phone-a-friendAfter reading your resume over and over again in attempt to craft the perfect presentation, it can be difficult to look at it objectively. You may be at a loss for areas of improvement or inadvertently skip over small errors because you know what it should say. Your resume should be a fluid document that changes along with you in your career and job search. But this can become challenging.

While working on your resume, there’s nothing wrong with reaching out to others for help and advice. Having a fresh set of eyes look over things can really make a difference and alert you to things you may have missed. If you’re struggling with what to write or wondering what type of impression you are making, call up a friend.

  • Talk to people both within and outside of your industry

You know what you do all day, but that does not necessarily mean that other people understand. Talking to someone within your line of work can help you to explore different abilities or accomplishments you may have forgotten about or not previously considered. Ask them about what they think some highlights of the job are or what they do in their role. This can jog your memory about your own work.

Conversely, gathering feedback from someone outside of your industry can bring light to points on your resume that may be confusing. You don’t want to overload your resume with technical jargon because you never know who will be reading it. The recruiter may be looking for specific key words but should still be able to grasp the gist of what you have done. Explaining things to someone unfamiliar with your job can assist you in presenting it more clearly on your resume.

  • Take feedback with a grain of salt

Ultimately it is your resume and you are the expert on yourself and your career. Consider the feedback that you get from others and the impact that it has on your resume. Decide what you think will be an improvement and what may not be right for you. Talking to more than one person can help you to get a better feel for the general consensus and things that are pointed out consistently.

  • Have them proofread for you

Another benefit of having someone review your resume is that they can look for errors in spelling, grammar, or meaning. These may seem like minor details but can reflect poorly on your resume and give other applicants an advantage. The spelling and grammar check on Microsoft Word is not perfect, so having another human read through things is encouraged.

  • Hire a professional

If you’re still unsure about the impact of your resume and what should or should not be included, consider investing in a professional resume writing service such as Chic Resumes. These companies are up-to-date on current resume standards and what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for. They can help you to weed out unnecessary information and highlight key strengths and accomplishments. You can feel more confident in the impression that you are making on potential employers. Contact Chic Resumes at (803) 831-7444 or resumewriting@grammarchic.net for more information or to get started transforming your resume today.