Tips for Crafting a Winning Resume

It’s been a few years since you’ve worked on sprucing up your resume. Like everything else, there are trends in resumes, and you should know what they are.  When working with your TalentSource recruiter seeking an executive-level position, it is critical for you to present yourself (through your resume) in a current and modern way. Today’s resumes need to have a strong strategy and polished presentation to stand out. This means when crafting a winning resume, keep it short, focused, and results-oriented.  Your TS recruitment specialist will offer suggestions on your resume to be sure your career goals and experience are displayed in the best way.

BEFORE YOU START WRITING YOUR RESUME

Each resume you submit should be crafted around that specific job.  Working with your TalentSource recruiter to comb through the job description and matching keywords to your experience will get you one step closer to your dream job.  When crafting a winning resume, keep in mind the W.I.I.F.M. rule. The What’s in it For Me rule means every word in your resume should be carefully chosen based on who the reader is, NOT what the subject is.

HOW YOUR RESUME SHOULD LOOK IN 2023

• Avoid resume templates, and do not use an AI resume writer. A template might be a good place to start, however, it screams outdated, generic, unoriginal, and lacks creativity.
• The sections of your resume should follow a standard format. The top of the page will include your name, contact information, and target job.  That should be followed by a summary section, and then skills, experience, and education.
• The detail in the top 1/3 of your resume should include the title of the job you are applying for. Put this right after your name and contact information. Consider making this bold, and a few points bigger font.
• Keep your resume clean and simple. Use at least a 10-point font size (12 is better), and a customary font like Helvetica, Calibri, Arial, or Garamond. White space is OK and makes your resume easier to read. Don’t suffocate the page with too many words.
• Make your resume stand out by using color in your text. If it makes sense, a chart or graph that is easy to read might be a nice addition too.
• A one-page resume is best. Modern executive resumes are strategic marketing documents, they are concise and define value in relation to the reader’s needs.
• Details on your resume organized in bullet points are easiest to read. Use at least 3 bullet points in a section, and each bullet point should not have more than 3 sentences.
• Include resume references on a separate sheet of paper, as a separate document, using the same format as your resume.

WHAT YOUR RESUME SAYS

• A good resume summary acts like a headline; it grabs the attention of the reader and reads like an advertising headline. Here are some examples:
  • 20+ Years of Driving Impressive Organizational Development, Revitalization, and Growth Across Public and Private Companies.
  • Introduces innovative technology solutions and drives forward projects in global companies to enhance efficiencies, align business needs, and raise organizational performance.
• On your resume, job experience should appear in reverse chronological order. Address any gaps in employment by reframing skills and explaining what you were doing; relate experience gained during the gap to the job you are applying for. Some examples:
  • Dependent Caregiver, June 2016 – January 2017.  Provided personal care to an elderly family member. Administered medications and managed medical diagnostics and paperwork to gauge the recovery process.
  • MBA Studies – Stateside College, May 2015 – June 2016.  Dedicated time to finalizing advanced degree program. Lead a research team in Belize studying malaria’s effects on the community.
• Show career highlights and achievements on your resume, and ground with facts and figures. Instead of saying ‘sales leader’, say “consistently exceeds $1 Million in monthly sales for 24 consecutive months.”
• As much as possible, use an active tense throughout your resume. Stay away from using phrases like worked with, Responsible for, Experienced, in charge of, Tried, Does, Made, and Watched. Some examples:
  • “Responsible for” becomes “improved”:
    • ‘Responsible for communicating weekly with clients to ensure success’ becomes, ‘leads weekly client meetings to improve communication and ensure success’.
  • “Worked with” becomes “collaborated on a team that”:
    • ‘Worked with a group that created a strategic marketing plan’ becomes, ‘Collaborate on the executive team that creates and executes the strategic marketing plan’.
  • “In charge of” becomes “directed”:
    • ‘In charge of managing a team of five sales representatives’ becomes ‘Direct, mentor, and develop a team of five sales representatives’.

Once your resume is proofed and perfect, upload your resume on our website.  Keep in touch with your TalentSource recruiter and let us know of any contact information changes or current job status shifts.  Be sure to check out our current job openings. Don’t forget, working with a TalentSource recruiter is a free, confidential service to you. Our clients pay all fees in return for connecting them with outstanding candidates, like you! Give us a call today to learn more about our smart recruiting techniques (574) 968-8676, or send us a message at contact@talentsourcestaffing.com