The Secret Sauce To Resumes….

I don’t mean to brag, but I make a mean chocolate chip cookie. The hint of happiness you taste, is a tiny, teeny bit of cinnamon and clove.  These cookies taste like a memory, and I’m proud to say it happened by accident; just like my resume style.  Good resumes are hard to come by.  Ask any recruiter or H.R. pro.  They’ll talk your ear off about length, edits, keywording and content.  I do things a little different and it’s proven to be a bit more successful.  The secret for resumes, sometimes, is the spice behind them.  Want to learn my secrets?

1.) Let others tell your tale. If you’re not using recommendations on your resume, then you are missing out on the value of selling yourself through testimonials.  Don’t make recruiters search LinkedIn for how much others love you.  Use a quote in your signature line of the email, your resume or cover letter to grab their attention.  A cleverly-placed quote will leave a recruiter scanning for more and back-up your claims of greatness with human touch.

2.) Keyword your accomplishments, not your work history.  Everyone can claim success, it’s the metrics that truly matter.  Solidify who you truly are by remembering that companies care more about what you actually did, than by what you know.  Look at the difference between the following:

• Conceptualized and directed large, media campaign with multiple external and internal partnerships.

Or:

• Conceptualized and directed large media campaign with the use of Social Networking, (Twitter/LinkedIn/Foursquare,) with ROI measurement in Google Analytics and AideRSS.  Campaign resulted in 72% increase of traffic and 20% increase of sales in the 3rd quarter.

It really is that easy.  Your resume is a sales campaign, pure and simple.  Why each resume has to be a page of boring ‘I did this,‘ statements is beyond me.  Results, matter more than tasks.  Show those hiring your worth through your accomplishments.  Dangle the cookie, and leave them wanting more.

3.) Throw out the template. (Really.)  Resume programs can be your worst enemy.  If you hate being put into a box, the template will do exactly that.  This is your future, don’t let a computer program tell  you how your accomplishments should look.  A few things are ‘must haves’ in your resume.

• Name, City and State, Phone Number, LinkedIN Profile address, and Twitter address.
• Bio:  Forget an objective.  It’s about what you BRING to their table.  Imagine someone is reading your bio in a newspaper or hearing about you on the radio.  The words should resonate with professionalism and wit.  Anything less is a disservice to you.
• Accomplishment statements:  Your three to five largest accomplishments should be placed first.  Tell them what you are most proud of, professionally and leave them with reason after reason to talk with you futher.
• Career History:  Under each company name, title and years of employment, list key worded accomplishment statements, just like those shown above.
• Education
• Mouth-Watering Quote.

Try it out.  Watch the reaction and pass it on.  Together, we can change the demands that a resume should have no personality.  Your personality and accomplishments will make you stand out.  #GoJobSeekersGo