3 RESUME SIMPLIFYING TIPS
Client yesterday said to me when reviewing her first draft: “wow, you really took a lot out of what I had in my resume.” And she was questioning me – and her questions were fair, so I’m sharing my feedback to her with you here. In the end, she agreed with me. Three simple reasons why more is NOT merrier – on your resume:
#1 The optics/visual presentation itself
First impressions are everything. If your resume looks crowded, the reader will not be impressed and will think: “Why does it have to be so crowded? Why can’t this person simply tell me what they do best and how they can help me? I don’t think I’m going to keep reading.”
Many job seekers don’t think about the big picture first impression of the optics – they only think about the actual text itself. So even though the employer is not hiring you to be a resume writer – your resume IS a first impression visual of how you communicate. And if it’s crowded and not succinct, that’s a huge optics/first impression negative. Remember, recruiters are not a fishing expedition and their time is money…
#2 …And what is the purpose of a resume anyway?
To make the reader feel too guilty not to call you for an interview – that is its only purpose, period! That means keep-it-simple-stupid (KISS) as my late father used to say (playfully!). What goes on a resume must be truthful and accurate, but not everything has to go on a resume. Focus on quality, not quantity. Have a laser light focus on what you can do for the employer – and validate it with accomplishments. Quickly.
#3 You have less than 10 seconds to control your narrative
Think of your resume like a TV commercial – you do not press mute! – where you PAY ATTENTION…to the entire commercial! That is what you want your resume to do. Within first 10 seconds, you capture the readers attention through a controlled narrative – e.g., you answer these questions: “What’s your story, John/Jane Doe – why are you the best/different/better?” By the 30 to 60 second mark: “Why should I feel too guilty not to call you for an interview?” should be answered, too.
A lot of resume writers have excellent writing ability – but most do not know how to tell a story in 10 seconds or less. And that is a HUGE difference. A well-written resume MIGHT get you an interview. A well-written resume that tells a story WILL get you an interview – this is what I do best (ask my clients!).
In review…be the noise the reader can’t ignore by focusing on what you best and how you can help the employer (with validation). Do not over-crowd or information dump your resume, especially with soft skill “fluff” meaningless drivel and baloney. Remember, you want a call to action (the reader to call you for an interview!), not a distraction (an unfocused, crowded, or confusing resume that doesn’t stand out, especially when you’ve only got 10 seconds to control the narrative).
If you need help, I provide a free consultation: joecsd@gmail.com.
