Creating a resume that effectively communicates your experience, skills, and abilities isn’t easy. This is especially true in agriculture, where prospective employers are looking for very specific skills and experiences and need this information at a glance. How long does it take to write a resume that showcases your skills and strengths?
The time it takes to create a strong resume depends on many factors.
If you're looking for your first job in agriculture, it may take a couple of hours to get your resume started. As an entry-level hopeful, you need to investigate the jobs you're hoping to land and understand the skills the ag employer is looking for. Then you need to consider your own experiences and how to put them on your resume in a way that sounds professional and showcases your strengths.
If you’re an experienced ag professional who is mid-career and looking for a new position, you may spend more time on your resume, anywhere from four to six hours. Take the time to consider each position you’ve held and expand on any leadership roles, accomplishments, or job-specific expertise you may have acquired over the years.
How long does it take to write a resume if you have an extensive job history? It will take you longer to chisel out a resume if you have many positions to list. This is especially true if you have experience in several different sectors, like agribusiness, crop management, and livestock farming. You may need to spend six to eight hours determining which details of your career to add or omit from your resume.
If the ag job you're looking at is very specialized, it’s important to take the time to tailor your resume to the position. For example, positions like agronomist or precision agriculture specialist require specialized and in-depth knowledge. To stand out, you may have to spend anywhere from five to seven hours on your resume.
To appropriately tailor your resume to the position, you should spend at least an hour researching the agriculture company you’re submitting your resume to. Learn about their mission, industry trends, values, and the type of candidates they are looking for.
If this is your first resume, you’ll need an hour or two to format and design your document. There are plenty of pre-designed formats online that can make this process a little faster.
How long does it take to write a resume overall? In addition to all these factors, once you think you're finished, always take the time to proofread and edit. Spend the necessary time to do this well. In any industry, a typo or mistake in your resume could cost you the job.
You should always present yourself in the most professional way possible, especially in your resume, so invest all the time you need for this step. It may also be helpful to have one or two colleagues or trusted family members look over your resume.
Writing a professional resume that accurately represents your skillset and helps you get hired takes a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, there are several ways you can make this process faster and more efficient.
Start by gathering all your job-related information in one place. All of the information necessary about your education, work experience, skills, and certifications should be ready to go before you start writing. Don’t forget the dates you worked at each job or the years you studied.
There are thousands of resume templates online that can help save time when formatting. How long does it take to make a resume with a premade template? It could save you a couple of hours. Word processing programs, online photo editing and graphic design programs all have good template options for people looking for agriculture jobs. You don’t have to strictly stick to these formats, but you can use them as a good starting point.
Not every small detail has to be on your resume. You will save time if you can effectively summarize some of the information about each position you’ve held or only include the most important details. Prioritize the most relevant information for the job you're aiming for so that potential employers can quickly understand why you're a good fit.
You should also follow a few general rules when making your resume for an agriculture job.
Whenever you can use numbers to explain your achievements, do so. Metrics are an excellent way to help potential employers understand what you're capable of. For instance, increasing crop yields is a huge accomplishment, but your possible future employer will appreciate it even more knowing that you increased them by 20%. That immediately gives them an idea of what you can do for them.
This step may not make the resume writing faster for you, but it will make reading it faster and easier for the company considering you.
When you're describing your responsibilities or accomplishments in former ag positions or while you studied, use dynamic verbs, such as “optimized” or “managed.” They can help potential employers see you in a proactive light.
Once your resume is finished, ask someone already working in agriculture to take a look at your resume. They can give you insight and catch any errors you may have missed.
While how long it takes to write your resume varies greatly, the most important thing is to take the time to ensure your document is tailored to the position and looks professional. For thousands of job listings in the agriculture industry and more tips to ease your job hunt, visit AgHires.com.