Top 6 Resume Trends in 2019 | What Hiring Managers Want - ZipJob

If you’re planning on searching for a new job, you should be aware of the hottest new resume trends. These trends can change suddenly, as competition ebbs and flows from year to year. In addition, today’s job market is heating up again, after years of relative calm. As it does, new resume trends are emerging. Fortunately, candidates who can adapt to these changes will have a leg up on their competition. To help you better understand what hiring managers want to see, we’ve compiled the top resume trends in 2019.

Some Top Resume Trends in 2019 Are Familiar

Don’t panic at the thought of learning a whole new resume style. After all, many things remain constant from year to year. For example, most hiring managers still prefer the summary over the objective statement. They still want to see your accomplishments, work history, and skill set information. And they still prefer them in either paper or digital format – though we’ll probably get around to robot delivery eventually! Most important, every hiring manager wants to be dazzled by your presentation.

Resumes are still the vehicle that we use to introduce ourselves to potential employers, after all, so those things remain vital. However, technology and new cultural demands have changed the work dynamic in many ways. As a result, you’ll also need to learn about trends that make today’s resumes different than they used to be. We’ll examine some of those new trends in the sections below.

Top Resume Trends in 2019

#1: Technology Matters

Technology has become increasingly important in recent decades. To keep pace with their rivals, today’s companies expect their employees to be familiar with these changes. Whether it’s computer programs or smartphone apps, hiring managers are looking for that tech competence from the candidates they interview.

You should be up on all the latest tech innovations in your field. More importantly, you should be able to demonstrate that competence in your resume.

If you feel a little behind the times, take time to do some research. Examine trade periodicals and online resources to learn about the hottest tech trends affecting your industry.

Research them and get yourself up to speed so that you better understand how your field is changing. If you’ve never used necessary programs or apps, you should start now. That will enable you to include your tech knowledge in your resume, as hard skills that can benefit your employer.

#2: Social Media Matters

Did you know that you have a brand? Well, if you use social media of any kind, then you most certainly do. That online identity can be a benefit or a curse, depending upon the type of image that it presents to the world. One of the hottest resume trends in 2017 is something that started several years ago. Hiring managers now routinely scan candidates’ online social media pages as they assess their fitness for hire. You can use that to your benefit.

LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and other sites combine to create your personal brand. You can use those sites to spark conversations related to your chosen field. That allows you to attain the status of “expert” in your field, which can help you get noticed by hiring managers. You should include links to those social media sites on your resume page, and list them in the top section where you include your contact details.

Be sure as well that you remove any social media comments or other materials that might raise eyebrows. The objective is to present a professional face to the world. To do that, you need to avoid controversial comments, stories, images, or videos on your social media pages. In short, clean up your social media to ensure that you present the most positive image possible.

#3: Creativity is Encouraged

Experienced hiring managers have seen it all. They’ve read dozens of boring job experience recitations, rote skill lists, and dull sales pitches. With that in mind, you should forget about just dialing it in on your resume. To stand out from the crowd, you need to choose every word with care. 3

Use dynamic power words and strong, active verbs to present yourself as an employee with real value to offer. We put together a good list of power verbs to use on a resume here.

#4: It’s About More than Your Capabilities

If you think that hiring managers are just looking for a highly-skilled and experienced hire, think again. These days, more and more companies are looking for co-workers. They want candidates with the emotional intelligence needed to quickly fit into the corporate culture. Teamwork is the order of the day, so your ability to work with others could be your most important skill.

You should work to emphasize your people skills in your resume by focusing on things like work ethic, attitude, the ability to multitask, communication skills, and leadership. And don’t just tell the employer that you have these skills. Include examples where you’ve used them to benefit your prior employers. Talk about instances where your people skills have achieved tangible goals. In short, take the opportunity to demonstrate that you’re a perfect fit for that company environment.

#5: Quantify, Quantify and Quantify Some More!

The best way to capture the attention of a hiring manager is by using quantifiable achievements. Don't just list out your duties and responsibilities - that won't help you stand out from the competition. You should instead mention specific accomplishments and quantify wherever possible.

For example, don't just say:

"Increased sales by developing new marketing campaigns."

You should say:

"Increased sales by 40% through the use of new marketing channels which included Facebook and Instagram ads."

See how much more effective that is?

#6: Write for Resume Scanning Machines

Most employers use an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) which automatically screen resumes to determine if they should be sent forward to a hiring manager. They look for keywords, experience and skills that closely match what the position is looking for.

What's the problem?

Your resume should be formatted and keyword optimized for these scans as they reject nearly 75% of resumes submitted. Many times the applicant is qualified but the resume isn't formatted and optimized for these scans which results in automatic rejection.

We wrote a good post here on how to format and test your resume for an ATS system.

Top Resume Trends in 2019: Your Key to Landing that Perfect Job

When you make use of these and other top resume trends, you’ll help to distinguish yourself from the competition. With the right resume base, you can use these trends to showcase the value that you can bring to any prospective employer. In the end, that’s the key to ensuring that you have the best chance to land the job of your dreams!