IMPROVE YOUR RESUME
HOW TO WRITE A KICK-ASS RESUME SO YOU IMPRESS HIRING MANAGERS AND GET MORE JOB INTERVIEWS
Seven seconds. That’s all the time your resume has to make a strong first impression. That’s barely time for a quick sip of coffee.
Hey, listen up. I’m Jordie from 7 Eagle Group. We understand how stressful it can be to write a great resume that impresses a hiring manager. We know you are committed to being successful, and we have your back.
Our team has been helping Service Members and Veterans improve their resumes for over 8 years.
Your mission is write the best possible resume you can so you land more job interviews.
1. use a clean format
Open up the layout with more white space.
Don’t cram everything onto one page.
Multiple pages are fine as long as your content is good.
Use tabs to line-up your columns. Don’t manually move text with the space bar.
Use at least an 11 point size standard web-based font like Arial, Helvetica, or Times.
Avoid fancy script fonts.
Never mix fonts and sizes.
Use the same uniform style throughout.
Outside of headlines, avoid all caps.
Use bullets instead of complete sentences.
Put your recent work experiences in chronological order — most recent jobs at the top.
It must be obvious to the hiring manager that you’re an appropriate candidate because your recent experience is from a similar industry or a similar job function.
If you have a variety of experiences, include just the most appropriate ones that relate to the position — don’t make the hiring manager dig for the relevant information.
Consider removing some of your experiences that will not help you get the job…i.e. if you’re going for a Mechanical Engineer position, you can leave off the busboy job you held.
When you’re done with your resume, convert it to PDF so the format stays intact.
Put your sections in this order: Summary or Objective, Work Experience, Education, and Skills.
- Go with an easy-to-skim resume with lots of white space, at least 11 point font, lined up tabs, and a uniform style throughout.
- Your resume must look professional.
- Convert your resume to PDF so the format stays intact.
2. GET AI SUGGESTIONS
In just a few minutes, an AI-powered resume builder can professionally write a version of your resume with a consistent tone throughout the document.
AI often produces better and more impactful ways to describe work experiences.
Even if you’ve already written a resume version of you like, we highly recommend you go through this AI exercise just to see if there’s a better option that will present you in a much more powerful way.
Watch this video describing how you can leverage AI.
Here are some AI services we recommend you check out:
- https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt
- https://www.rezi.ai/ai-resume-builder
- https://www.kickresume.com/en/ai-resume-writer/
- https://www.resumai.com/
- https://www.jasper.ai/tools/resume-generator
Another great strategy is to Search Google Images to see how other Veterans with your same MOS described their military experiences. Search Example: “Resume MOS 25 Bravo.
- AI resume builders can improve your resume dramatically!
- Give it shot and you will be amazed.
- AI often recommends much more impactful options for describing your experiences.
3. REMOVE MILITARY JARGON
Describing military experience on a resume can be a challenge. MOSs, weapon systems, ranks, battalions, platoons, military schools…all those acronyms.
Civilian hiring managers don’t get it and are usually unwilling to translate your jargon into a language they understand.
Unless you applying to a government defense position, it is crucial that the hiring manager view you as a civilian who in the past received an incredible experience from military service, not someone is still in uniform.
Spot any military jargon in your resume?
If so, take a hard look at the language you used to describe your expertise and explain it in terms a civilian can easily understand.
Think beyond your job function and identify the core values, skills, and expertise you bring.
Make the necessary edits on your resume and proceed to the next step.
- Spot any military jargon in your resume?
- If so, take a hard look at the language you used to describe your expertise and explain it in terms a civilian can easily understand.
- Think beyond your job function and identify the core values, skills, and expertise you bring.
- Make the necessary edits to your resume and proceed when you’re ready.
4. REWORD employment gaps
One of the biggest red flags raised by hiring managers are those pesky unaccounted-for time periods between jobs.
Hiring managers scan for gaps in your employment history. If they spot one, expect the infamous raised eyebrow.
Don’t let this happen to you!
Gaps makes them wonder what’s wrong with you and what exactly were you doing during that unemployed stint.
Playing video games all day? Applying to hundreds of jobs and no one hiring you? In jail?
Sounds horrible I know, but when you don’t fill your gaps with a clear explanation of how you spent the time, the hiring manager’s imagination will roam.
And too often, instead of trying to figure it out, they simply add your resume to the Reject pile and move on to next applicant.
Here’s how to fill that gap. Think back to something productive you were doing at that time.
Were you enrolled in online classes? Studying for an industry certification? Doing contract or freelance gigs? Volunteering? Caring for a sick family member? Taking that once-in-a-lifetime overseas?
Those are all valid reasons. You just need to explain them with professional-sounding descriptions as best you can, so hiring managers will be impressed, and not penalize you.
But don’t make stuff up just to fill a gap.
They appreciate and expect honesty.
Now make the necessary edits to your resume to eliminate those gaps and proceed when ready.
- Here’s how to fill that gap. Think back to something productive you were doing at that time.
- You just need to explain them with professional-sounding descriptions as best you can, so hiring managers will be impressed, and not penalize you.
- Now make the necessary edits to your resume to eliminate those gaps and proceed when ready.
5. FIX short stints
A “short stint” is defined as being on the job for roughly two years or less.
Red flags go up when hiring managers see one or more recent short stints and they immediately assume you’re a “Job hopper.”
And no one wants to take the risk and hire a job hopper.
They immediately assume you can’t hold down a job for more than few months before quitting or getting fired.
Can’t get along with others? Unstable personality? Lazy worker? Give up easily?
That’s not you so don’t give them the satisfaction!
Even if the short stint wasn’t your fault — maybe you had an unethical boss, the company was going out of business, or it was just a toxic work environment — hiring managers, unfortunately, rarely give job seekers the benefit of the doubt.
To resolve short stints on your resume, never mislead or lie, but instead, simply rephrase the bullets so it’s crystal clear why you didn’t last at least two years.
For example, if you did back-to-back contract gigs for several months each, maybe list them together under one job heading and explain the details in the bullets.
Did you leave a job prematurely because your family moved out of state?
No problem! Just add a bullet explaining your relocation and that you left on good terms so the hiring manager evaluating your resume understands.
Did you lose your job because of Covid layouts that had nothing to do with your performance? That’s okay…just explain it.
So take the time now to add clarity to your short stints and proceed to our BONUS STEPS when you’re ready.
- To resolve short stints on your resume, never mislead or lie, but instead, simply rephrase the bullets so it’s crystal clear why you didn’t last at least two years.
- So take the time now to add clarity to your short stints and click the button below to learn more about resume writing!
6. PROOFREAD IT
Many hiring managers will immediately move your resume into the Reject pile for simply spotting a typo or grammatical mistake.
Don’t get shut out from your dream job simply because you are too lazy to confirm your resume is error-free. There is nothing more frustrating in the job search process– especially if you’re perfectly-matched to the position.
Download a free app called Grammarly — it’s a great tool to spot mistakes.
Once you’ve got a final version, ask a friend or family member — preferably someone who is strong in written English communication — to proofread your resume and fix any misspelling, verb tenses, grammatical mistakes, or punctuation errors. Then post your resume on LinkedIn with a message like this: I’m getting ready for my post-military career and I’m on a mission to write a perfect resume. I would be so appreciative if you could let me know if you have any improvement suggestions. Please hold nothing back — spelling, grammar, verb choices, etc. Thank you so much! If no one in your Network responds, join Linkedin’s Veteran Mentor Network Group and post your message there. You’ll get dozens of responses.
- Avoid the temptation to finalize your resume WITHOUT having someone else proofread it for you.
- A spelling or grammatical error is often the quickest way to get moved to the “Reject” pile.
- If you don’t have a buddy to help you, share your resume on LinkedIn and ask for help.
CONGRATULATIONS!
You have just increased your chances of landing an interview.
But hold on! Why stop now? Your resume deserves next level.
Click the button below for much more detailed suggestions to make your resume even better.
If not, save your updated resume, and read through it one last time before sending it off to us at: [email protected]