Resume Refresh: Recommendations from an Executive Recruiter

For Candidates

How Executives Can Resign Gracefully

Employers and recruiters review hundreds, if not thousands of resumes in their careers. And sometimes, even the most amazing candidates can easily be overlooked if they are unable to fully showcase their talent through their resume. So, how can you ensure that your resume is fully optimized? Whether you are actively looking for a job or refreshing your resume for when you are ready to jump back into the market, here are three main components that our search firm looks for while reviewing applications. 

 

Spell It Out for Us 

The number one mistake job seekers can make on their resume is failing to include data. It helps when folks include details in the following areas: career accomplishments, the exact properties they worked for (and not just including the parent company unless they are in a corporate position), who they directly report to, and the number of people they supervise.  

Including relevant numbers and highlights give the reader a better sense of a candidate’s career path and where they stand in the organizational chart, since not all job titles fall under the same hierarchy. Depending on the company, one Controller can report directly to a CFO, while another Controller can report to a Director of Finance. While an employee may know their organization like the back of their hand, do not assume that hiring managers will have the same knowledge — no matter how renowned a company may seem.  

Here are a couple examples of what a candidate may include on their resume: 

  • Oversaw the daily operations of the property 
  • Developed and implemented retention strategies to improve employee satisfaction 

Though the aforementioned points provide an accurate summary of someone’s role, below are ways to enhance them: 

  • Oversaw the daily operations of the property, including 2,500 slot machines, 50 table games, 250 hotel rooms, 5 restaurants, and 800 employees 
  • Reduced employee turnover by 20% by developing a competitive compensation and benefits package 

Adding details and accomplishments to a resume paints a clearer picture of the impact that executive made in each organization. One major caveat for this tip: only focus on adding specifics that are most relevant and worth noting for a job opening to prevent the resume from being too lengthy or coming off as arrogant.  

 

Substance over Flair 

We prefer clean resumes that balance the line of detailed and concise. An aesthetically pleasing document has its charm, but adding too much color, patterns, and fonts to a page can turn something nice to “too busy” very quickly. Complex designs can also put a resume at risk of showing up oddly in a company’s database. 

Unless a job seeker specializes in a field that expects this kind of creativity, candidates should stick to improving the overall content quality to avoid hiring authorities from getting distracted while reviewing their resumes. 

 

Tailor it to Perfection 

Customizing a resume can help hiring authorities see parallels between their job opening and a candidate’s overall experience. If an employer’s attention to detail is high, then they might reject an application if they determine that the candidate’s experience does not match the expectations that are listed on their job description.  

The amount of personalization that is needed truly depends on how well one’s experience and background are currently conveyed on the resume. If an applicant has consistently been in an industry and field for X number of years and is still interested in pursuing a similar profession, they may not need to modify a resume as much as a job seeker who is looking to transition to a new industry or career path.  

However, we also understand how time consuming and frustrating it can be for a professional to tailor a resume for every single job without any guarantee of receiving a status update on said application. If a candidate wants to increase their chances of being considered for an opportunity, how should they use their time efficiently? 

Candidates should put themselves in the shoes of the hiring authority while reviewing the job description and ask themselves: Does my current resume clearly show relevance of the type of experience, skillsets, and knowledge that this company is expecting from their prospective hire? If the answer is no, then it is best to adjust. Consider creating a “master resume” template that includes all of the responsibilities and achievements that come to mind for each role. Then when an interesting opportunity comes along, create a copy of the document and remove irrelevant points. 

The main goal is to craft a resume that naturally gives employers reasons to believe that you are a great fit for a job opening. So, highlight your proudest career milestones, keep it relevant, and let your experience speak for itself. A new opportunity will come knocking at your door in due time. 

 

As Published inGaming & Leisure Winter 2024 Edition

Bristol Associates, Inc. is an executive search firm with over 55 years of excellence in recruiting nationwide. Bristol specializes in recruiting for the Casino Gaming; Facility and Concession; Food and Beverage Manufacturing; Healthcare; Hotel and Resort; Nonprofit; Restaurant; and Travel, Tourism, and Attraction industries.

If you’re interested in working with Bristol Associates, click here if you’re an employer or here if you’re a candidate.

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