Let me start by saying that most of us, maybe even all of us, need help with our resume. It’s not something we come by naturally UNLESS we’ve had training and practice (aka as a hiring manager or a recruiter) to spot things that are no no’s.
So, here are five basic tips to writing your resume:
1. Never make it generic. You can have a CV that you feel covers all that you do, but focus on your strengths, first. As you get older, it’s about depth, not as much breadth. When you are younger, it’s about breadth with hopes of having some depth (more than a few months of real world experience, for instance) within a category.
2. Fill in the gaps. There is nothing worse than reading a resume with missing years or even months. Be sure to fill it out and be creative about how you want to share that you needed time away from the fray. Call it a sabbatical or an education break, to learn a new subject (online courses, trade school, higher degree, apprenticeship).
3. Be prepared to tell your story. Why did you only spend 3 months here and 1 year there? What was the driving force behind so much change? Or conversely, why did you stay with your employer for 20 years? Too much time, and too little time, can both be signals to hiring managers. The more you can authentically tell your story with a touch of humor and a positive spin (and without badmouthing any past co-workers), while hopefully selling your strengths by endorsing your own career decisions, the better your chance.
4. Cut out the fat. At first, we are all verbose. So write it all down. And then find themes. Focus on being direct and succinct. Edit down so it’s a quick read. Most of us don’t have time for long paragraphs!
And finally…
5. Ask for help. Got a friend who’s a hiring manager? Or just darned smart? Know someone you can trust and who really knows the industry? Feedback is crucial for honing your personal storyboard.
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