The Definitive Guide to Having Your Resume Taken Seriously

Apr 6

Your resume has the power to generate interviews and interest, if you know how to use it.

When it comes to writing resumes that get results, we don’t mess around over here.

We create - and teach people how to create - resumes that generate interviews and build interest.

Too many people treat their resume like something they have to do - rather than treating it as a strategic tool to help you gain traction in your job search.

In fact, most of our clients get their offers by applying cold online using a highly tailored and focused resume.

The best part about our process isn’t just that it will help your job search be more effective - though it will!

It’s that the preparation and revision process will leave you feeling much more confident about your experience and clear about how to convey your most relevant qualifications throughout your job search - including networking and interviewing.

And you don’t have to take my word for it!

I want to help you change your mind about the power and importance of your resume by giving you a glimpse into our strategy for resumes that get results.

Make sure you have clear target roles

I won’t take on resume writing clients who can’t provide a clear target job.

In order to write a resume that’s going to get traction, we need direction.

And that comes from having clearly identified target roles.

You can have more than one kind of role. In fact, our clients often have at least 2-3 kinds of roles they are considering.

It may mean that you have slightly different templates that help position your relevant experience.

Most importantly, don’t try to perfect your resume before you’ve decided what your next step might look like.

You can update it, edit it, add outcomes - but before you launch your search, you’ll want to select target roles that really allow you to optimize your resume effectively.

Your resume is a strategic communication tool

A lot of people approach their resume like it’s about them.

But I like to think of a resume as being about a role - and your qualifications for it.

This difference is really important!

This means - especially for mid career and senior professionals - your resume doesn’t need to be a repository for everything you’ve ever done.

Instead, consider your resume a tool that you are using to share your impact and to speak to the needs of the hiring stakeholders.

To that end, customizing your resume can be a powerful way to align your experience with what others are looking for.

Unless you are applying for roles that all have the exact same qualifications (and you’re probably not!), it’s essential that you tailor your experience to the needs of the job posting.

Job qualifications are important.

Most job seekers pay attention to the responsibilities of a job posting.

And that is a good way to assess whether you’d actually like the job!

But we want to speak about our ability to execute the job, based on what the recruiter and hiring manager think is required.

Your potential employer is literally telling you what’s important to them.

Recruiters and hiring managers are busy people.

It’s up to us to create a resume that makes it easy for them see we’re a great match for the role.

Here’s how to highlight your qualifications on your resume

Take a look at the qualifications for the job to determine what you need to effectively convey in your resume.

I like to write 3–5 bullet points that share your experience, focusing on their qualifications, and we add these bullet points right at the top of my resume (underneath the header!).

We call this “Summary of Qualifications.”

Instead of asking the recruiter to read our resume line by line, we serve it right up at the top.

There are lots of good ways to customize your resume or write a Summary of Qualifications. The key is to make it easy to read and speak directly to the qualifications of each job posting. Making changes that reflect small nuances from role to role can be pretty powerful!

The other reason that I really like to teach people to customize their resumes using this strategy is that it helps you focus your efforts throughout the hiring process.

By understanding the qualifications, using your resume to speak to them, and preparing for your interviews by curating relevant stories - you’ll be preparing for your next steps even as you’re getting started and know exactly which examples and stories to share.

This strategy seems to help clients see how qualified they are for these roles and approach their job search with much more confidence.

It’s awesome to see how much more momentum people

(If you want to try it DIY style, we have digital products that can help. Check out one of our favs, Work Words!)

Edit your resume - and then edit again!

One trend I see among job seekers is that they think everything belongs on their resume.

Sometimes there is so much content that it’s impossible to read quickly - and that’s a problem.

By using your resume to demonstrate your most relevant experience and achievements, you’re not only curating a compelling narrative, but you’re creating valuable white space that will make your resume easier to read.

It’s okay to reduce less relevant content, remove jargon that won’t be clear to outsiders and to not treat your experience section as an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Healthy margins and white space make your resume easy to read. That is key!

Worried about resume mistakes?

I am giving you permission to ignore 95% of what you’ve heard about resumes.

Filled with keywords to “get past” the ATS system? No, thanks! We write resumes for human readers.

Keeping your resume to one page? Not even possible if you have more than 7-10 years of experience.

Cute template? Unless you’re a design professional, simple will work. Remember, your qualifications are what make for the most compelling content!

Above all else, your resume should be concise, easy to read, and highlight your qualifications for the job.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s chat about other potential mistakes and concerns.

We encourage our clients to have a “submit ritual,” a way to ensure that they carefully proofread their resume and cover letter. When I write resumes, I prefer to do my proofread and review the morning after writing it. I’m a morning person!

The truth is, typos alone are often not dealbreakers for candidates that appear to be otherwise well qualified.

But some mistakes feel worse than others.

One of the most common mistakes that I saw was applicants who addressed their resume and cover letter to the wrong institution.

While this mistake can make you look disorganized, I think that the reason this always seemed so significant is that it can make your application seem insincere, especially if you’ve included a cover letter about how excited you are to work at X Organization when you’ve actually submitted this application to Y Organization.

To avoid this mistake, take great care to organize your resume and related files very clearly. I do recommend that people use templates, but be sure to customize everything and save the documents in separate folders so that you can easily cross-check your work.

For all the resume advice I can offer, let me also say this: the best kind of resume is a submitted resume.

Imperfect resumes always generate way more possibilities than one that never gets submitted! Don’t forget that.

Say why you want the job, especially if it’s not obvious.

I realize that cover letters are increasingly controversial. My unpopular stance continues to be that most of my clients benefit from one.

If you’re making a big career transition or if you’re applying for jobs on the other side of the country, your cover letter can be a great place to share a little bit about that.

It doesn’t have to be all of the details, but a little context can be helpful.

“After x years in the corporate world, I am ready to use my a, b, c skills in the non-profit world.”

“Though I currently work and live in Boston, I am planning to relocate to Miami in the fall.”

Nothing too personal or dramatic. In the case of a transition, sharing an example or two that highlights your qualifications in more detail may be beneficial.

Remember, your job is to make your fit easy and obvious to them. When using a cover letter, the same rules apply - keep it concise, relevant, and easy to read or scan quickly!

In conclusion…

Your resume is not only capable of helping you get traction - but the time and energy you put in the the preparation process can transform the way you communicate and connect with recruiters, hiring managers, and other contacts you engage with throughout your search.

It doesn’t have to feel like throwing your resume into “an internet black hole” as one workshop participant once put it so succintly!

With the right approach, it can be a tremendous asset to your job search and career.

And don’t forget, if you need help, that we have services and products made to support you!

Jenn Walker Wall