Good resume writing is an art. It’s a creative expression of who you are, what you do and how you do it. A well-written resume, like a piece of artwork, can make you stand out in today’s extremely competitive job market. In this article, I will share with you my practical approach to resume writing, which has helped many of my coaching clients catch the attention of prospective employers and get more job interviews in a short time. Here are 5 steps to writing a powerful resume through strategic thinking and logical direction:
1. Set your career direction
Your core career consists of what you love to do, what you do well, and what earns you enough money to live the life you want. Review your career path map and answer the following questions to determine your direction:
Think about a time when you felt really satisfied at work. What about that was so satisfying for you?
What kind of future do you envision?
What do you want to experience?
What would you like to be known for?
What do you want to accomplish?
2. Search for ideal jobs
Right selection and placement of keywords is the core of effective job search. Use multiple job search engines and try different sets of keywords (job title, career field, experience, skills, knowledge, interest) until you find 3-5 job postings that really appeal to you.
3. Analyze job descriptions
Read job descriptions to understand what employers are looking for and what’s required. List areas of expertise based on job responsibilities (i.e. research, financial analysis, project management, staff training, etc.), as well as qualification requirements, including knowledge and skills.
4. Evaluate yourself
If you want to catch the attention of employers, you have to give them what they want. Write down your relevant experiences and achievements throughout your career according to each point in the list you created in step 3.
5. Focus and quantify
Make your resume short and to the point. Don’t state every detail about every job you’ve had. Short bullets summarizing your notes in step 4 are sufficient. Use numbers, examples and other specific information to portray a clear picture of your capabilities and show how an employer can benefit from hiring you.
Now, I imagine you’d like to see an example that follows these 5 steps to writing a powerful resume. Please make a request here and I will send a resume sample straight to your inbox.