The Art of Creating a Great Resume
What makes for a great resume? There are so many opinions on this topic, it makes your head spin. How can you build a resume that makes you stand out in the crowd? What are the most common resume mistakes and how can you avoid them? How do you use the resume as a starting point for building your personal brand?
The current economic condition has made it very challenging for people pursuing new job opportunities. On average there are more than 50 applicants for every open job requisition – Are you better than the other 49? Standing out from the crowd is critical to facilitating success.
The value of results:
Results focused and data driven information provide a potential hiring manager with a better understanding of what you can do. Quantify your results where possible. At the top of your resume, start with a paragraph to provide the reader with some solid information. Use short phrases to quickly present the reader with your core competencies. This will be especially useful when the reader scans the document – or if a system like Taleo is used for key word search:
The summary and core competency section above sets a proper and compelling tone for the resume. It allows the reader to quickly learn something about you, including overarching abilities and sometimes personal attributes. This presentation facilitates easy scanning.
Moving ahead to the body of your resume, numbers make management notice your background and it demonstrates your ability to drive results. Use real numbers … but make sure you can defend them.
Start your professional experience by drafting a short paragraph to describe responsibilities.
Use bullets to highlight key achievements. This type of presentation will create a clear and important distinction between what you do on a day-to-day basis vs. what you have delivered for your clients or your company. Remember, the resume is a marketing tool – it should be written to engage the reader and provide information about the things that you are interested in doing again.
Tip: If you are not interested in doing a task again, do not list it on the resume.
The following is an example of what your professional experience section might look like:
COMPANY NAME, Chicago, IL, 2005-Present
A leading retailer and distributor of natural stone imported from India, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Turkey, among others and specializing in exceptional quality and selection of stone products to meet the needs of builders, contractors, fabricators, retailers, architects, interior designers, and tile distributors. Ranked 19th among the fastest 50 growing companies in Chicago by Crain’s in 2007.
Chief Operating Officer
Spearheaded the company’s expansion from 4 locations doing $16 million in business to 16 locations throughout the Midwest and Southwest doing $50 million in business. Evangelized opportunities to improve profitability through organic growth, and worked with the Board to derive funds from shareholders to support efforts. Provided leadership to 16 vice presidents, general managers, showroom managers, and 6 corporate direct reports.
- Implemented buying processes, which included categorizing products to facilitate improved tracking of purchases and inventory. Reduced unsold inventory and identified best selling items to improve cash flow, margin, and identify replenishment points.
- Identified new sources and suppliers to optimize the supply chain. Worked with freight companies and negotiated competitive pricing to manage import and carrying costs. Identified ships and vendors that would allow increased tonnage per container.
What else should be on your resume?
You will want to include education, advanced degrees, certifications, training, awards, affiliations (professional, community/volunteer) and compelling hobbies/interests. Compelling is the key word here. Generally hobbies and interests can be left off the resume. The caveat is that you should include them if they are really unique. For example, if you have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro or something equally noteworthy. Why something so extreme? Well, just being a voracious reader doesn’t make you all that unique. Not reading, now that would be unique. Seriously though, the general run of the mill hobbies doesn’t provide the reader with anything all that exciting. Competing in a triathlon? Now that’s an icebreaker! Now for the sample of your education and other data for the resume:
Education & Academic Achievement
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHARTON BUSINESS SCHOOL, Philadelphia, PA (2001)
Master of Business Administration
- Coursework Emphasis: Quantitative Analytics, Corporate Finance, Portfolio Theory, and Financial Risk.
BROWN UNIVERSITY, Providence, RI (1999)
Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics and Economics (Double Degree)
- Thesis: “Name of Thesis Here”
- Leadership: Board of Trustees Investment Committee (Member), Student Investment Fund.
Professional Certifications
Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) – Professional Risk Manager (PRM) Designation;
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Certification (Level I).
Leadership & Additional Information
Founder and former CEO of the Main Managed Fund.
Language Skills: Russian (Fluent). Computer Skills (Expert): Microsoft Excel, @Risk, Crystal Ball, Mathematica, MatLab, and Bloomberg. Knowledge of Visual Basic and C++ programming languages.
The devil is in the details. Your presentation counts, including layout, margins, font size, and style. Make sure you’re the resume is balanced with enough white space to facilitate easy reading. If you go to a second page, make sure that at least 50% of that page has content. Going over by one or two lines looks sloppy. Make sure personal details, including name, phone and email address is included at the top of the second page. When the resume is printed, the reader will be able to identify your document if the two pages become separated.
Make sure all of your career documents, including a cover letter, bio, and any other materials match to maintain a positive and pleasing brand.
The summary and core competency section above sets a proper and compelling tone for the resume. It allows the reader to quickly learn something about you, including overarching abilities and sometimes personal attributes. This presentation facilitates easy scanning.
Moving ahead to the body of your resume, numbers make management notice your background and it demonstrates your ability to drive results. Use real numbers … but make sure you can defend them.
Start your professional experience by drafting a short paragraph to describe responsibilities.
Use bullets to highlight key achievements. This type of presentation will create a clear and important distinction between what you do on a day-to-day basis vs. what you have delivered for your clients or your company. Remember, the resume is a marketing tool – it should be written to engage the reader and provide information about the things that you are interested in doing again.
Tip: If you are not interested in doing a task again, do not list it on the resume.
The following is an example of what your professional experience section might look like:
COMPANY NAME, Chicago, IL 2005-Present
A leading retailer and distributor of natural stone imported from India, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Turkey, among others and specializing in exceptional quality and selection of stone products to meet the needs of builders, contractors, fabricators, retailers, architects, interior designers, and tile distributors. Ranked 19th among the fastest 50 growing companies in Chicago by Crain’s in 2007.
Chief Operating Officer
Spearheaded the company’s expansion from 4 locations doing $16 million in business to 16 locations throughout the Midwest and Southwest doing $50 million in business. Evangelized opportunities to improve profitability through organic growth, and worked with the Board to derive funds from shareholders to support efforts. Provided leadership to 16 vice presidents, general managers, showroom managers, and 6 corporate direct reports.
- Implemented buying processes, which included categorizing products to facilitate improved tracking of purchases and inventory. Reduced unsold inventory and identified best selling items to improve cash flow, margin, and identify replenishment points.
- Identified new sources and suppliers to optimize the supply chain. Worked with freight companies and negotiated competitive pricing to manage import and carrying costs. Identified ships and vendors that would allow increased tonnage per container.
What else should be on your resume?
You will want to include education, advanced degrees, certifications, training, awards, affiliations (professional, community/volunteer) and compelling hobbies/interests. Compelling is the key word here. Generally hobbies and interests can be left off the resume. The caveat is that you should include them if they are really unique. For example, if you have summited Mt. Kilimanjaro or something equally noteworthy. Why something so extreme? Well, just being a voracious reader doesn’t make you all that unique. Not reading, now that would be unique. Seriously though, the general run of the mill hobbies doesn’t provide the reader with anything all that exciting. Competing in a triathlon? Now that’s an icebreaker! Now for the sample of your education and other data for the resume:
Education & Academic Achievement
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHARTON BUSINESS SCHOOL, Philadelphia, PA (2001)
Master of Business Administration
- Coursework Emphasis: Quantitative Analytics, Corporate Finance, Portfolio Theory, and Financial Risk.
BROWN UNIVERSITY, Providence, RI (1999)
Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics and Economics (Double Degree)
§ Thesis: “Name of Thesis Here”
§ Leadership: Board of Trustees Investment Committee (Member), Student Investment Fund.
Professional Certifications
Professional Risk Managers’ International Association (PRMIA) – Professional Risk Manager (PRM) Designation;
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Certification (Level I).
Leadership & Additional Information
Founder and former CEO of the Main Managed Fund.
Language Skills: Russian (Fluent). Computer Skills (Expert): Microsoft Excel, @Risk, Crystal Ball, Mathematica, MatLab, and Bloomberg. Knowledge of Visual Basic and C++ programming languages.
The devil is in the details. Your presentation counts, including layout, margins, font size, and style. Make sure you’re the resume is balanced with enough white space to facilitate easy reading. If you go to a second page, make sure that at least 50% of that page has content. Going over by one or two lines looks sloppy. Make sure personal details, including name, phone and email address is included at the top of the second page. When the resume is printed, the reader will be able to identify your document if the two pages become separated.
Make sure all of your career documents, including a cover letter, bio, and any other materials match to maintain a positive and pleasing brand.
Professional- Me – The Touchstone of the New Digital Persona
Creating a personal branding strategy to accelerate your career growth
New Degree, New Resume
Your resume may have been full of content about your old career, but if you’ve completed a new degree and want to change fields there are a few things to keep in mind when crafting your new document.
Still No Job… Is There Really A Way?
While the weeks crawled away into months there’s still no job. As the paradigm shifted a while ago from “I need to find a job fast” to “ I wish that I could find a way to make a quick buck”, the light at the end of the tunnel looks yet dimmer. Tired of the anxiety and the pressure and the depression of being in this mess… man it’s tough to keep your head up isn’t it?
What’s in a Name?
Before I get to my point, I want to be upfront and admit that yes, Americans are xenophobic. OK, I said it. Now that the air is clear, I can get to my point. If you come from another region of the world and want to work in the US – I have a little piece of advice; give yourself a nickname – an English sounding nickname.
Words That Should Not Appear on Your Resume
Resume content always seems to spark the ‘great debate’. What should be written vs. what should not be written – this is the burning question. What do employers want to see? How can you wow them with the wonders of you conveyed on an 8 ½ X 11 piece of paper – even if it is printed on paper so soft and thick you could make a shirt out if it?
The Importance of Learning Another Language for Career Growth
As a writer and career coach I have made more than a few observations over the years. Having dealt extensively with people in both the US and international locations, I have noticed some very important cultural, professional, and personal differences. One thing that I think is particularly noteworthy to reference is the globalization of the workforce. In reviewing the way companies are operating, global expansion is happening more rapidly than ever before; and with the prevalence of not only international offices, but the significant increases in diverse business operations throughout the world, it will be important – no, mandatory that people speak more than one language to maintain a competitive advantage during career search. Yes, it is true that business is often conducted in English. The global business landscape is changing, though. In the not to distant future, fluency in one or more languages will enhance your professional prospects.
This blog's author, Debra Wheatman of Careers Done Write, provides executive career services including resume and cover letter preparation, job search / interviewing strategies and professional branding including how to effectively use LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media in your career.
Visit CareersDoneWrite.com to learn more about how we can put your career in gear with interview catching resumes and professionally written career documents.