Before You Write Your Resume

For a long while, I've had the opportunity to write resumes with, and for, many clients. And I love it! It's easy; it's fun; and I get to meet the coolest, nicest, most interesting clients ever. And I suspect other resume writers feel the same. From entry-level to the most senior-level of job seekers, each and every person has a unique and special story to tell.

The real trick about resume writing is to capture the essence of you, and your story, in one or two pages of text that's sure to wow the readers while giving them ammunition for action. Take a look at the five questions below: can you answer all of them? Some? One? None? Whether you're writing your resume on your own, or soliciting guidance (paid or otherwise), try to answer these five questions before you proceed with the writing component.

1. What is my purpose for doing a professional resume?
2. What are my top job targets or goals?
3. What is the brand message I wish to deliver to my reader?
4. What conclusion(s) do I intentionally want my readers to draw after reading my resume?
5. Have I devised a good strategy that makes it easy for the reader (aka stranger) to understand me, my purpose, and my most relevant, essential and supportive credentials that best qualify me for the job opportunity?

And why bother, might you ask, wasting time on the above questions when "all I want is a great resume." Here are three good reasons:

1. Your resume serves as a door-opener to potential opportunities. (As you well know, sometimes people really do get hired without a resume; rare, but it happens. Still, most of us need a rock-star resume to get noticed!) The clearer you get about what you want and need career wise, the better your chances of getting there, especially when you're using your resume as a resource to represent you in your absence. Clarity and focus will well serve you in achieving your career goals, so first things first before you go hunting, get hunted, or do your resume. Know what you want and if you can't say with specificity what that is, then gather some general ideas as a place to get started. (How can you ever get what you want if you don't know what it is?)
2. Your resume will purposefully be designed to support your future target goals, desires, and interests vs. showcasing a boring, irrelevant recitation of your history of employment that doesn't connect with future focus. This is especially significant if you are changing careers or switching gears where your present/past roles may or may not have relevance to your future aspirations. Identify, name, claim, market, and promote only the talents, competencies, knowledge, skills, abilities, and successes relevant to the new opportunity. For now anyway, put aside irrelevant information, as there simply isn't enough space for everything to be included.
3. Your resume is an important guide for communication with prospective employers, recruiters, and your professional network. Build it with deliberate intention to help navigate and shape an interview or networking conversation. Remember, whatever you say on your piece of paper can (and will) serve as fuel for questioning during an interview.

If you can readily answer these five questions stated above, you are well on your way to writing a top-notch resume. If not, perhaps you'll find them a good place to get started.

posted by: billiesucher

Comments

[Lea Setegn]

Hi Billie! I'm not sure how to make TrackBack work, but I wanted to let you know that I wrote about your post on my blog: http://makeachangeresumes.blogspot.com/. Thank you for writing a post that sums up everything I try to tell my clients (who just won't believe me)!

[billiesucher]

Lea, I went over to your blog and read your most recent post citing my five questions. Thank you! That means a lot! I also read your prior post about the loss of your Mother; such a sad and difficult time when we lose a parent. As I was reading your post, I thought of a poem I had written a couple of years ago about "transition." If you would like to e-mail me privately, I will try to track it down & send it to you. Keep writing, whether you continue your blog post or not. No matter what, a writer just keeps writing because we always have another thought, another story, another idea...sort of like breathing. Wishing you comfort and strength in the coming days...billiesucher

[Lea Setegn]

Billie, thank YOU so much! Your kind words help, and I'd love the poem.

[billiesucher]

Lea, if you'd contact me through my website, then I could send you poem. Can't find your e-mail address anywhere. Thanks!
BRS

[Ivan Kobart]

Blog walking and read your post. Thank you.