There’s a difference between a resume that only showcases your personality and characteristics and one that demonstrates specific achievements and accomplishments. Your resume is the most important document to advance your career. And given employers will only scan it for about 7-10 seconds, you need to make sure you scream “Here’s what I can do for you!”
Don’t Rely On Terms That Describe Character (Soft Skills)
Replace the use of terms that describe character with specific content to demonstrate how you accomplished or achieved something
- Example: Increase sales in your department by XX percent within a year
- Quantify results to prove you’re the best fit
Only Detail Specialized Technical Skills
Only list specialized technical skills that are relevant for the job
- Tell an employer how well you know the specific program by detailing what you may have created or did with it
- Impress recruiters with your disruptive cover letter
- Fill your resume with performance statements
Use Numbers And Symbols
Percentages are always best as they show the impact of your efforts.
- Avoid words that aren’t specific, such as “many,” “few,” and “several.”
- Resumes have their own special rules, so use them whenever you can.
Don’t List Responsibilities Of Your Previous Jobs, Demonstrate Outcomes
An employer only cares about how good you did your job and how what you did can apply to the job they are offering.
- Rather than list responsibilities, demonstrate your performance
- Statements like “consistently recognized for delivering quality results at less cost than budgeted” showcases your effectiveness.
