Revamp Your Resume: Job Hunting and Career Goals for the New Year

The start of each new year is a perfect time to refresh personal and professional goals. Administrative Professionals with goals of advancing into dream roles should take advantage of the new year momentum to optimize their resumes, update LinkedIn profiles, and revamp job-hunting techniques.

Keep reading to learn how to make impactful changes that will help you conquer the current job market.

How Admins Can Optimize Their Resumes

Your resume is your first chance to wow future employers or recruiters, but with increasing competition and evolving trends, it’s a challenge to stand out. 

Consider these tips as you update your resume:

• Tailor Your Resume to a Specific Industry
  For example, if you’re in tech, emphasize your experience with tools like Slack and Jira. For tech and other industries such as architecture, engineering, and construction, show project management abilities, such as managing product development timelines and taking a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Use Action Oriented Language
  Start each bullet point with a strong action verb, focus on the outcome of what you did instead of simply listing your tasks, and add quantifiable data to support your achievements whenever possible. Tip: A hospitality admin could say, “Improved hotel customers’ check-in satisfaction by 42% by introducing a self-check-in process.” 

• Weave in Relevant Keywords
  Review the job application’s duties and qualifications, identify the main keywords, and then incorporate them into your resume. In a finance admin role, these may be “budget oversight,” “project management,” and “proficiency in Excel.” Tip: Avoid keyword stuffing by only adding keywords in your experience areas that make sense and are applicable

• Showcase Achievements and Professional Development
  Add completed professional development courses, webinars, and certifications. According to ASAP’s 2024 State of the Profession Report, APs with professional certifications earn approx. $4k more than those without. It jumps to a $6k salary gap for APs who have completed the PACE or CAP certifications.

• Use a Readable Format for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
  Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman, use clear section headings (Work Experience, Education, Certifications, etc.), and avoid complex designs. A simple design helps ATS quickly identify important information to keep you in the running for the position

Once your resume is polished, the next step is using it as a basis for updating your LinkedIn.

Top Three LinkedIn Profile Tips for Admin Professionals

LinkedIn is an important platform for admins to use when job hunting, networking, and building their professional brand. When recruiters or employers look at your LinkedIn, they must see consistency between your resume and profile, and it must go beyond matching job titles, employment dates, and responsibilities. 

Use these three tips to boost your job-hunting efforts with LinkedIn’s unique features:

1. Create a Catchy Headline
   Use your current job title to highlight your skills or what you specialize in, instead of simply listing it. For example: An Administrative Assistant in Healthcare could say, “Experienced Administrative Professional | Hospital Management | Healthcare Office | Scheduling & Logistics Expert”

2. Grab Attention in the About Section
   Give the information employers are looking for upfront by focusing on your value-adds, like experience level, industry keywords, and strengths. For example: As an experienced administrative professional with over three years in the finance and tech industries, I specialize in optimizing office operations, managing executive calendars, and improving team productivity. My expertise lies in streamlining administrative processes, improving communication between departments, and ensuring efficient day-to-day operations.

3. Validate Your Professional Abilities With Social Proof
   Two of the best features of LinkedIn are Endorsements and Recommendations. These sections are an asset to your job search when they emphasize your superb professional qualities. Start by giving your colleagues recommendations, which can prompt them to return the favor. But don’t be afraid to ask former managers and past colleagues to leave you a recommendation that highlights specific skills, and endorse you for important industry tools you used with them. 

With a refreshed resume and LinkedIn profile, it’s time to upgrade your job hunt strategy. 

Continued Professional Development Boosts Your Job Hunt

With increased competition for Administrative Professional roles, one of the best ways to update your job search process is through professional development. Our survey revealed that 51% of APs have professional certificates, and it’s continuing to trend upward. 

Staying current with industry skills and certifications is impressive to employers who recognize the value of continued education, as well as to employers who are starting to see it as a must-have.

Consider these professional development opportunities:

• Complete relevant certifications, such as the Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE) offered by ASAP or specialized certifications like Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS).

• Take advantage of online courses, such as ASAP certificate courses. ASAP offers training on Project Management for Admins, Microsoft AI and Automation for Admins, essential EA and Chief of Staff skills, and more.

• Stay up to date on evolving industry and admin trends. Read blogs like ASAP's Career Corner and Professional News, subscribe to newsletters like ASAP's popular free weekly newsletter for members, and attend webinars.

• Reiterate your development in cover letters and interviews to highlight your commitment to education

Remember to update your resume and LinkedIn profile with any new skills, certifications, or courses you’ve completed.

Unlock Even More Job Hunting Opportunities

Want more admin job hunting and resume optimization tips? Watch our webinar Unlocking Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide to Job Hunting to master effective search techniques, learn how to tailor your resume and cover letter, access hidden job markets through networking, and prepare for interviews with confidence and precision. 

Watch Now!