The NEW Way to Write Your Resume with Doug Turner

How do we prepare resumes that work with today's new resume reviewing expectations? How can our resumes increase our chances of getting interviews? How do we create resumes that accurately represent who we are and why we're qualified for particular jobs?

Doug Turner is here on the Believe Show with the NEW way to write your resume in these times. Doug is an executive coach who specializes in outplacement, career counseling, and positive psychology. He came to coaching from a career in corporate training, human resources, and talent management. Doug is available for resume coaching.

To view the entire conversation, click here or watch the embedded video below.

Senia: What do you believe that others might not believe?

Doug: People think they don't need a resume until they need a resume. I believe people should keep their resumes current. We never know when opportunities will come knocking.

Senia: Are resumes still an important part of the hiring process? 

Doug: Resumes are still very important because they distill down who people are, what they bring to the table, and what applicable skills they already have.

I've worked with hundreds of people on their resumes. I was the HR officer for my company, and I have reviewed thousands of resumes. I find that the thinking behind resumes has changed.

We used to create a resume that looked graphically pleasing, and had everything we needed to say on it. We'd print it out and hand a hard copy to an interviewer or mail it in job search letters. In the really old days, we went store to store distributing resumes to find part-time jobs.

Today, resumes go into a company's database. Before a human ever sees it, algorithms review it. They may put it in a place we don't want it to be.

We need to create resumes that look pleasing to the eye without throwing off the algorithms. This is complicated. There is not a standard algorithm that all companies use. Some are very sophisticated. For example, we might have a keyword on a resume that is part of a requirement for the job. If that keyword appears on the second page of the resume and not on the first, some algorithms read it as dated experience. Others look for keywords anywhere on the resume. 

Based on my experience helping hundreds of people with their resumes and on some pretty strong feelings, here's a check list for reviewing a resume.

Resume Reviewing Checklist

Don’t include a version number in the title of your resume when sending it.

Font: 10 to 12 point font. 

Contact information. Your name, city, state and zip. (Omit your actual street address for privacy reasons). Cell phone number. Professional email address. 

Don’t use pronouns. Don't say, "I am a HR professional." Instead say, "HR professional skilled in the areas of...." Never use "I" anywhere in your resume.

The resume should never be more than two pages long - no matter how much experience you have. Don't go to a second page if you don't have enough information to fill up at least two thirds of the second page. It doesn't look good to have a second page with one or two lines at the top.

The critical real estate on any resume is the top half of the first page. Make your case there. There are two sections in that top half of the first page that are critical.

1. One is a summary paragraph. Respond to the request, “Tell me about yourself” to complete the first section. This should include relevant key information about your background, and why you would be a fit for this role. You can include one major accomplishment, if relevant. Again, no "I" statements; simply use verbs: "Accomplished, Created..." (Example of great verbs to use on your resume).
2. In the second section, include skills, competencies, and strengths that are keywords. This section is critical. In some cases, this is the only section resume reviewers read. If they don't see something there like a hook, they won't continue. The rest of it, the work experience part is really history. 

Customize the resume to include relevant keywords for each position applied for.

Education. Don’t include dates of acquired education. Only include type of degree. You don't need people working to figure out your age.

Don't describe more than 10 to 15 years of experience. 

Job Scan is a resume scanning website. Upload resume with the job posting you're interested in, and it will scan both to determine what percentage of a match the resume is to the job posting. Anything sixty five percent or higher is considered a pretty good match. 

Senia: What’s one thought you would like to leave with everyone?

Doug: The most challenging part of the resume is the top half of the first page. It's like writing an essay on a college exam. Push through the writer's block, and start writing something. We can always edit it and hone it down. Write down what you think is important for people to know about you. It may be good to go through a personal branding exercise to decide what you want people to remember when you're not in the room.

Senia: What’s one action you would like everyone to take?

Doug: Dust off your resume and look at it in light of the points we reviewed today. When you finish reviewing it, it should be a document you are proud of and that accurately reflects the best of who you are. You should be able to tailor it to show why you’re qualified for a particular position when you apply. 

Senia's Note: Doug Turner is available for resume coaching, and I highly recommend him.

Photo by Feverpitched on Dreamstime

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WHY IS THIS ARTICLE HERE? In April 2020, a group of us executive coaches asked, "How can we help in this stressful time?"

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