A compelling resume tells a cohesive story about where you've been and where you're going. When your work history is disjointed or only involves one or two employers, a poorly formatted resume may give the impression of an unfocused or stagnant career. Hiring managers aren't going to waste time deciphering your professional goals and strengths, so use strategic formatting to ensure your significant promotions and accomplishments stand out.
Present a Convincing Narrative
A career summary is one of the first things hiring managers see on your resume, so use this prime location to highlight your selling points. This brief profile lets you showcase significant accomplishments and strengths while providing context for your career path. A summary is especially valuable if you're changing careers or have a patchy work history. You can emphasize the skills you've developed from diverse experiences and how they relate to your present career objectives.
Use a title or headline above your career summary to convey your professional identity, says interview coach Pamela Skillings. The title immediately catches attention and lets you brand yourself to fit the role you're seeking. You can also use it to provide a comprehensive description of your expertise when you have a long or evolving career, such as "Sports Marketing Executive and Brand Strategist" or "7-Yr Human Resource Associate — SPHR-Certified."
Highlight Your Promotion-Worthy Achievements
If you have a long-term career with one or two employers, differentiate the individual titles with their own dates. Stick to a chronological format, which shows employers a clear timeline of your promotions. Focus on the advanced skills you brought to each role or how you went above and beyond to bring value to your employer. Consider the following example:
Editor and Publisher, 2013 – Present
Awesome Media Group, Houston, TX
>Increased advertising revenue by 15 percent by mentoring and restructuring sales staff
>Promoted to management position after two award-winning editorial series
Associate Editor, 2010 – 2013
Awesome Media Group, Houston, TX
>Managed the launch of online newspaper, serving 45,000 unique site visitors
>Promoted to supervisor of freelance contractors within four months, curating submissions for feature content
Editorial Assistant, 2008 – 2010
Awesome Media Group, Houston, TX
>Researched trending social topics, resulting in two popular segments, "Shop Talk" and "Readers' Revenge"
Avoid listing several sections under one date, as it may confuse applicant-tracking software and prevent you from making a good impression.
Minimize the Job-Hopping Effect
If you've held many jobs with multiple employers, consider grouping the titles in one line. Hiring managers are often turned off by applicants who seem to jump from job to job, so don't let your career progression come across as restlessness. Expert resume writer Don Goodman recommends using a forward slash or vertical bar to separate the titles but include spaces between the words and symbols to ensure the applicant-tracking software can detect the keywords correctly. Consider the following example:
Awesome Media Group, 2008 – Present
Editorial Assistant / Associate Editor/ Editor and Publisher
If you choose this format, you can still demonstrate your growth by writing a brief description of the company and your overall contribution. Use one date range, and finish with a bullet list of your most significant career highlights for the entire duration of employment.
Showcase Advanced Education and Training
Continuing education shows your commitment to self-improvement and identifies you as a versatile candidate who can handle many roles and challenges. You can list your highest degrees, licenses and certifications first or start with the most relevant education. If your education and certification lists are short, group them together in one section to save space on your resume. Unless you are a new graduate, place these credentials after your work experience to emphasize your professional capabilities, especially if your educational background doesn't meet the requirements.
A resume should guide hiring managers through your career highlights like a story, demonstrating your qualifications and growth potential in future positions. Instead of simply listing job duties, describe the defining challenges and achievements that helped you step up your performance and reach the next level in your career.
Photo Courtesy of PeopleMetricspvtltd at Flickr.com
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!