Joe Turner offers six easy steps to really rock your resume and motivate hiring managers to call you in his article Six Tips to Rock Your Resume for Quintessential Careers. The fifth appears below, and the last tip will appear here tomorrow.
Answer the Question, “So What?”
“In today’s competitive job market, skills alone will not sell you. Too many job-seekers focus on their own needs when they should be tuned to the radio station “WIIFM”. Realize that today’s employer’s first question is, “What’s in it for me?” A good test for your resume is its ability to answer the question, “So what does this mean for the employer?” after each item in your work history.
Before Example:
Provide and direct financial, cash flow, and tax impact analyses as they relate to the existing portfolio and new acquisitions.
Ask the “So what” question, and then see the After Example:
After Example:
Saved $75,000 in annual outside consulting fees by providing and directing financial, cash flow, and tax impact analyses as they relate to the existing portfolio and new acquisitions.
Imagine how differently an employer will react to the second statement that provide a clear benefit that’s important to the hiring organization. Modifying your resume to include some of your achievements can make it come alive to sell you rather than reading like a dull laundry list of job duties.”
