Before the job market became increasingly competitive for job seekers, many resumes were quite boring, filled only with work experience, contact information and bullet points. There was not much of a focus on layout or creativity. Points were given for being formal and professional.
Employers aren’t looking for this anymore. They want candidates to showcase their differences, not be exactly the same as every other applicant. Perhaps the best way to accomplish this feat is by telling a story.
Here are three ways to turn your resume into an impressive story that will capture the attention of potential employers. Want more job search tips? Work with the project management professionals of PMO Partners.
Create a Summary
Start your resume creation by writing down your professional objectives. What do you want employers to gather from your background? You don’t have to use this section on your resume if you don’t feel it matches your general strategy. In the big picture, however, these few sentences will help you understand the ultimate story your resume should tell.
Don’t worry about being formal. You can change your wording, should you choose to use your summary later. For now, you might write something like, “I’m a hardworking programmer and graduate. I started accepting freelance positions from my bedroom at 16 years-old. Soon after graduation, I was offered a software development job at ABC Technology Company. After just two years, I became the manager of my department at 24 years old.”
Based on this summary, you’ll want to highlight your age and roots, perhaps describing your first-ever programming job and following with your current responsibilities as a manager. Remember, you can formalize your summary later. Right now, this paragraph will serve as your base.
Add Unique Sections
As you build your resume, keep the essential components visible, including work experience, education and contact information. However, you should experiment with remaining space. Do you have career-related awards to share? Perhaps an interesting story that highlights your ambition?
Some freelancers take this opportunity to list their favorite projects and what they’ve learned from them. Think carefully about the qualities your potential employer is seeking in a candidate. How can you utilize your story to build sections that exhibit those qualities?
Remove Irrelevant Experiences
There is absolutely nothing wrong with removing experiences that aren’t consistent with your story. Your six-month stint at McDonalds probably doesn’t need to be on your resume.
Just as recent college graduates remove high school from the education section of their resume, you should remove experiences that are no longer relevant to your story. This may include experiences related to other industries, part-time positions, or work that no longer reflects your career goals.
At PMO Partners, we understand your dedication to your career. Our experienced team is prepared to pair you with the right company