Choose the words that will help you most.
A study of 50,000 résumés over the last five years shows that the average résumé has doubled in length, from one page to almost two. Word count for average résumés has increased by almost 67% because of critical changes in the hiring process - but also due to emerging trends for job seekers, according to Live Career.
“There’s no use in listing any and every skill you’ve ever developed since the start of your career [on your résumé],” according to Forbes contributor, Rachel Wells. However, listing those skills has been the main driver in the expanding length of résumés - as the job search process becomes more competitive.
Executive résumés have always been longer in length, sometimes reaching four pages for a senior executive. However, in the spirit of brevity, even senior leaders would be wise to boil down their experience into a two-page format.
When asked, how far back should a résumé go? Most experts, including CareerBuilder.com, recommend no more than 10-15 years. If your relevant skills pre-date the release of the iPhone (June 2007), you might want to look at how you define “relevant”. Otherwise, a recruiter might do it for you - and you might not like the result.
If your résumé reads like the menu at the Cheesecake Factory, you might want to consider how to be more concise in your presentation. The key to your impact begins with relevant skills. And that relevance starts with specific keywords.
One of the big differences in the last five years is the proliferation of ATS - an acronym for “Applicant Tracking System” - in the hiring process. There are multiple varieties of this type of software, widely used as a screening tool by recruiters and HR departments around the world. According to Rezi.ai, “The ATS checks whether your resume matches the job description based on the keywords included. If you fail to communicate on your résumé that you can specifically meet the company’s expectations for the role, their ATS may reject your application.”
Listing Skills On a Résumé is a Critical Skill
What’s the easiest way to make sure your résumé is aligned with the job description, listing the skills that will make you stand out? No surprise here: using AI can make a difference, when it comes to listing your skills. When ATS software is scanning for skills, it makes sense to use software tools (like AI) to sharpen your résumé.
Indeed, skills are the key reason for the bump in word count, according to the survey, entitled How Resumes Have Changed in the Last Five Years. Consider these highlights:
- Coding languages dominate hard skills sections, with 7/10 hard skills in 2023 compared to 3/10 in 2018, a trend that is likely to continue as technology, such as AI, evolves.
- Time management has claimed the #1 spot in soft skills, up from #7, while critical thinking has risen to #3 despite not ranking in the top ten five years ago.
- Sections for certificates, languages, and additional accomplishments have roughly doubled as applicants seek to highlight their relevant experience; a product of skills-based hiring.
- "Remote" or "hybrid" terminology in resumes has tripled, signaling job seekers’ efforts to land remote jobs.
- Soft skills have shifted: the top soft skill in 2018 was “self-motivated”. That’s been replaced with the more operationally-focused “time management” in 2024, with “self-motivated” receiving a demotion to slot number nine.
Wells identifies the soft skills that are in high demand. Based on a survey from CashNet USA, strategic thinking, negotiation, persuasion and presentation skills top the list, in her recent article on Forbes. Wells advocates for a Skills Section, explaining, “Create a dedicated section for your skills and strengths. You may title it ‘Skills’ or ‘Skills Highlights’. Place this section near the top of your resume, after the professional profile, and before you delve into your work experience.”
Reskilling the Workforce: Are You Ready?
LinkedIn Learning says that employees are spending 130% more time learning new skills. In fact, 64% of L&D (Learning and Development) pros say that reskilling the current workforce is more of a priority than ever before. Why? To fill gaps in the organization, and adapt to the ever-changing marketplace. The marketplace that’s being transformed by AI.
For savvy job seekers, it only makes sense to be the thing that an employer is seeking. And that search, from the employer’s side, begins with ATS software. Make sure that you are adapting your experience to fit the trend - not provide a history lesson. Focus on the skills you possess, and use size and scope words to demonstrate the application of your experience. The past serves to corroborate your abilities, in the job interview process - but skills on your résumé are what employers are looking for, right now.
