The Five Golden Rules of Resume Writing for 2007

Recently there's been a lot of discussion on the CareerHub blog, and over at Jason Alba's Jibber Jobber blog on resumes in general, on using resume professionals, on writing your own resume, etc.

As someone who's been in the career profession for nearly 20 years and seen resume styles come and go, I feel compelled to jump in with my list of what job seekers absolutely need to do to outcompete on paper on 2007.

Bear in mind that this may not be what's needed in 2008, and it's not what was needed a few years ago! Resume styles change because the market changes, ways of receiving information change, ways or perceiving information change, and ways of sourcing change.

So here are Deb Dib’s five golden rules of resume writing for 2007, 5 bonus rules, and the one best thing you’ll ever do for your career…

1. FORGET almost everything anyone has ever told you about writing resumes. There are only five things you must have in your resume: Value Proposition - Differentiation - Proof - Brand - Passion! Hit these five areas if you truly want to get that resume read, get interviews, and get on the short list.

2. Know your VALUE - Compose a one-sentence value proposition that will not just capture the interest of a recruiter or decision maker, but absolutely compel them to action. Without this, you cannot write a great resume. In fact, you should be able to put this in the middle of a blank piece of paper and get your targeted decision-maker interested in you.

3. Write your PROFILE as though your entire resume is only four inches long. It has to be that strong! Use your value proposition as the key driver of your profile and resume message. Infuse the profile with a bit of your brand and then slam it home with some brief bullets of your best-of-the-best impact accomplishments. Write the profile FIRST, not last  - it focuses your resume and if you don’t know the focus, you’re not ready to write the resume ‘cause you sure won’t know your strategy!

4. Show them the MONEY! Aim for a big, dollarized impact. Doesn’t matter if you’re a CEO, a VP, an analyst, a manager, work in a cost center like HR or IT, or sweep the floor of the pizza joint. Everything you do makes money for the company or supports the way the company makes money. Figure out how you impact the bottom line and clearly show when and how you’ve done it.

5. Make almost all content ACCOMPLISHMENTS - Your contributions get interviews. Job descriptions are close to worthless. Who cares? Give the stats - budget, reports, territories, etc. - enough so the reader knows your scope, and be done with it. Then go back to rule #4. 

6. Bonus rule #1: EDIT - ruthlessly, strategically, courageously. Edit out anything that doesn’t support your candidacy. Your resume is your advertisement. Sell ‘em by being the best fit you can be. This is not a job history for Pete’s sake; it’s an ad! Go for the gold and dump the junk.

7. Bonus Rule #2: DIFFERENTIATE  - If everyone else does it, it’s not going to get you a job. Mark Hovind of JobBait and CareerHub says this all the time. (He also says the 'generalist' is not a good adjective for an executive - and he's right.) Get specific! Doesn’t every executive create growth and profit? Who cares? But the WAY you create growth and profit, and the circumstances in which you’ve done it may be very intriguing to your target.

8. Bonus Rule #3: IMPACT - think about how you impacted your company, division, department, whatever, by being there. If you could only write ONE accomplishment under each job, what would it be? What was your overall value and strategic impact - what got done because you did it that wasn’t done before and that is now part of the company’s best practices or corporate DNA? What will be there long after you’ve gone?

9. Bonus Rule #4: Keep it SHORT. No one has time to read a wordy resume. And no one has time to read junk. Make every word count. And plan on spending many, many, many hours to do it. Because if you know your value proposition, you know your targets, and you know your differentiation and strategy, this will be HARD to do. It’s a lot easier to write a lot about yourself that says little. It’s far harder to write a little and make it say a lot!

10. Bonus Rule #5: Read CareerHub and other career blogs every day for great information that will keep you ahead of the trends and above the competition!

11. The ONE BEST THING you can do for your career!  - Plan to spend hours determining your branded value proposition (your personal brand, executive brand, and the monetized value you bring to your target company - you can read more about this in CareerHub's downloadable Guide to Resume Writing' - see the article 'The One Thing Your Resume Must Say to Win".)

Once you know your branded value proposition and write a tightly strategized, over-the-top-with-value resume around it, you will be ready to go for the gold - to play in the big leagues where only the most prepared and talented careerists compete. You’ll make it easier for companies and recruiters to know that you are among their best candidates, and that you are their most desired commodity - top talent!

Posted by Deb Dib

Comments

[Paul Copcutt]

Deb as always you have followed your own rules - saying so much with the power of a few words. Great tips here that should be heeded by all.

[Dan Schawbel]

Deb,
I am compiling a magazine on Personal Branding, with the top articles and authors on the subject worldwide. I would like to include this article. Proceeds from the magazine will go directly to The American Cancer Society. I will give you full credit for the article and your efforts. If your interested please send a bio and picture, as it will go in the authors section.

Thanks,

Dan

[Alexius]

Guild to resume writing form not working.

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[resume writing]

Wow Impressive!
Your blog is very informative. However, it is pretty hard task but your
post and experience serve and teach me how to handle and make it more
simple and manageable.
Thanks for the tips… Best regards.

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