How to write a massively powerful resume

Do you consider your resume powerful? Do you consider it massively powerful? Most people will answer “No.”

One reason most resumes fall short of the mark of even a “good” resume is that they stray too far in the direction of duties. Simply put, most resumes are boring. Often resumes fall short of telling the stories to help the employer understand how the applicant can add value to the company.

Strong resumes capture the job seeker’s talents in a totally new light. They resonate with contributions fitting the job the applicant would fill. To best write this massively powerful resume, the job seeker needs to change focus.

To write a massively powerful resume, start with the job description

Do you read job descriptions from a professional resume writer’s viewpoint? Professional resume writers look for the specific needs of the employer and find ways to prove you meet those needs in the resume.

To get to this point, conduct a targeted search and define your talents very clearly. You can’t pull 40 job postings and hope to meet the mark for all of them unless those job descriptions are closely aligned.

Finding a good fit for your skills to write a massively powerful resume

When I coach people to find positions that are a good fit, I ask what the job seeker seeks in the next role. When you get rid of desperation, you focus on details that make you happy and this creates a massively powerful resume. I use a variety of tools and my own brand of analytical and intuitive questioning to parse out what the job seeker really wants — and what he or she doesn’t want.

• Is leadership important? (Some people thrive in leadership roles and would struggle in a role that puts them in a powerless position. Others have no desire to lead, they want to keep stress low and don’t want the responsibility of leadership.) I never assume everyone is looking to keep climbing into management and upper management. Some people don’t want to be in a position of authority.
• How about teams? Does the role include working closely with others or very independently? (Again, different strokes for different folks. Some people thrive in a team environment. Others prefer to work separately and even thrive working from home with little interaction with others.)

Differentiate yourself in a massively powerful resume

• What is your main talent? No matter what field you choose, each person will have strong skill sets that make them more valuable than others.
• Does the person like to train? Talent in teaching crosses many disciplines. A good trainer captures the attention of the audience, presents information clearly, and offers methods of truly understanding the material.
• How mobile does the person want to be? This is more than travel even though travel is a component of mobility. It can be as simple as knowing if you would be content in a cubicle or need activity from a job that gets you out and about.
• Where are you willing to work? If you are willing to work in another part of the state, or another state, or even another country, this changes the number of opportunities and the way you conduct the search.
• What industry could use your skills? Starting with where you are but start thinking about where you could go. What settings could use your skills?

Write your resume with a clear vision

When you start by understanding what you want to do and where you want to do it, you can focus on the job description. A resume is never one-size-fits-all. Tailor your resume to the job description and focus on stories that match the job of your dreams.

Select the job description of at least one role (not too many because it muddies the water) and use it to search for keywords for your resume.

Don’t just insert them, prove you have skills that fit the keywords. This is the beginning point for a quality resume.

Job seekers work with me in live writing and coaching sessions to create their story. Learn more.