David wanted to update his resume forย a job that was closing this week. He did a great job and needed only a few last-minute recommendations to maximizeย his chances of being selected for the role he wanted.
If 2022 is the year you want to find a new job, these tips might be useful for you too.
๐ญ. ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฝ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐.
There should be only one title throughout your documents.
If you’re using the title of “General Manager” on your resume, don’t change it to “Senior Executive” for your cover letter.
๐ฎ. ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ.
Your opening sentence should give the reader an immediate sense of whether or not youโre a match for the role they need to fill. Write a sentence that demonstrates you can take the reins of the role and hit the ground running. Here are three examples from different professionals:
Sales Professional
โญFearless sales leader implements innovative strategies that fuel growth and exceed sales targets.
Chief Executive Officer
โญEntrepreneurial executive achieves and fortifies aggressive and sustainable growth.
Recruiter
โญSavvy recruiting manager shatters hiring goals for Fortune 100 companies.
๐ฏ. ๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐.
Each bullet point deserves the readers’ attention. Capture it starting with an action word then explain what you did and why.
ย
Corporate Account Manager
โญSecured countryโs first buyer-funded sale reaching 150% of performance target.
Senior Sales Executive
โญSalvaged floundering business line, rebuilt sales team then multiplied recurring revenue from $1M to $4.8M.
Director-General, Government Agency
โญChampioned and secured $1.5B government investment in โX” within one year.
๐ฐ. ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฐ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐.
Bad design isn’t going to crush your chance of being screened-in, but it’s certainly not going to help. Formatting, or lack thereof, can send a clear message about how well organized you are, how well you communicate and how much you are investing of yourself into this hiring process (and your first impression with this company).
๐ฑ. ๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐.
Chances are good you’ve got recent stories that are bigger, bolder and more relevant to the job you want, than some of your older accomplishments (not always the case, but often). Remove previous smaller examples to highlight and feature the more recent ones.
The jury is still out on David’s application as he’s submitting this week, but these tips will serve you well when itโs your turn to update your resume.
Related Categories: Job Search, Resumes & ATS
About The Author
Maureen McCann is an award-winning career coach, master resume writer, and master certified interview, employment, and career strategist whose clients include C-level executives, managers, and professionals in all industries including the Canadian banking, oil and gas, healthcare, IT, and government sectors.