AGCAREERS.COM FOOD & AGRICULTURE CAREER GUIDE 6 “I have a master resume today that goes back to my first job and has more bullets than I would ever use,” - Shepard. 2. ABSORB THE JOB DESCRIPTION Now that you have found a job you want to apply for read through the job description, read it all, and read it carefully. Note the qualifications / skills / experiences you have in common with what is already in the job description. Sometimes, the bullets at the top are most important to the employer. You want to ensure that your qualifications and skills in common with the job description are indeed in your resume. EXPERT ADVICE: WORDS THAT STAND OUT. It is also important to note that during this process, words/ skills that are listed in the job description more than once might be the most important. Keep that in mind when reading through the job posting. 3. TAILOR YOUR RESUME Say I want to apply for a marketing position. In the job description, this position lists that they would like someone with experience in Canva, Hootsuite, Email Marketing, Adobe, and so on. Well, I do I have experience in some of those. I will ensure my resume reflects my skills and experiences and meets their specific needs. Keep in mind, if you can tell from the job description that it is vitally important that you have Canva experience, make sure that you list that skill/ experience towards the top and not bury it in the bottom half of your resume. EXPERT ADVICE: USING DESCRIPTORS Shepard advises making sure you consider the descriptors that will set you apart. “Help me help you by making sure there are various words in your description,” Shepard explained. Sometimes, the ATS system might not have been set up with the best attention to detail. Also, remember the skills/ experiences are not necessarily listed in the description but could be traits they are still looking for. 4. PERFECT IT AND MAKE IT LEGIT Once you feel like you have gone through your resume and job description, make sure you are perfecting your resume. Double-check things like: • Grammar/ Spelling • Dates / Timeline • Formatting / Consistency • Contact information is up to date Shepard also advised removing acronyms and assuming that the hiring manager will not know what the acronyms stand for on your resume. Break it down so it is easily understood. EXPERT ADVICE: MAKE SURE YOUR RESUME REFLECTS YOUR ONLINE PROFILE “When building out any type of online profile, it needs to be very similar to your resume,” Shepard explained. Recruiters may also search the internet for those keywords they implement in their ATS system.” I always recommend having someone you trust review your resume, such as a mentor, friend, or family member. 5. SAVING YOUR RESUME Make sure you save your resume correctly. You don’t want to save it and send it as just “resume.” You must save it as a PDF with your first and last name: Example: ClaraTaylor_Resume You could even go a step further and put the company name you are applying for in the title of the saved resume: Example: ClaraTaylor_ResumeAgCareers Pay close attention and do not send that same resume, saved with a previous company name, to a recruiter at another company. In hindsight, you might not think this is a huge deal, but it shows recruiters/ hiring managers you need to pay more attention to detail. By following these steps, I am confident they will provide you with a competitive edge in your job search. I encourage you to keep this checklist handy for your future job search! AG
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