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7 Things Employers Want to See on Millennial Resumes

November 07, 2017 by Careerminds

Millennial job hunters are more often than not looking for entry level roles, but they have ambition. That means that they’re applying for jobs that will give them room to grow and move up the career ladder.

In fact, recent studies have shown that Millennials are looking for development opportunities more than they are looking for high salaries. In other words, Millennials want a place to grow and thrive. A place where their work aligns with their lifestyle.

Employers (should) know this, though it’s becoming more and more apparent as time goes on.

7 Things Employers Want to See on Millennial Resumes

So, when it comes to Millennial resumes, what should you include? What types of things are employers looking for? How do you make yourself stand out in a crowded job market?

Fear not. We have you covered:

1. A Strong Cover Letter

It sounds obvious, but if you don’t include a cover letter, employers often won’t even look at your resume. A good cover letter shows that you’re interested in the job itself, and not just the paycheck that goes with it.

Millennial resumes also benefit from a cover letter because it gives you a chance to talk about your past experiences, what you can bring to the role, and what you expect from the role. This will help you stand out and also give a bit of personality to your resume.

Speaking of standing out:

2. Stand Out From The Crowd

Employers have seen the phrase ‘good team player’ so often that it’s now a cliché. If you really want to get your resume noticed, then you’re going to need to stand out. What can you offer the business that no one else can? Offer examples. Maybe you have experience running conventions or have extensive volunteering experience in the field. Make sure you point this out.

Avoid saying other cliche things like ‘detail oriented’ and other things that immediately pop into your brain when you think about resumes. An employer would much rather be wowed than make sure you hit all of the cliched sayings in your resume. With so many Millennials entering the job market, it’s important to make sure you don’t get left behind.

However, one of the most important things you must cover is what skills you bring to the table.

3. Highlight Your Relevant Skills

“Many resumes are thrown away because there’s no mention of what skills the applicant has. I’ve seen lots of resumes that say how long a person has worked in a job, but not what they can do,” says HR manager Andrea Grange from Paper Fellows.

“I’m more likely to look at your resume if you tell me exactly what skills you’ve developed in your working career.”

This part is simple: if you don’t tell the employer what skills you have developed, how are they supposed to know what role you will thrive in? They can’t. It’s easy to get wrapped up trying to stand out while not being a cliche, but it’s important to remember the real point of the resume: to showcase what you have to offer and how you will elevate the role.

4. Show You Have a Strong Work Ethic

Many Millennials are just entering the job market for the first time. This is perfectly fine! Everyone has to start off somewhere. If you are looking at your resume and you think you do not have enough experience listed, make sure that you note how strong of a work ethic you have.

Sure, employers would love someone who has a ton of experience, but chances are you are applying to an entry level position. The hiring manager is mostly concerned that you will work hard enough to learn the entry level role and that if you need help, you will ask for it and do the best you can.

It’s important to highlight this personality trait in your resume to make sure that hiring manager gets that feel from it. This is one area where Millennial resumes differ from other generations at the moment because many Millennials are just coming to the job market for the first time.

5. A Willingness To Learn

Leading on from the last point, you want to show the reader that you’re willing to learn.

In today’s workplace, you’ll often be asked to take on new challenges and jobs that are slightly out of your job description. If you can do this, you’re much more likely to be taken on. While many Millennials are ready and willing to learn more and develop their skills, everyone is different and hiring managers know that they can’t just say to themselves “Millennials like learning” and hope that everyone in that entire generation fits that mold.

So, when it comes to your resume, highlight areas where you had to learn new skills to perform a role. This doesn’t have to be in a job if you haven’t had that experience before. What about a school project? We’re sure there has been a time in your life where you had a goal that required you to learn something new to complete it. Show that.

6. Good Spelling and Punctuation

It can’t be overstated how important this is. If you don’t proofread your resume, it can show the employer that you just don’t take care of the details. Make sure you’re checking for errors before you send your resume out.

We suggest letting other people read your resume to make sure there are no typos or grammatical errors. It can be quite hard to spot them yourself if you spend the entire day staring at the document. A second pair of eyes can go a long way, ensuring that you don’t lose an opportunity because of small error.

7. Use Of Helpful Tools

No one can write the perfect resume on their own, you’re going to need some help to get it looking perfect.

If you find the right tools for you, you can use them to brush up your resume. Here’s some of the best tools to get you started:

  • Studydemic: This site is full of grammar guides that will help you get it right in your resume.
  • Assignment Help: The writers here can help you put together a resume that will wow any employer you send it to.
  • Oxessays: This service will proofread your resume for you, picking out the errors before you send it out.
  • Academadvisor: This site has writing guides on any aspect of writing you care to mention, so you can get help no matter what you’re having trouble with.
  • Elite Assignment Help: Talk to the writing tutors here to get an expert opinion on your resume.
  • UK Top Writers: The Huffington Post in “Write my essay” feature recommends academic writing services to help you write your resume.
  • Revieweal: This writing community can help you out with most writing issues, and help you polish up your resume.

These tips will help you create a resume that will stand out to employers. As a Millennial, you’re up against stiff competition, but you can get noticed if you know what to do.

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