skills in hiring.
But don’t just list them as vague descriptors — make sure to weave them into your work history and achievements.
Technical hard skills are still very much in-demand. If you’re in a high demand industry (data analytics, for example) and have a list of highly specific skill sets, you can have a separate section to highlight them.
Apart from crafting a simple, straight to the point resume that’s industry-specific, ATS-proof, and focused on accomplishments and soft skills, consider preparing these items to boost your chances of getting hired:
It’s true: 70% of recruiters look at LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook when screening applicants. They’re likely looking for red flags, but they’re also paying attention to their applicants’ character and personality.
So if you’re active on social media, it wouldn’t hurt to put your best foot forward. Even better if you can use them as platforms for your passions, hobbies, and interests.
Start with your LinkedIn page, as it is often the first social media site your recruiters will look at. You can personalize your page by uploading a unique LinkedIn banner where you can be creative with your branding.
If you’re a writer, graphic designer, illustrator, actor, or filmmaker, you should always have an online portfolio of your best and most recent work.
There are various ways you can present your portfolio online. The fastest and most efficient format is the blog, as you can easily update it. It’s the ideal medium if you want a comprehensive record of your work. Start personalizing your blog by uploading a unique banner. Then, once you’re ready to update your blog, make sure your posts are visually engaging by using unique blog graphics that show your style.
A one-page site like Canva Site is ideal for illustrators, graphic designers, and photographers as the format lends itself perfectly for displaying hi-res images and pictures.
If you’re a videographer, filmmaker, or actor, having a reel is a must. You can use our online video editor to prepare your sizzle reel in a matter of minutes and instantly post it on your Canva Site or blog.
You’re probably wondering — if recruiters can only spend a few seconds scanning resumes, will they have enough time to read through an entire cover letter? For the most part, the answer is yes. This is especially true if you’ve already caught their eye and they want to get to know you more. So unless a job post specifically requires you not to send a cover letter, enclosing one with your resume in 2022 can’t hurt. Make sure to personalize one with our cover letter templates as it is also yet another avenue to showcase more of your character, creativity, and initiative.
We’ve been predicting the obsolescence of the traditional resume for years. And in some industries, they may be on the way out. However, for most employers, they’re still very much needed. So in order to stand out, studying the best resume formats and keeping up to date with trends in resume or CV writing is still crucial, especially in this ever-changing job market landscape.