Something unusual is happening in the job market. Last September, more than four million Americans quit their jobs, according to statistics recently released by the U.S. Labor Department. This happened at a time when there were more than 10 million job openings.

Some call the “Great Resignation” a labor shortage. Others call it a wage shortage. We call it an opportunity. With so many openings, and a high demand for labor, there has probably never been a better time to be job hunting. If you’re going to be job hunting, then you need to have a powerful resume. Whether you’re looking to change jobs, seek a promotion within your current organization, or even change industries it’s a great time to dust off that resume and give it a new polish. Aside from it being a “worker’s market,” here are a few other reasons why now is the best time to update your resume.
 
Beat the Automation Game

Automated HR systems in recent years has made having a perfect resume more necessary than ever before. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) help recruiters by organizing and pre-screening resumes. They essentially look for keywords in each resume a company receives for a position and ranks it against the job posting, usually using a proprietary algorithm.

While ATS systems save recruiters a ton of time, they don’t do any favors for candidates. If your resume doesn’t have the right keywords, you’ll never even get your foot in the door, much less an interview. As such, it’s important to update your resume to make sure it reflects not only the jobs you want, but that it includes important industry keywords relevant to those jobs.
 
Stand Out Against Competition

Getting your resume past the algorithms is just the first step. Your resume also needs to stand out against the competition. That means a couple of things.

At the most basic, your resume needs to be spotless: no typos, no punctuation errors, no grammatical mistakes. But equally important, your resume needs to be relevant to the position you’re applying for, and not only in terms of the keywords. According to Indeed.com, hiring managers only spend six to seven seconds looking at a resume on average. That means your resume needs to capture their attention extremely fast.
 
Position Yourself for the Future

Resumes need to not only show where you’ve been professionally, but they need to reflect where you want to go in the future. What’s more, the job market always follows business trends, which means some newer industries will grow in the near future while others will shrink. For example, jobs in data science, artificial intelligence, and IT have been growing very fast over the past several years. But five to ten years ago, these industries were significantly smaller. If you haven’t been in the job market for a while, you definitely will want your resume to show how your skillsets can contribute to these burgeoning industries.
 
Want more help crafting a winning resume? We can help. Check out our wide range of resume writing packages to get high-quality professional resume writing services.
 

Got a difficult problem in your job search? Say, a lack of networking contacts? Or trouble answering interview questions? Well, you've got company. Problems in a job search are as common as mosquitoes in July. But ... have you ever written your problem down on a piece of paper? I'll bet you haven't. Because, when you write problems down, you take an immediate, huge leap towards solving them. Think about it: Every great invention or solution, from the atomic bomb to the Xbox, was first worked out on paper.

Why not solve your employment problems the same way? Here's a three-step method that will help you do it ... 1) Start by asking the right questions Most folks put themselves behind the eight ball in their job search by asking questions that are depressing and demotivating. Questions like, Why won't anyone give me a job? or How do I network when I don't know anyone? Ack. Pass the happy pills. Instead, start asking questions that motivate and inspire you. Better questions to ask are: * How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads? * How did my 10 closest friends find their current jobs? How could I brainstorm with them and use their methods in my job hunt? * What worked in my last job search? The job search before? How could I do that again?

Important: Ask questions that you yourself can solve. Never depend on the government, your school, parents, family -- anyone else -- to do this for you. Because, once you give up responsibility for solving problems with your job search (or anything else), you become a prisoner of outside forces. When you ask the right questions, however, you're halfway to the answer. So write down at least five empowering questions about your job search, right now.

Then, you're ready for step two ... 2) Brainstorm at least 20 possible answers After you write down five good questions, circle the one question that looks most promising. You're going to use it to get hired faster. Let's say you write the following question down atop a clean sheet of paper: How could I give people a reason to call me with job leads? Write a number 1 below it. Write a possible answer next to that number. Then move on to number 2, 3 . and don't stop until you have at least 20 answers to your question. Not 15 or 19, but 20 answers -- or more. There's a reason for this: Left to its own devices, your brain will pull a Homer Simpson after two minutes and try to talk you into going out for donuts or beer.

Brains hate to think. Like bench pressing, thinking is strenuous work, no matter how good it may be for you. But don't let your head off the hook. Don't stop until you get 20 possible solutions. Brainstorm as if your career depended on the outcome. Because it does. Now. Most of your 20 answers won't be very good -- that's OK. Your best answer may come right after the most hare-brained. By forcing yourself to write out 20 answers, you're flushing the creative pipes while going deep into your subconscious mind to dredge up a winner. Don't knock it until you try it! 3) Take action on one solution today Choose the most promising from your list of 20 answers.

​Then, get started -- today -- to make it happen. No excuses. Let's say the most actionable of your solutions is to throw a networking party where you can meet friends, family and acquaintances, and let them know about your job search. Now. What do you need to do to make this party happen? Well, you have to make the guest list, send invitations, get the food, etc. So write down all the sub-goals necessary for the party to be a success. Check each sub-goal off your list as you complete it. Before you know it, your networking party will be a reality. After that, take the next most-promising solution from your list of 20 and make that one happen. Repeat until hired. Here's why these 3 steps work when it comes to solving problems -- clear thinking plus continuous action equals results. If you're struggling to find a job, write down clear, empowering questions of your situation. Then, brainstorm at least 20 possible solutions and take action on the best one today. When you do, you'll be that much closer to getting the job you really want, faster. Now, go out and make your own luck!

Many people are competing for the same job. If you want a job, you must be noticed by the recruiter, in a sea of resumes. That's why you need a certified resume writer. Here are some tips for a more professional resume for people who want to self educate about the basics. Using a resume template as a starting point allows for personal customization on a predesigned platform. Add your information to the resume template, then tweak it to highlight your skills and abilities. However, it is best to hire a professional writer.
Use "power" words. Demonstrate that you are a person of action. Rather than being "responsible for" something, use words like "advised," "led," "launched," "executed," "generated," "planned," "produced," etc. These words (and others like them) demonstrate your ability to perform on the job and your specific role in previous jobs. Strong action words validate your capabilities and specific duties you have performed. Consider which is better: responsible for launching a new product or initiated and led new product launch that resulted in $20 million in revenue. Don't forget that your resume is your document, and it represents you, who you are, and what you can do when you can't be there in person to explain all of that to a recruiter or hiring manager. Your resume is just one of the hundreds that fly into any given company on any given day. You need to stand out from the crowd.
Select the best organizational format. Most resumes are written in chronological (reverse time order) format, but that does not mean that the chronological choice is best for you. If you are making a career change or have extremely broad or related skillsets, a combination format may be best. The combination is evenly balanced between skillset description, achievements, and employment history.
Did you know that 75% of resumes never get read by a human being? We can help you beat the bots! When you apply for a job online, your resume isn't typically going directly to a recruiter or hiring manager. It's first being processed by an ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Whether that human recruiter ever sees your resume could depend on how well your resume is optimized for ATS algorithms. We know how to format your resume and what keywords to include for your industry to help get your resume into the recruiters' and hiring managers' hands.
We provide custom-tailored resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and other career search documents written by Certified Professional Resume Writers that set you apart from the rest. All of our writers hold CPRW, CARW, and other internationally-recognized certifications.
If you've been applying for jobs and are not getting interviews, it's probably because the employers' applicant tracking system (ATS) software is screening you out based on keywords, or lack thereof. We have expertise in designing resumes that meet ATS guidelines in terms of formatting and keyword optimization. Think of it similar to how websites rank on Google. Just as web developers Search Engine Optimize websites to get them to show up higher in search results, our writers will optimize your resume and LinkedIn profile to get you ranking higher in the results provided by the ATS system and by LinkedIn recruiter searches. ​

When you are looking for a new job or a change in your career, the first step you need to take is to look at your resume. After all, your resume is a lot more than your professional experience; it shows how you are as a person and how you can contribute to the company you are applying to.

Writing a resume is not an easy task since there is always so much to include and you need to be selective, however, the reality is that it is more important than ever to have a great one. This is why so many job seekers are already turning to resume writing services. Resume writing services are services where you have a professional resume writer take care of your resume. However, you may want to try out your own writing first and see how it goes. In this case, here are the top 5 resume tips for 2019.

#1: Understand The Employer's Pain Points

When you are updating your resume, you need to ensure that you list all your skills and abilities. However, more important than that, is to ensure that you can address the employer's pain points directly.

The reality is that when the employer is looking at such a resume and they is able to see that you're the person who meets their needs, solves their problems, and can contribute in a meaningful way, sky is the limit. So, when you are writing your resume or updating it, make sure that you can effectively answer to all the problems and issues that are affecting the employer.

#2: Demonstrate Your Skills, Don't Just List Them

When you are writing or updating your resume, you may feel that you need to list as many skills as you can. However, much more important than this is to show your skills using real examples, using things you have already done. This is exactly what professional resume writing services do.

You know that most companies look for an employee who can be a good team member. Nevertheless, simply stating that you are one is meaningless. Instead, you should include the achievements that demonstrate this.

#3: The Layout

You keep seeing all over the place that the styling of your resume matters. And while we can say that is true, you need to create an impact with words above style.

Above all, when employers are looking at your resume, they quickly scan it. They have their eyes trained to find specific information in specific spots. So, if you keep changing the layout they are used to, you can be sure that they won't waste their time looking for more information about you.

#4: Tell Your Employers What They Need To Know

One of the main goals of your resume is to catch the employer's attention so that you can move on to the interview phase.

So, on the top-third of your resume, you should include your contact information, your LinkedIn account, the most recent job, and your professional summary. This is this most important part of your resume. This is where you can either make it or break it. So, you should look at it as your own elevator pitch highlighting your most important skills as well as how you can fill the employer needs. Above all, you need to grab their interest.

#5: Complement Your Resume With LinkedIn Profile Writing

While some recruiters only tend to look at the resume that you send them, others routinely scan the market through LinkedIn to find possible candidates. So, you want to ensure that you also take some time to check your LinkedIn profile and update it accordingly. The truth is that many recruiters complain that most of the LinkedIn profiles they see lack the narrative, depth or even the specificity that regular resumes have. ​

When you complete your LinkedIn profile update, make sure that you include a direct link to it on your contact information on your resume. 

The job possibilities for impressive accounting and finance resumes are almost endless. There are many corporate accounting positions that are available to qualified candidates, including payroll, finance director, tax specialist, and accounts payable expert. A good accounting and finance resume can also open up doors to jobs with the government such as grant underwriting, forensic accounting, and budgeting. The list of duties found on an accounting and finance resume include monitoring revenue, tracking expenses, creating executive reports, and filing government forms. The more that you can show on your accounting and finance resume, the higher your salary will be. If you want the truly significant responsibilities with your account and finance resume, then you have to show that you’ve earned those responsibilities with your educational and professional background.
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An accounting and finance resume must include a four-year degree in accounting. In order to maximize your accounting and finance resume, you should also have an MBA or some equivalent business education as well. Given the many different options that an accounting and finance resume offers, it’s helpful to have a specific kind of training and education as part of your background. For example, if you’re trying to develop a strong accounting and finance resume in forensics, then an educational background in law enforcement would be appropriate. You’ll also want to pursue your CPA status to help enhance your accounting and finance resume.

1. Which skills are the best to list on an accounting resume?

Every accounting resume sample in our collection illustrates accounting skill sets to list in your resume if they apply to you. It is also crucial to look at the description of the job to which you are applying to identify the key skills employers want to see in applicants. If you possess those skills, display them prominently in your resume.

Such skills may include expertise in GAAP, auditing, or general ledger reconciliation. You may also want to showcase skills in accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

2. How do you list references on an accounting resume?

The general practice today is to avoid listing references in your resume. The space in your resume is valuable, and it is best to use it to provide as much information as possible regarding your skills, experience, and accomplishments, as our accounting resume sample exemplifies. Have your references on hand to give to hiring managers upon request.

However, there is an exception to this rule. If employers ask in the open job’s listing for resumes that include references, create a section in your document for that purpose. Be sure to make advance contact with the people you plan to provide information for and get their permission to use them as references.

3. What sections should you include in your accounting resume?

The sections your resume needs may vary depending on your specific qualifications. Regardless, there are a few standard sections to include, as shown in each accounting resume sample that we offer. Your resume should begin with a professional summary statement or profile, or, if you are transitioning from another field into accounting or you recently graduated, an objective statement. It should also have skills, work experience, and education sections.

It may seem challenging to determine each section’s position and content within your document. Simplify the process with our effortless resume builder. Use it to create a resume in minutes.

4. How can you separate your accounting resume from other candidates’ resumes?

There are many ways to make your accounting resume stand out to hiring managers. First, make sure every section of your resume relates to the position to which you are applying. Use accounting keywords, particularly those you find in the position’s description, to capture employers’ attention.

Then, use your work experience section to not only describe previous responsibilities, but also show employers what you are capable of professionally. Use strong action words in every line and make your accomplishments memorable by describing them with percentages and other metrics. Use a relevant accounting resume sample to learn how to do this.

5. What goes in the header of an accounting resume?
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​As you study an accounting resume sample to learn how to write your summary, skills, experience, and education sections, don’t forget that your resume needs a professional header as well. Your header belongs at the top of your resume, either in the center of the page or next to the left or right margin.

Display your formal name first, leaving out unprofessional nicknames. Then list your current city and state. Follow with a professional email address that uses a current server. Include a telephone number that you access easily, but not your current work number.

Every month, approximately 3,000 people search the internet for the best resume writing services. Here is why we think we are one of them:

Revered Resumes uses only certified and experienced English-speaking resume writers, based in the United States. Many other firms outsource work to low-quality writers. We also utilize ATS technology to help prevent your resume from being rejected by online application bots. 

Our process is collaborative and each and every writer communicates with their clients directly to ensure they have all the relevant details and information needed to write a top-notch resume. Your resume is one of your most important career tools. But many professionals have no idea where to start, what to include, and what to leave off of their resumes. We can carefully craft your career story to target the job that you want to land.

We are dedicated to providing job seekers with quality career resources and resume writing at an affordable price. Now, professionals like you have a place to take their career stories and create their brands, starting with a great resume. Revered Resumes brings a matchless ability to always yield and further refine its world-class product, swift delivery, and first-rate customer service.

Have you ever seen the term CV listed on a job posting or career website and wondered what it means—and, more importantly—if you need to have one? CV stands for curriculum vitae, and while it’s similar to a resume, it’s not the same.

Usually an employer will state explicitly whether a CV or a resume is needed. In general, you would use them in the following situations:

CV: A CV is typically required when applying for international, academic, scientific, or research positions. For example, many teaching positions in higher education will require a CV to highlight academic experience.

Resume: A resume is the preferred format to apply for most jobs in the U.S. and Canada. Unless the application instructions specifically ask for a CV, you’ll need an updated resume for your job search.

Purpose of a CV and Resume

CV: Curriculum vitae is Latin for course of life, which aptly describes its purpose in the job market. Think of a CV as your professional and educational journey. It is a detailed chronological story that tells employers about the knowledge, experience, and accomplishments that made you, with a heavy focus on academics.

Resume: A resume is a concise document focused primarily on relevant work experience gained from previous jobs. Think of it as your professional marketing flyer. Its main purpose is to grab the attention of a hiring manager or human resource professional so that you are considered for an interview. It should be easily scannable and include details that set you apart from the competition.

Content and Order of a CV

​The content of your CV should appear in reverse-chronological order by section, starting with education and academic achievements followed by professional experience. Group this information into categories with subheads for easy reading.

Categories, in order of appearance:

Name and contact information
Education (degrees held, where they were earned, plus a summary of your academic background – a much more detailed account than what you would include on a resume, including your areas of focus and academic achievements)
Teaching experience
Research experience
Work experience (relevant work-related skills and accomplishments for each position)
Accomplishments (with sections for publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations, etc.)

Content and Order of a Resume

The content of your resume should appear in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position followed by past jobs held. Usually education and achievements are last, but if you’re new to the field you might want to list your education first. Keep in mind that you don’t have to include all of your experience, just what’s relevant to the job or career path you seek.

Sections your resume should include, in order:

Name and contact information
Optional short summary paragraph
Work experience (where and when you worked and relevant work-related skills and accomplishments for each position)
Education (where you studied and degrees earned)
Optional sections (e.g. certifications/licenses, military experience, volunteer experience)

Length of a CV vs. a Resume

CV: Since a CV is a comprehensive chronical of your professional life, it is usually at least two pages long, and often more. There’s no limit to the length – you will want to make the document as long as it needs to be to capture your full education and career experience.

Resume: A resume is a one or two-page document, depending on the amount of relevant work experience you have.

Customizing a CV or Resume

Both CVs and resumes should be accurate representations of your experience and education.
You can customize either document based on where you are applying, what you know about the position, and/or relevant keywords and phrases from the job description.

To summarize, the main differences between a CV and a resume are:

Usage/purpose
Contents (topics, level of detail, organization)
Length
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A good way to remember the difference is to think of a CV as your professional and academic biography, whereas your resume is the CliffsNotes summary of your skills and achievements.

Your Administrative Support, Administrative Assistant, Receptionist and Office Manager Resume

Administrative Assistant or Office Assistant is a general term that covers many different business and administrative duties. It is used as an umbrella term for a person with a broad set of skills such as using software, maintaining filing systems, writing reports, organizing paperwork, and maintaining a collegial atmosphere.

The ideal office assistant resume will exhibit a variety of talents, such as managerial skills, organizational skills and data analysis and processing skills. Doing so will help you land a spot in the growing job market. Here are some ideas for improving your administrative support resume.

1. Emphasize Your Relevant Experience

The first thing an experienced Administrative Assistant will want to do is emphasis any previous work experience that can be translated to the position being applied for. Showing relevant and transferable experience is a key resume builder throughout the resume body. All companies are looking for specialized, focused and skilled employees. To capture the attention of HR, this resume begins immediately with a Professional Summary highlighting relevant professional and educational experiences.
The Professional Summary starts off with a statement of experience such as:

Office Assistant with 10+ years of experience handling confidential tasks and making routine office tasks as efficient as possible.

It also mentions keywords that indicate managerial material, company ROI potential and upward mobile talent:

Proven managerial experience and cost-cutting abilities, while maintaining high standards and achieving company goals.

2. Quantify Your Resume – Add Numbers

Additionally, this resume is packed full of quantified data, which proves the applicant’s achievements and worth to potential employers. Office assistants will want to numerically quantify points that lend to their reliability, efficiency, and management skills. This particular resume does this in both professional experiences. To get the job, you need an attractive and persuasive resume. Our experienced certified professional resume writers can take care of the hard resume writing, and format everything into HR-recommended resume styles.

You quantify your professional experience by including achievements in terms of dollar amounts. It is also a great way to catch the reader’s eye. For example:

Saved $24,000 in labor costs annually by implementing a streamlined automated database.

Another great way to quantify numerically is in terms of percentages, for example:

Consistently attained 95%+ customer satisfaction by ensuring the provision of exemplary service.

Additionally, include how many people you managed in numbers as well to give scope to the responsibility. For example:
 
Supervised and trained a staff of 3 regular clerks and 4 interns.

Adding quantification throughout an office assistant resume keeps the reader’s eye moving from experience to experience. Most importantly, it helps the hiring manager quickly grasp the scope of the applicant’s experiences.

The second experience continues quantifying in an excellent fashion, utilizing 3 more ways in which achievements can be proven. Adding a “+” to your estimated totals is a great way to show achievements, for example:

Supported all payroll activities for 60+ employees.

Include daily goals such as number of customers dealt with or calls taken such as is included in this example:

Answered incoming calls (avg. 40/day).
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Remember, no resume will get you a job if you turn in a document that's full of typos, dreadful design or grammatical errors. Accuracy is a key job skill for administrative assistants, and if you can't get your resume right, you're sending an automatic red flag to employers. Be honest, be succinct and avoid mistakes — and good luck.