Writing Your Resume Like an Advertisement Gets Results
By Dana Leipold
Your resume is essentially an ad about you. It highlights what you’ve accomplished in your previous jobs and gives your potential employer a glimpse of what you can do for the company. As with any type of advertising, it needs to be seen and heard over the other ads, or in this case, other resumes. When I was looking for the job I have now, I wrote my resume like I was writing an ad. I sent resumes to six different employers and got four calls for interviews. I’d say those are pretty good odds.
So how do you approach writing a resume like an ad about yourself? Here are four simple steps you can take to craft a resume that will make you stand out—and get a call for an interview:
1. Tailor your resume to your audience.
Every ad has one thing in common: each targets a specific audience and speaks directly to that audience. So should your resume. If you’re applying for multiple jobs, it’s a lot of work to tailor your resume but it’s worth the effort. Read through each job listing and pick out key phrases or requirements and match those to your skills and experience. Write each skill or accomplishment using lots of action words (for a list of key verbs visit my website at www.concisewords.com). Have someone else read the job listing and then your rewritten resume. Ask them if there is a clear match between them. If so, you’re on your way. If not, it’s back to writing.
2. Focus on accomplishments that set you apart.
You may not believe it at first but you’ve done some amazing things in your previous jobs. Take a few minutes to sit down and reflect on areas where you’ve make contributions to your company. A contribution can be as simple as a suggestion you made to improve operations. Now, whether or not people listened to you and implemented your suggestion is another thing. But the fact is you saw something that needed to be fixed and you spoke up about it. Not everyone does, and those who do can be valuable assets to a company. Make a list of contributions you’ve made for each of your previous jobs and include them on your resume.
3. Use numbers if you have them.
Depending on the job you’re going for, numbers can be real important. I’m talking about numbers like: 15% cost reductions, 10% increase in sales, or 5% more qualified leads. Use them if you’ve got them. If you helped reduce costs by switching to cheaper Xerox ink, say it and then add a number. You can make an estimate. The bottom line (pun intended) is you helped save the company money. Think of situations or areas where you can put numbers on your resume and write them down.
4. Keep it short.
Keep your resume short, direct, and to the point—just like an ad. Though we have all these techno-gadgets that are supposed to save us time, people have less time now than they did a few years ago. The average time spent reading an ad is 11 seconds. Most likely, potential employers spend a few more seconds scanning resumes but probably not much more. Remember that when you want to write huge paragraphs on your resume because they won’t get read.
If you need extra help crafting your resume, cover letter, or thank you letter, contact me and I’ll give you a FREE consultation. We’ll talk about your career goals and review your current resume. Unlimited Moms also get a special discount on all services. Visit my website for more information: www.concisewords.com.
Dana Leipold is a professional freelance copywriter who helps individuals and businesses develop concise words to generate more business, get job interviews, and reach business or personal goals. She also publishes monthly writing tips aimed at the most effective ways to use words as powerful tools. Visit www.concisewords.com to subscribe or learn about Concise Words Writing Services.
