Tired of sending out your resume only to hear nothing back?
These seven tips might help.
- Tell us what you can do, not what you have done: Don’t make us guess from densely-worded paragraphs what you might be great at. Make it explicit
- Educate us about your impact: Give context. What was the project about? Why was it needed? What role did you play? How was the process/ team/ world better for it?
- Don’t spill secrets: Share ballpark figures (xx millions), orders of magnitude (3x), % improvements (7% increase), not exact numbers
- Don’t play into people’s biases: You’re applying for a job, not checking into a jail cell. We don’t need your photo, home address, date of birth, marital status, height and weight
- Drop that bland statement of purpose: Everyone is looking for a ‘challenging role in a respected firm’ or ‘the opportunity to learn and contribute’. We know that already. Use the space for something else — or leave it blank
- Edit: Don’t lose interviews over a spelling mistake. Keep the main points on the first page. Cut out trivial detail. Write in active voice, so it reads better
- Skip the jargon: Write in plain, simple language that a fifth-grader could understand. Avoid acronyms except what’s industry-standard
- #beyourself: You’re a talented, unique individual. Skip the template and just tell us what makes you interesting.
Everyone loves a good story, even if it’s just to fill a position. Make it yours.
