When trying to understand something that is very important, such as the importance of a clear resume, it is useful to compare it with something else that is familiar. I want to apply the English grammar concept of verb tenses to your resume, assuming we remember those composition classes we all took when we were in elementary school. You must recall the 3 verb tenses: Past, Present and Future. I want to use them to illustrate a way that may help you get a fresh perspective on your career narrative as it is portrayed in your resume. It can help you learn how you can package and position yourself more efficiently for the interviewer and potential employer.
1. Past: At least half, if not most, of the resume is taken up in what should be a concise, yet high-impact manner – all within 2 pages, 3 pages in some exceptions, but almost always more than 1 page. It is also crucial to lay out your career narrative for the reader – how you got to where you are now – university, professional training, all jobs except the most recent one. What you chose to use as quantifiables and achievements will influence the careful reader in the direction you want them to think and how they should interpret your Chronological milestones. Avoid the temptation to over-write or under-write when you decide how to package your past – it is hard to reach a happy balance. Don’t hesitate to get direct and honest feedback from a resume-writing professional.
2. Present: Your most recent position can be the most important simply because it is the first one a reader reads on the 1st page. It may be years or only months, but how you handle the present is crucial to setting the tone of your narrative. Make sure your general job description is compact and not exhaustive. Don’t bulletize everything, but save them for your quantifiable achievements. Always focus on how you have had a positive impact in terms of the metrics most used to measure job performance in your field. Sales, marketing, IT, HR, logistics, banking, operations and others all have various ways of expressing influence and impact, whether by statistics, new products, projects, software design – all may different. As with the Past, your Present needs to clearly showcase your contributions
3. Future: Moving from the platform you built from your Past and Present portions, we arrive at the actual beginning of your resume – the section that people see first, after your name and contact info. I like to use both an Objective Title and Branding Statement to hook the reader and pull them further into your narrative. But remember – people are not mind-readers! This means that the biggest section would be a solid Profile section that spells out what you offer in a total of 4-6 bullets, each bullet consisting of 1 sentence, 2-3 lines thick. Next would be an Areas of Expertise section that strings together, like pearls on a necklace, a series of 10-15 buzz words or concepts. So, all within the space of the 1st half of the 1st page of your resume, you can to bundle up those key words, skills and talents that you spent so much energy acquiring and polishing over the years.
I hope this feedback from a different angle is helpful. A good perspective helps keep up your morale and motivation that will drive your job search. Now is always a great time to get new traction and make progress in your transition. If you want a free review, send me your resume to steve@realclearresumes.com and some good times when we can connect by phone.
