What Does Your Resume Say About the Brand Called YOU?
Whether you know it or not, you have a brand. If you are on a job search, that brand is amplified by your most powerful marketing tool — your resume. For better or worse, your resume will either jump to the top of the interviewer’s stack, or be passed over with hardly a glance in a matter of seconds. Does your resume tell your most compelling story? Does it create a first impression that makes it nearly impossible for an employer to resist getting in touch with you? How well do you stand out from your competition?
5 Tips For Creating A Resume That Promotes Your Brand Value
1. Lead with a Powerful Profile Statement. Start off with a compelling statement about who you are, what you do best, and how you do it. What are your superpowers? What are you known for? What do you bring to the table that nobody else offers? This is your brand introduction, so make it memorable.
2. Connect the Dots. Don’t leave it to the employer to scour your resume to assess your skills or figure out how your past experiences qualify you for this new job. Not only does it take time, but chances are something important will be missed.Take out the guesswork by devoting a section of your resume to your areas of expertise, and include a bulleted list of your relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences. The rest of your resume is your opportunity to back it all up.
3. Show, Don’t Tell. A recap of the responsibilities listed in your job description does nothing to demonstrate your unique skills, talents and accomplishments. Your resume should offer your prospective employer a taste of what it would be like working with you. Convey what you are most proud of, what you did and how you did it. What problems did you solve? What is better now, because of you? The vivid details and impact will bring your accomplishments to life.
4. Quantify, Quantify, Quantify. How many people did you manage? How many customers did you reach? How many programs did you run? How much money did you save? Numbers help others quickly appreciate the scope of your work by providing important context and specificity that create a clear and memorable picture of your success.
5. Looks Matter. Your resume will be overlooked if it’s confusing or hard to read. Bolster your visibility and your brand by creating a document that is visually engaging and accessible. Use plenty of white space, simple fonts and bullet points so that an employer can easily scan for highlights. Avoid overuse of bolding and italics, which may be distracting. Create a consistent look and feel across all of your documents, including cover letters, reference lists, and thank you notes to portray a polished and professional image.
Need Help? Ask About MileMARK Resume Writing.
Don’t let your current resume stand between you and your ideal job. A polished resume that promotes your brand value and inspires confidence and curiosity is an investment that keeps on giving.