subject: Quick Fixes To Spice Up Your Resume [print this page] This is a common scenario jobseekers face: they apply for a job they qualify for and never receive interviews. At a loss, they throw up their hands in frustration and give up on the job search. Most of the time, the resume requires quick fixes that will make a world of difference.
Let's take a look at common resume bullet points and the type of information that is missing.
- Vendor management.
This statement is boring because it does not tell the reader whether the candidate is successful. To take the bullet statement up a notch, the reader would need to know exactly what the candidate did and the results.
Revision: Vetted 10 manufacturing companies and selected one with best-in-class manufacturing production, including quality control of raw material and packaging.
- Develop marketing campaigns.
As you can see, this bullet does not reveal much. The reader needs to know the types of marketing programs the candidate engaged in and how those programs positively influenced the company's bottom line.
Revision: Turned a $ 3 million loss into annual revenues of $300,000 within two years through the implementation of multi-tiered marketing campaign comprised of print, TV, social media initiatives.
- Appraise employee performance.
To spice up this bullet, the candidate should flesh out the statement to include avenues s/he took to improve employee performance because simply assessing employees isn't enough to grab the reader's interest.
Revision: Raised employee productivity 75% after the delivery of a training program that focused on manufacturing process, quality assurance, and production control.
Closing Comment
Notice how including additional information brings a mundane job task into a compelling resume statement. Pull out your existing resume and read each accomplishment. Determine the type of information you can add to your existing achievements that will add sizzle to your experience. This exercise may take a while because you will have to revisit your entire career history. So be patient and try not to get frustrated. If you need assistance with the process, reach out to a friend, colleague, professional, and/or family member to walk you through.
Remember: Opportunities are lost and gained based on the information on your resume. Never send out a resume that you are not proud of because if you can't look at your resume and say, "Hey, I'd hire me in a heartbeat" then you are doing yourself a disservice. Always put your best foot forward. That is the only way to capture job opportunities.
