Think of your resume as a marketing piece. You are the product. The starting point, we will call it phase I, is developing a deep understanding of who you are, and where you are going in your life. Identifying knowledge, skills, and abilities is important, but you must also discover key motivators to ensure appropriate career choices.

Once you have completed phase I, you will be equipped to prepare your resume. A good resume is not something that is typed into a template. Each one is unique and must focus on the benefits of that individual. Why should the hiring manager hire you? The elements of a good resume will grab the reader’s attention right off the bat at the top of the first page. From a brief scan, you want to make it abundantly clear for them:

*How you would fit within their organization
*What makes you extraordinary?
*What benefits would the organization receive from hiring you?

In order to achieve that, you must know your 6 – 8 value messages and then draw attention to them. The remainder of the resume should provide evidence to support your claims. You do that through using language that shows results. Most people do a great job of listing responsibilities. That does not differentiate you. In order to differentiate yourself and show value, you must use specific examples of results you achieved. Did you have a suggestion that improved customer service, reduced waste, increased efficiency? Did you go above and beyond to deliver excellent customer service? If so, and you can link that type of activity to a positive result, then you are on track. For example:

–Reduced average customer wait time by 50 percent resulting in improved production, increased retention, and expanded new customer base by 10 percent.

Your value messages should provide enough “wow” factors to grab the reader’s attention so they will want to ask you more about them. That is what the interview is for. Your resume does not have to fully explain the entire story, it just has to sizzle.

Remember, your resume gives you the opportunity to control what the reader will focus on. A skilled resume writer knows exactly how to leverage that so when you get to the interview, you will be asked to elaborate on the things you want to talk about. If your resume has been effectively written, you will be able to shine in the interview because you have set the stage to talk about all of your greatest accomplishments.