How to turn your Resu-meh into Resu-mwah - Three things you can do to tell a great story

There's a ton of advice on how to create the perfect CV—countless do's, don’ts, and techniques. But I’m not here to tell you how to trick AI systems, how to nail ATS keyword optimization or what's the best font to use. Instead, I want to share something deeper: how to use storytelling to make your CV more than just a shopping list of achievements and skills. A CV that tells a clear, engaging story that leaves a good impression—and within the first 15 seconds, no less.

Step 1: Start with Storytelling

There you are. Staring at the white page thinking about formatting, which template to use, and sinking into the dark void of "What the f*ck should I write here?"

At that moment ask yourself: What’s the story you want your CV to tell? A good CV goes beyond a list of qualifications and tasks; it should communicate a narrative about your experience, values, and professional journey. After 15 seconds of skimming through it, I should be able to answer questions like:

• What industry does this person work in?
• What kind of position are they suited for?
• What impact have they made?
• What level of seniority are they targeting?
• What can they do for me?

Think of it as positioning yourself clearly in the mind of the audience.

Step 2: Highlight Relevant Experiences and Impact

Displaying your work experiences in a way that emphasizes impact, not just tasks, is way more important than the fonts and the colors you choose. (And hey, I'm an ex-Designer, saying this is a big deal!) Employers and recruiters care less about what you do day-to-day and more about the problems you solve and the results you achieve because that's what you can do for them.

Be laser-focus on the specific job you’re applying for. What skills and experiences are most relevant? Instead of listing responsibilities, show the impact of your work. What problem did you solve, and what can you show for that? This moves the conversation from “what you did” to “what value you brought.”

You can use the Career Timeline Canvas from my Career Storytelling Kit to map out the roles and impact you have and bring a story to life.

Step 3: Make It Readable and Short

Imagine you’re opening a newspaper. You scan the bold headings first, right? Think of your CV the same way. People don’t have the time to read through long texts. Make sure your CV is clean, skimmable, and easy to digest for a person who is probably using their smoke break to go over some CVs. Use bullet points for key details, and keep it short.

Personally, with my clients, I summarize each job experience in a one- or two-line description, followed by bullet points that detail the impact they made. At the top of the CV, I help them create a brief slogan—something that quickly summarizes their value.

For example, instead of “Product Designer,” you might say, “Data-driven Product Designer with end-to-end process expertise in SaaS.” This instantly gives the reader a clear sense of where you fit, what your strengths are, and which industries are you suited for,

To recap, turning your résumé into a powerful storytelling tool involves three key steps:

1. Start with the story—define your positioning and what you want your CV to say about you.

2. Highlight relevant experiences, focusing on the impact you made, not just tasks completed.

3. Keep it readable, concise, and skimmable, with clear bullet points and a strong headline.

By applying these storytelling principles, you can transform your Resu-meh to Resu-mwha!

Need help turning your Resu-meh into Resu-mwah? Join the course.