Top Five Things That Your Résumé MUST Do

When I think about writing a resume or even editing my own resume, my breath becomes short and hives breakout. Creating one or two pages which clearly summarizes your work life in a language and format that someone wants to actually read, is an art.  An art that is beyond my skill set.  My path has crossed with Debra Wheatman,  a CPRW, CPCC is the founder and president of Careers Done Write.  Her ability to take my incredibly complicated and varied background and make sense of it was truly impressive …. bar none!  I asked her to plot out the top five areas candidates must have in their resume to outshine.

Examples of Achievements: Your résumé will not sell you or do you justice unless you have examples of your work – how you facilitated growth or savings for the company or a notable contribution. Your résumé is a marketing tool! Treat it as such. Promote your work to leave a lasting and memorable impression.

LinkedIN URL: There is no anonymity – especially in job search. Pursuing new opportunities is not for the faint of heart. You have to get out there and stay there. The first thing a potential employer or recruiter will do is look you up on LinkedIN. Make it easy. Include the LinkedIN URL on your résumé. Don’t stop there. Make sure your profile is complete and you have a compelling picture to match.

Employ Brevity: Your résumé does not need to be a mini tome. Capture the most salient and relevant information focused on the position for which you are applying. You don’t have to (nor should you) include everything you have ever done. Nobody, and I mean nobody is interested in reading all of that. I’m sure you’ve read the statistics – the average recruiter or hiring manager spends about seven to ten seconds with your résumé. Make sure you’re STICKY.

Use Keywords: Many employers use résumé systems like Brass Ring, Taleo or something similar. If you want to ensure you get past the technology gatekeeper, your résumé must contain keywords. Often, these keywords can be found in the job description. It might be a little time consuming but well worth it to review the job description and highlight the keywords. Generally, repetition tells you how important the skill is for the position. Once you’ve identified the keywords, create a core competency section on your résumé where you will include those keywords. This is not enough, though; you must also capture the keywords in the body of the résumé via examples of the work completed.

Content is King, but Aesthetic Value is Queen: Yes – it goes without saying that your résumé has to deliver an impact and provide clear, compelling examples of your work and achievements. However, your résumé also needs to LOOK the part. A sloppy résumé that doesn’t present well. This includes ensuring that the grammar, spelling and punctuation are PERFECT. Make sure that you check and double check your work to avoid missteps. Use an appealing font (Book Antiqua, Calibri, Garamond). Make sure your formatting is consistent and the content is not crammed on the page.

Debra Wheatman, is the founder and president of Careers Done Write a marketing and branding company that focuses on helping individuals achieve career growth and success. She has helped thousands of clients reach their goals.  She is reachable via email at Debra@careersdonewrite.com or at 732 673 2459.