Fun fact: did you know that one of the first recorded resumes in history was written by Leonardo Da Vinci? Yes, THE Leonardo, artist and engineer, famed for the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper paintings.
In 1482, he sent a letter to the regent of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, as part of his attempts to find an engineering job.
Some analysts even speculate that he might have had someone else write it to look more professional to get him the job, and made sure the letter focused on his skills that were most aligned with the Duke’s requirements.
Of course, since Da Vinci applied for his gig, things have changed quite a bit!
Why do resumes still matter for modern job search strategies?
Although you might think resumes are a thing of the past, given we now have online application forms on websites, as well as digital application tracking systems (ATS).
However, the fact is resumes and cover letters remain essential for human resource departments to manage the sheer number of applicants, and at the end of most online processes, you’ll still come to a section that requires you to attach your resume anyway.
And ATS systems have their own drawbacks as well. Hiring companies may miss out on top talent because their resume is not optimised for ATS screening. As such, some companies may still screen all applicants again to confirm the ATS screening.
Here’s some interesting facts and stats shared by current business recruiters that you might want to take note of:
- The ideal length of a resume is 475-600 words
- Business recruiters prefer resumes that are 2 pages long, no more, no less
- In the key skills section of a resume, 15-20 words is the ideal length
- Most employers struggle to find the right employees because of a skills gap
- Soft skills matter as much as hard skills, according to a majority of employers
What’s the key thing about resumes? Thinking long term.
Here’s a final tidbit on why making that first impression with a good resume matters.
Remember Ludovico from earlier? He becomes the Duke of Milan later in life, and as a longtime patron of da Vinci’s by then, commissions The Last Supper. And their working relationship all began with that first resume from Leonardo…
We’ve put together our own portfolio of stories specially designed to help you get started or improve on yours below, so get cracking now!
Job-Winning Online Resume: Your Guide to Crafting One
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How This Local’s Long Resume Hurt His Job Prospects, And How a Career Coach Fixed It
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Improve Your Resume’s Executive Summary With These Tips & Samples
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Recognition Letters & Thank You Emails — The Dos & Don’ts
Recommendation Letters Help Your Job Search: Here’s a Sample
Can Testimonials Like Recommendation Letters Get You a Job?
What Goes into Your Out of Office Message?
Should I Be Using “To Whom it May Concern” in My Emails?
Have You Sent a Thank You Email After Your Interview?
Here Are the Best Examples of Words to Say Thank You & Show Appreciation
What to Write in Your Thank You Message
