Today’s question comes from Jennifer W., who asks, “My experience is pretty good, but is there anything I can do to make my resume really stand out?” Suuuuch a good question, Jennifer! (And one that applies to resumes in any industry, so send this along to your friends.)
Most people have resumes that sound like they could have come out of a book—and usually because most people learned how to write them from a book. Which is all fine and good for people who aren’t Filthy Rich Writers. But because you, my friend, are on your way to fame and fortune, here’s the one easy resume change you can make that will take your game to a whole new level:
You know that “Objective” section at the top of your resume? The one where you tell your prospective employer about what you want out of your next job? Scrap it. Delete it. Or at the very least, cut and paste it somewhere else.
An employer is not interested in what you want out of a job, but what you can bring to a job. You’re trying to sell yourself to the employer so (just like in any good piece of copy) identify the benefits of hiring you. What can you bring to the table that no one else can?
And, when you craft this section, be sure to include a little bit of personality. Stay on topic and stay concise, but show them a little bit of yourself. Use words you actually use in real life. (Have you actually ever spoken the sentence, “I’m passionate about facilitating and effective relationship between strategy and copy”??)
If you’re excited or passionate or driven wild by something, make sure it’s clear. People want to hire brilliant copywriters, but they also want to hire people who are fun to work with and who really care about the work they do.
Now, it’s your turn: What do you bring to the table that no one else does? Let us know in the comments below!
Though my educational training and majority of my work experience is in Civil Engineering, I have always had a passion for writing and editing. As a technical writer and editor, I enjoy composing, reviewing, and critiquing. My eyes seem to zoom in on inconsistencies (this is a nice way of saying mistakes) in documents and public displays. I have about 5 years of work experience as a Technical Writer/ Editor with the Federal Government. No challenge is too big because I enjoy learning new things and am a problem solver (hence, the engineering background). I believe in doing what it takes to meet a deadline. I work very well with people and have years of supervisory and management experience under my belt. I also possess over 20 years of experience working in customer service..I also enjoy teaching, training, and mentoring others.
Hi Malinda! Good work! You definitely have done a nice job of conveying the unique skills you bring to the table as well as a dash of your personality. One thing you might want to consider is starting directly in with one of your key strengths. I know that you want to address what they see on your resume, but starting with “Though my educational training and majority of my work experiences is in Civil Engineering…” almost sounds a bit like an apology. And you certainly have nothing to apologize for! 🙂 I’d consider starting with a strength/benefit and addressing your background a bit further in—even just starting with your second sentence might do the trick.
Good luck!
Nicki and the Filthy Rich Writer team