For years, I have reviewed resumes, perhaps numbering in the thousands, and taken a three-step approach in answering the question, 'what message is this prospective candidate sending through their resume?'
In other words, every resume has a story to tell and one must ask if that story is being told in the most clear, concise, convincing, and illuminating way. The first step in my approach is to look at the resume somewhat quickly and ask, 'does this make sense to me?' After taking only a cursory look, I wonder if the candidate's resume is clear. Do I understand their work progression and career choices? Does the resume make sense chronologically? On the most basic level, I want to know that I get it -- I know where this person has been and where they are looking to go.
The second step I take is to really spend time reading the resume. Is it clearly formatted, are there typos, does is make sense grammatically, is it concise, could the wording be re-worked? This is oftentimes where I can spend the most time and it's time well-spent. Since your resume is oftentimes the way you 'introduce' yourself to a prospective employer, you want to leave an impression that would be similar if the employer were meeting you in person. When being interviewed, you want the prospective employer to know that you are well-prepared for the meeting, have reviewed any materials about the position, organized good questions and are able to thoughtfully and articulately reflect on your qualifications for the job. And in short, your resume should be those same things - well prepared, well thought-out, well organized, and thorough.
The third step I take is the most important. It is the step where I ask, 'What is the message this person is trying to send me?' After Steps 1&2, I want to feel as though I know something about this person that goes beyond their job history. And what is that something I want to know? I want to know the real message you're trying to send me and anyone else who reads your resume. That may sound like a bit of a 'Catch-22,' but let me explain.
Anyone who reads your resume will, hopefully, be able to feed back to you what you've done and where. But what else do they know? Do they know that you're an achiever? Do they know that you're self-motivated? Do they know that you're a team-player? Do they know that you care about your community through volunteer work? Do they know you're a respected professional in your industry? Yes, it's important that you've created a resume that makes sense (Step 1). Yes, it's important to have a clean, well-formatted, and clear resume (Step 2). But, what I believe to be the most important element in writing a resume is to know that your resume is a messenger and you're the one creating that powerful and lasting message.
And what is the best way to ensure that your message is coming through loud and clear? Use clear and concise examples! If your efforts led to a certain amount of growth in your company, provide a percentage. If you implemented a new performance system that began documenting activity changes, provide the outcome. If your company or organization set a certain standard for excellence and you exceeded, say so! If you took limited resources and built a robust business area or program, write about it.
And where is it best to include this information? Certainly, it makes sense that any achievement that is job-related be listed under the specific position. However, if you've won an award for community service or professional accomplishments, make certain that you've listed it under 'Awards' or 'Activities.' If you serve on a local board of a non-profit, participate in local fundraisers, serve supper at a soup kitchen, list it under 'Volunteer Activities.' Increasingly, prospective employers are not only interested in getting great new employees, they are equally interested in getting good citizens. By listing these activities and achievements, you are telling a more compelling and complete story about who you are - motivated, self-starting, creative, interested, involved, and capable.
Remember, your resume isn't just a place to document your job history. Instead,
it should be the repository for recording achievement and ensuring that your
message is being sent and your story is being told.
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