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Building A Powerful Resume

08.09.2008

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by international award-winning resume writer Gillian Kelly

The executive job market can be tough. When you are competing for a six figure appointment you know you are going up against professionals with high levels of ambition, resources and skills. To be competitive your performance needs to be at benchmark levels at all stages of the application process and this includes making sure your resume and personal marketing materials are of the highest calibre and act as professional ambassadors for you during your initial introductions.

So how do you build a resume that will leave a lasting impression with recruiters and prospective employers? Just as marketing teams use proven strategies to promote their products, there are a number of key tactics savvy resume writers employ to deliver high performance resumes and bolster their candidate's success.

1. Treat the opening to your resume like gold.

The opener to your resume is prime resume real estate and is worth investing in. Spend time building an opening profile that will broker an impact. Ensure that every word of this sharp, powerful section is strategically selected to speak to the needs of the employer. After reading this brief section the reader should be left with an impression of results, and a clear appreciation of your track record of success in your field and what you potentially offer them.

2. Leverage your success in achievement highlights.

Your front page of your resume should act as a summary of your value proposition to the prospect. Using highlights of your career to-date on the front page enables you to bring an immediate sense of results and capture the reader’s attention, drawing them in and ensuring they want to read on. Make sure your bullets are action-packed and focused on the quantifiable value you have delivered to past companies.

3. Employment overview - sell the sizzle not the sausage.

When it comes time to describe your past roles, avoid telling employers standard information on your duties, and instead tell them what they most want to hear about - your performance. Ensure that your employment overview focuses on the challenges you were given in each role and then impress them with proof of how well you handled these challenges and what your successes meant to the business and its bottomline. If they know what you have done in the past for other employers and can see a strong and consistent record of success they will quickly be able to grasp what you potentially offer them in the future.

4. Build a personal brand.

Throughout your resume hone in on what you are known for doing well in the workplace. Sell you strengths and unique skills in a theme consistently spread across all elements of the resume. It's all about communicating your ROI and value proposition to executive recruiters, hiring managers, and HR professionals.

5. Use keywords wisely so that your resume ranks.

Did you know a lot of recruiters and large employers use databases to store and manage their candidate resumes? They then input keywords to select resumes relevant to their job target. Ensure your resume is scanner friendly by including keywords for your industry and avoiding text boxes, tables or shading that can make it difficult for scanners to read your resume.

6. Don't put a premium product in home brand packaging.

Make sure your layout and design is at a professional standard. Your resume design should be clean, with plenty of white space, a consistent font, and a modern format. In Australia resumes are generally around 3 pages for executives and senior professionals. This gives you enough room to sell yourself without taking up too much of the employer's valuable time.

Through careful application of the strategies above you can enjoy the same results professional resume writers secure for their candidates. Good Luck.

Gillian Kelly is an international award winning resume writer & Director of Career Edge, a premium resume writing house based in Brisbane. Visit the Resume Support page in Member Services for more information on how Career Edge can assist you with your resume needs.

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