How Resumes Have Transformed
Here’s a simple before/after breakdown of Old Resume vs. New Resume with examples to help demonstrate the change in approach:
1. Format
Old Resume
- 12-point Times New Roman
- Dense paragraphs of text
- No white space
- Objective statement: “Seeking a challenging position to utilize my skills…”
New Resume
- Clean, modern font (think Calibri, Helvetica, Lato)
- Skimmable layout with clear sections
- More white space, easier to read quickly
- Strong opening summary: “Marketing leader with 10+ years driving brand growth for Fortune 500 companies. Expert in digital strategy, storytelling, and customer engagement.”
2. Content Style
Old Resume
- Focused on tasks and duties “Responsible for managing the company website.” “Oversaw weekly staff meetings.”
New Resume
- Focused on achievements and outcomes “Revamped corporate website, increasing lead generation by 32% within six months.” “Led weekly staff meetings that improved cross-functional project delivery by 20%.”
3. Length
Old Resume
- 3-4 pages long, even for mid-level professionals
- Includes everything from your fast-food drive-thru experience during high school to early internships
New Resume
- 1-2 pages max for most roles (executives might stretch to 2-3 with strategy)
- Only relevant experience, prioritized to what the target audience cares about
4. Tone
Old Resume
- Robotic, third-person voice: “Ms. Williams is an experienced sales professional who has demonstrated…”
New Resume
- Crisp, direct, and active: “Built and led a $15M sales pipeline for SaaS products across North America.”
5. Use of Keywords
Old Resume
- No real keywords; makes it hard for applicant tracking systems (ATS) to find
- Heavy on old-school buzzwords: “hard-working,” “team player,” “detail-oriented”
New Resume
- Strategically uses industry-specific keywords to match today’s job postings
- Example for tech marketing role: SEO, CRM management, customer acquisition, A/B testing
If you need help creating or updating your resume, optimizing your LinkedIn profile summary, enhancing your interview skills or nagivating today’s job market, Cary Communications can help. Please contact us for a free consultation.
