What Should a Resume Look Like in 2023?

It’s no secret that the American workforce has changed drastically over the last few years. Due to unforeseen economic challenges, US unemployment skyrocketed, workers saw major shifts in job availability, and employers experienced higher levels of turnover and dwindling interest in open positions.

Because of this, the process of applying for jobs in 2023 looks very different than it did only just a few years ago. In some sectors, there are more jobs available than a single person could ever hope to sift through, while in others, the top-tier positions are limited and highly coveted.

Another aspect of the process that’s shifting is the art of writing a great resume. Gen-Z is now entering the workforce and they are bringing with them new and creative application methods. Combine that with rising competition in some job sectors, and it’s clear that sending out the same old resume you’ve had saved on your desktop for years isn’t going to cut it.

What’s Changing About Resumes

Your resume is the first thing a potential employer is going to see, and therefore it is often your only chance at getting noticed. That said, nearly 25% of hiring managers report spending less than 30 seconds looking at each resume that comes their way.

In other words, resumes are vitally important, but employers are only going to merely glance at them. And that’s assuming your resume even makes it onto the manager’s desk. It’s estimated that 75% of resumes these days are rejected immediately by applicant tracking systems.

Appealing to an ATS

Because ATS systems tend to use keyword searches to sift through applications, job seekers should be conducting their own searches beforehand and then making appropriate changes to their resumes for each and every position they apply to. Use the job title as your guiding light—it should be the first thing you type into a keyword search.

Read through the original job posting and make sure that the skills you are listing on your resume are worded exactly as they are in the post. Make sure to include the job title somewhere in your resume as well, preferably in your headline (directly underneath your name and contact information).

Appealing to a Hiring Manager

While there are many ways to stand out with your resume, having to get through an applicant tracking system will limit creativity, meaning you need to find other ways to impress the hiring manager once your application lands on their desk.

One of the best ways to do this is to justify your claims and use results-focused language. Instead of simply listing your skills and experience, give concrete examples of when you’ve effectively used those skills in the past.

Here’s an example:

Vague Bullet Point: 

• Demonstrated excellent problem-solving skills when issues arose, leading my team to successful outcomes and increasing revenue.

Stronger Bullet Point: 

• Navigated my 15-person team through significant production hurdles by discussing issues directly with the production manager, resulting in increased revenue and cost savings of nearly $1 million.

Additionally, customization is not just a tool to get through the first round of ATS processing, it’s also a good way to get a hiring manager’s attention. Research shows that “61 % of hiring managers consider a customized resume the number one tactic for applicants to boost their chance of getting a job.”

What’s Staying the Same with Resumes

Despite what some TikTok trends or younger job seekers may have you believe, not everything about resumes is changing. For instance, it’s still important to keep your resume short and to the point. One page is the ideal length, but many employers won’t fault you for spilling onto the second page, especially if you have more than 10 years of experience.

Gaps in employment are also still considered to be major red flags, though any gaps due to the pandemic are going to be fairly easy to explain and most employers should be understanding.

If you have gaps on your resume that aren’t due to the pandemic, make sure to explain what you were doing during that time, and take note of any personal/professional projects you completed.

If the gap in employment was planned, then simply label that section of your resume as an “Expected Career Break” and explain in 1-2 sentences why you chose to step away from work (i.e. to raise young children, to go back to school, etc.)

Sample Format

For a more in-depth look at how you should structure your resume and free templates to get you started, check out these samples from Indeed and Zety!