How to Write an Impactful Resume
Writing an impactful resume is one of the most essential skills to master. There are the basics to consider, of course. A good resume will be 1 or 2 pages maximum, with a consistent and easily readable layout. For most of us, clarity and readability matter more than flash or pizazz (choose a simple font and size, and it should always be black ink). In terms of content, stick to the essentials. Your resume is the place to lay out your professional experience and accomplishments (with qualifying or quantifying details – that’s a must!). It’s the place where you also identify qualifications, education, languages spoken and where you can work legally (passports/visas).
Once the basics are ironed out, we get to the details that will set your resume apart. The main goal of your resume is to demonstrate your value and what you can contribute – you want whoever is reading it to easily understand what you do and what you can do for them. The best way to accomplish this is not only by highlighting what you do, but also emphasizing how well you do it through examples and metrics. Metrics can help show the skills you bring to the table, and the results that you have driven.
When you begin thinking about the skills and strengths you want to highlight, start with a list. What have you done that’s impactful? Where have you made an important contribution? What’s a time that you have gone above and beyond the call of duty and there was a financial impact or a reduction in cycle time? Did you solve a problem? Save the company money? Find a faster/better way to do something? What makes you really good at what you do? Once you have outlined your core skills, use metrics to support them by adding context around your accomplishments. By including metrics, you can quantify your positive impacts. Metrics are the proof that backs up your strengths and skills! Using data minimizes ambiguity and maximizes the impact of your statements. Of course, it is important to leave off any sensitive company information. For example, discuss the percentage by which you grew a business rather than the figures themselves.
Strive to create a resume that shows concretely just how strong of a candidate you are. Clarity, data, and impactful word choice will set you apart from the crowd and help you shine. Rather than getting bogged down trying to be clever, focus on finding ways to quantify the value you offer. And of course, don’t forget to spell check!
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