Update Your Resume Post COVID-19
If you are an American with disabilities or have been out of the workplace because of COVID-19, this is a good time to give your resume a fresh look.
Even if you had a stellar resume pre-COVID-19, a check-up still isn’t a bad idea.
“The rules of resume writing are constantly changing,” said Alan Hubbard, NTI Chief Operating Officer, “especially as technology changes, with things like A1 reviewing them or things on a resume that just become outdated.” NTI has been helping Americans with disabilities find remote working jobs for more than 25 years. Even if you aren’t collecting Social Security disability insurance, you are still eligible if you have a disability that prevents you from doing a job. NTI also offers opportunities for family caregivers to work from home. For more information go to www.ntiathome.org.
As part of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), NTI is taking part in “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion” theme to ensure Americans with disabilities are a major part of the national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Every October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions people with disabilities have made to America’s workforce and the economy.
Post-COVID-19, a large population of job seekers is going to have a gap in their resumes because of the lack of work opportunities. Hiring managers are going to be aware of that, but in that case or if you have been out of work for more than a year, this is an opportunity to highlight any volunteer work or if you took any online classes or received certification.
“Volunteering can be a great way to show skills you have picked up which will help you in your new job,” said Hubbard. “That can be valuable to a company and separate you from other candidates. Anytime you take a class or attend educational training, that is also a plus for you. It also shows you are willing to make the effort to improve yourself at a time and cost to you.”
If this is an update of an older resume, make sure your contact information is correct. Nothing frustrates a hiring manager more than finding a good candidate for a job and not being able to reach him or her. AARP recommends using a Gmail account or creating one with your own personal address. Using AOL and Yahoo are an indicator that the resume isn’t current. AARP also says not to have parentheses around your area code because that is an outdated practice. Also, leave out the words cellphone and email because those are assumed. You also don’t need to have your mailing address on the resume. The only time that might be different was if you were looking for a job in your town or in your state.
With many Americans with disabilities opting to work remotely, in most cases, where you live is important.
“Another good tip is to make sure they can leave a phone message,” said Hubbard. “You don’t want the recruiter to try to call you only to hear your mailbox is full. Having a separate email is also a good idea because if you are getting a lot at your regular email, a job one might get lost in there.”
Another aspect of your updated resume you want to pay attention to is your skill section. This might have changed since the last time you checked, especially if you acquired any skills when you were laid off. A tip is to make sure the skills line up with the job you are applying for. If they don’t, it can just seem like you didn’t read the job description and were just sending something out.
You want to check your professional summary and experience sections to make sure they reflect your status and your ability. Another tip for an updated resume is to make sure you have keywords associated with your profession for the computer to identify.
“Your resume is a reflection of you, what you have accomplished, and what you hope to accomplish,” said Hubbard. “You want to make sure you are presenting yourself in the best way possible.”
(NTI helps Americans with disabilities find remote working jobs in call centers by providing training and job placement services. For more information, go to www.ntiathome.org.)
“The rules of resume writing are constantly changing, especially as technology changes, with things like A1 reviewing them or things on a resume that just become outdated…”