10 Ways To Create A Compelling Resume

I also have them assess themselves – they have a unique set of skills, experiences and personality traits. How does that qualify them to help meet the employer needs they identified in their research?

As many versions as you need to communicate your unique ability to solve problems for employers. In some cases that might be one, but some people need 3 or 4. It’s always good to also tweak the resume to match specific job descriptions where possible.

All of the above. You have to create a resume that has the keywords needed to ensure it will be found if stored in a database. You have to appeal to HR staff or recruiters (the gatekeepers) who often know less about the position than the hiring manager, and you have to also appeal to the hiring manager (and his/her bosses). So you have to balance all these when writing the resume.

For example, an IT guy should be sure to include technical keywords, and enough technical information to impress the hiring manager – but must also show non-technical people why he or she adds business value.

It depends what we mean by creative. I like people to be creative in terms of their messaging – use original language, sound like yourself, structure your resume in a way that best sells your skills etc. – but I really don’t like resumes that don’t follow a basic traditional structure because I know as a recruiter it’s a nightmare to try and find what you want when you can’t follow the resume.

So don’t write your resume on a shoe or something! This is actually why I doubt the efficacy of video resumes – they’re just too much hassle for recruiters, and unless they work for recruiters, they’ll never take off.

Yes – know your audience and know how you can help them! I know I sound like a broken record but it’s true. Imagine this. You’re a small business owner looking for an assistant. Your world is a mess – your business has grown 10-fold in the last year and things are now falling through the cracks in a major way.

You’re looking at resumes and they all look the same and sound the same, and then you see one that starts:  ”Administrative Assistant – specializing in helping small businesses get organized.” You’d definitely take a look at that one – and if the rest of the resume gave specific examples of times this person had done just that, you would call him in for an interview.

While I’m not a fan of setting hard and fast rules, I generally agree with you. I sometimes write one-page resumes too – particularly for more junior job seekers or for people looking to make a career change (so their past experience might not be all that relevant).  I very rarely go over 2 pages.

You definitely need a short introductory or cover letter, although this can generally be sent as an email now. This letter should be more specific than the resum
e and should address exactly why you are interested in this position and (briefly) why you would be a good fit.

And I think nowadays, no professional should be without a professional web presence. At the very least a well-written LinkedIn profile formatted to do well in searches. I prefer people to set up more than one online profile using services such as Plaxo, Ziggs and Zoominfo because it’s important to make sure you are found when someone looks for you. I’m a fan of VisualCV and often create these for my clients. And I often recommend people look at blogging – or at least writing a page on Squidoo about their professional area of expertise.

The more of an expert you make yourself online, the easier it will be to find a job.

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So, there you have it.  Some of the best advice I’ve heard in the resume field.  If you looking for a job and find yourself stuck, consider the role your resume is playing.  Is it a strength, a weakness or something else (like something not generally being noticed)?

Please, if you think your resume is dragging you down, get some help.  It will be well worth it.  Not only will you better sell yourself from a distance, but you can more confidently present yourself in person having been through a process described by Louise above.