HOW TO WRITE A RESUME

A Resume Begins or Ends a Job Search

Thirty seconds. Studies say that is all the time you have for your resume to make an impression on a prospective employer.

When job searching, the resume is often the only mechanism a prospective employer has to evaluate you unless you are working with an executive search firm.

Consequently, if the resume does not grab the reader’s interest, there’s little chance you will get an interview, much less land a new job.

A resume is a “snapshot” of you. A resume that sparks the interest of a prospective employer’s hiring manager must powerfully communicate the “who, what, where, when and why” about you in a detailed, reader-friendly format. It needs to make you rise above the crowd and your competitors vying for the same job.

Components of a High Impact Resume:

The different sections, or headings, of the resume provide a framework for organizing your information.

The standard resume has five main sections:

• Personal Information
• Chronology of Work History
• Education
• Accreditations and Licenses
• Professional Memberships

The “personal information” is placed at the top of the resume. Here, your name, address, mobile number, and e-mail address, should be provided. The directory, of course, informs the hiring manager where you can be contacted.

Some resume authorities say an “objective,” a short summary statement describing what you want to do and what you have to offer an employer, should follow the personal directory. Contrary to this belief, I advise excluding an objective for a number of reasons. The hiring manager of a prospective employer is mostly interested in the skills and achievements you bring to the table. Additionally, by stating an objective you may box yourself in; if your skills are suitable for a job, but your objective doesn’t match the employer’s, the hiring manager may take you out of contention. There are times when an objective may be acceptable to include. For example, if you are sending your resume directly to a specific person and have thorough knowledge of the job under consideration, you can craft the objective to be consistent with the opportunity. If you feel an objective is important to state, my recommendation is to include it in an introductory cover letter accompanying your resume.

Assuming an objective is omitted, “work history” is the next section of a resume. Work history is the core and most impactful part of the document. It must communicate and illustrate, in detail, your career success and enable the hiring manager to clearly link work responsibilities with measurable results. The data you share is translated into your value to the prospective employer.

Quantifying accomplishments in relation to your job responsibilities is where the rubber meets the road. Statistics, benchmarking, before-and-after comparisons, and other numeric reporting best illustrate your skills and qualifications.

Let’s take a look at a basic example of quantifying results — the wrong way and the right way. A Chief Financial Officer (CFO) states in his work history, “Reduced capital expenditures in 2019 by 10%.” This is a weak sentence because there is no point of reference. It leaves the reader dangling and begs the question, “What were the capital expenditures when the CFO began in the position?” A better statement is: “Reduced capital expenditures from $114.2 million in 2018 to $102.8 million in 2019, a 10% decline.” The before-and-after figures are impressive and illustrate that the CFO has gained control of problems and is on pace to restore expenses to an acceptable level. From this statement, the hiring manager might hypothesize that this candidate could bring the same success to their organization.

“Education” follows work history. Degrees, advanced degrees, and the institutions where they were earned should be listed. Next, cite honors, awards, achievements and scholarships. Special courses taken to upgrade or enhance job skills should also be included here.

“Accreditations and licenses” are appropriate to include next if licensure or certification is required or of significance in the respective industry. In the financial services and real estate industries, for example, we have a wide range of broker licenses, insurance agent certifications, underwriting certifications and financial investment accreditations, just to name a few. Some are essential for certain positions while others are voluntary and serve to enhance a professional’s capabilities, competence, and credentials.

The resume continues with “professional memberships,” denoting affiliations in any industry, commercial or professional associations. Officer positions, committee chairmanships and other involvement, as well as outstanding contributions, accomplishments and awards associated with memberships should be highlighted. Besides demonstrating a commitment to your industry and conveying your ongoing interest in expanding vocational experience, this information illustrates qualities such as leadership ability and teamwork.

Let the Search Begin!