subject: How To Make Your Resume Shine In Less Than 60 Seconds [print this page] So you are wanting to make your resume shine right? Of course you are, you want to stand out from the other two billion applicants. In this article you will learn how to make your resume do just that by replacing the generic job details section of your resume with targeted eye catching job related achievements.
You're probably asking how in the world can I do that. Well, first you need to put yourself in the shoes of the reader. Job duties are pretty much summed up in the job title, which you already have listed. For example to list the duties of a bank teller is pointless because we all know what a bank teller does. This is especially redundant when applying for a job within the industry of banking. A far better way to use this important space on a resume is to list your achievements in a role or job title. This will provide not only a layout of what your duties were, but give you the opportunity to showcase achievements and successes you had in that role. This is a much more powerful way to present yourself to an employer.
Here is a before and after example to help you:
(BEFORE)
Senior Office/Faculty Manager:
-Managed 200 employees and 15 Supervisors
-Selected office vendors and supervised purchasing
-Directed mail room staff and maintenance crew
-Conducted employee reviews annually
(AFTER)
Senior Office/Faculty Manager:
Redefined management coaching models reducing training costs by 18%. Developed reporting that outlined key areas of opportunity for company performance. Organized and implemented improvement strategies based on opportunity areas.
As you can see in this example the generic job duties have been stripped and replaced with targeted eye catching achievements and successes. The job title already adequately conveys the general duties of the job, allowing you to use the job duties section to show your strengths and shine!
This specialized technique is not just limited to the resume alone. You can also use these targeted achievement highlights as part as your cover letters and thank you notes. Keep in mind you are marketing yourself, and the best way to market a product is to tell how it will benefit the buyer.
This cover letter sample was written based on behavioral science techniques using targeted experiences.
Mr. Smith;
My seven years of resume writing experience should be of interest to you.
Working in various positions in the recruitment industry with Microsoft Incorporated, I have acquired high level skills relating to all aspects of resume writing samples. I also have extensive training that includes hiring, recruitment, and behavioral science hiring practices.
I seem to be a match with the core values of your job posting, and I am confident I can contribute to your team. I am available for interview at your earliest convenience and would appreciate the opportunity to show you how I can help meet the goals of your tech support firm.
Please review my attached resume.
Sincerely,
Christopher Samples
Something you many have noticed in this cover letter example is that I focused more on experience rather than achievements. This is a behavioral science technique used to draw the reader into your document. Using key words to make the reader want to keep reading.
You may not know it but I have used the same resume behavioral science techniques to write this article. You saw "How to make your resume shine in less than 60 seconds" and started reading. The fact that you are reading this now proves that these techniques work. Use them properly, and you can have confidence your resume will stand out from the other two billion applicants.
