LEVEL UP YOUR RESUME WITH THESE INSIDER TIPS FROM A MARKETING EXECUTIVE POWERHOUSE
Military spouses add value to employers in more ways than one. They are educated, excellent multi-taskers, and can perform well under pressure. They are also incredibly well networked and worldly, thanks to their frequent PCS moves in support of their service member’s career. Unfortunately, a key challenge that military spouses face is how to keep their professional rap sheets, or resumes, fresh and enticing to employers in the current job market.
In this piece, we are sharing some expert resume tips from a powerhouse marketing executive that will help you show that you meet or exceed the qualifications that the company you are applying to posted in the job description.
Want the resume screener to put your resume in the “yes” stack? These tips for a well-written resume will help accomplish just that.
Expert Resume Tips from Marketing Executive, Sarah Holley
For this piece, we chatted with Sarah Holley, a powerhouse marketing executive with an impressive career.
Currently, Sarah is the co-founder of G-Works, a General Mills corporation. Prior to working at General Mills, Sarah spearheaded Product Innovation and Brand Expansion at the Nestle Corporation.
Despite also being an active duty military spouse for almost two full decades, with multiple cross-country moves between Virginia and California, as well as a busy mom of three active children, Sarah’s career hasn’t missed a beat.
We knew she was the perfect person to reach out to for this piece, and we are grateful that Sarah has shared her tips for how military spouses can keep their resumes relevant with us.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to List a “Career Break” on Your Resume and/or LinkedIn Profile, But if You Do, Be Sure to Elaborate.
Many military spouses have gaps on their resumes due to relocation, career changes, or raising a family. Even though you may have frequent or long periods where you weren’t employed, you can adjust your resume to explain these gaps in a positive way.
You can start by listing your accomplishments during your time away from the workplace. Consider highlighting your previous successes and job duties to show potential employers how you are well-suited for the position you are applying for.
You might even show how the skills you picked up as a military spouse, such as writing, time management, organization, and planning directly translate into the workforce.
Sarah’s friend Angie Hood, Manager of Events and Engagement at Hiring Our Heroes, does a beautiful job highlighting the skills and experience that she gained while having children and moving with her active duty husband on her LinkedIn profile.
In her LinkedIn bio, she shares,
“I spent the first 10 years of my career with AstraZeneca as a pharmaceutical sales specialist. I took a career break while having children and moving with my active duty husband.”
2. Switch to a Functional Resume Format if You Have Multiple “Breaks.”
So, what exactly is a functional resume format? A functional resume prioritizes skills and accomplishments over a chronological work history.
Structuring your resume and/or LinkedIn profile in this way helps highlight professional work and development that, while maybe unpaid, certainly sharpened your acumen and allowed you to develop transferrable skills that could add value in many roles.
A functional resume format is especially beneficial for military spouses who have a lot of career gaps, as it allows you to focus on your relevant skills rather than your work history.
When Should I Use a Functional Resume?
A functional resume should be used in the following situations:
- You have long periods of unemployment that you want to explain.
- You are switching careers, and don’t have much experience in the field.
- You are looking to highlight your skillsets, rather than your experience.
Key Components of a Functional Resume:
- Begin With a Summary: Consider opening your resume with a concise summary to give employers more context about yourself. You might include relevant experience, skills, and career goals.
- Include Your Contact Information: Before your summary section, include a contact section with your full name, email, and phone number.
- List Your Skills & Accomplishments: This is usually done in a bulleted list form. If helpful, you can include keywords from the job description to inform which skill categories you include. Consider including four or five bullet points under each skill listing your experiences/achievements.
- List Any Professional Experience That You Do Have: While there might be gaps in your resume, it is important to include the past work that you have done. Consider listing key contributions and achievements under each position.
3. Hone In On Volunteer Work and Professional Development.
Have you lived overseas? What did that tour look like for you both personally and professionally? While there, did you volunteer on your local base or teach English to the local population?
When putting together your resume, consider leaning into the unique experiences you have gained as a military spouse.
Consider showcasing these experiences on your resume, showing that they allowed you to obtain valuable skills, such as leadership, communication, problem solving, project management, adaptability, etc.
Angie Hood’s LinkedIn bio absolutely nails this. In it, she shares,
“During my career break, I served in leadership roles on numerous Military Spouse Boards. I also volunteered as a grant writer for the Semper Fi Fund.
While stationed overseas in Abu Dhabi, I worked as a substitute PE teacher, Middle School Swim Coach and Technology assistant at the American Community School.
Upon returning to the States, I spent three years as Manager, Talent Acquisition and Partnerships for Freedom Learning Group. I am currently Manager, Events and Engagement at Hiring our Heroes where I help create pathways for Military Spouses to find employment.”
4. Be Honest, But Creative.
Your resume matters. After all, it’s the first piece of information that an employer has about you, so you want to be sure to make a good initial impression. That is why an accurate, and honest resume is essential.
While it is important to highlight your strongest attributes, skills, and experience, this is not the only component to a great resume. Your own story is important too.
Remember – a sense of humor is appreciated! Don’t be afraid to make a joke, assuming you circle it back to something meaningful.
We asked Sarah what advice she would provide to military spouse job seekers. She offered these words of wisdom,
“Bottom line – careers look different for everyone in this day in age (civilians, too). Many individuals from all walks of life take career breaks for various reasons, get laid off, or need to take time away from their professional careers to deal with other things. Don’t apologize. Confidently own your story!”
4 Tips For Creating an ATS-Friendly Resume
Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are becoming increasingly popular in today's job market. An ATS automates recruitment by automatically scanning resumes for essentials such as information, education history, job titles, etc.
Below, we are sharing some tips to help you avoid pitfalls that confuse the software.
1. Use an ATS Resume Template
An ATS-friendly resume template will include a pretty minimalistic design.
Luckily, there are many ATS-specific resume templates out there to ensure that you pass through the initial screening round.
These layouts ensure that the ATS scanner catches every detail, skill, and certification, without missing crucial keywords due to formatting.
2. Choose ATS-Friendly Fonts
Choose standard fonts, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman for your resume.
10-12 point size is recommended, as it is legible by both the software and individuals reviewing your resume.
3. Apply Keyword Optimization
Before submitting your resume, go through the job description for the role you are applying to and look for specific terms such as "project management" or "customer service."
Try to naturally incorporate these keywords into your professional summary and work experience sections.
4. Pick the Right File Format
Lastly, before you submit your resume, be sure to select the right file format. A .docx file is usually ATS compatible, but some job postings accept a .pdf.
Be sure to review the requirements for the job you are applying for.
Use These Expert Resume Tips to Secure Your Next Role
So whether you are actively job searching, or are thinking about making a career change, we hope that you’ll keep these expert tips in your back pocket.
From strategically addressing career breaks, to leveraging functional resume formats, to highlighting diverse volunteer work, these insights aim to empower you to confidently present your qualifications.
Remember, your resume is a powerful tool to tell your story and demonstrate your value. By embracing creativity, honesty, and a confident approach, you can stand out in the competitive job market.
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