#1 Rule:

Everything you include on your resume is fair game for questions throughout the hiring process. Be yourself. It makes it so much easier to touch on your experiences and explain why you are well-rounded for the position you want. Focus on telling your narrative, in which you demonstrate the skills and commitment that you bring to the table. Relate this narrative to the job description and connect your current circumstances to your future goals.

4 Key Concepts

• Relevant material
• Transferable skills
• Performance Competency aka results-focused bullet points
• Resume Layout

1. Relevant Material

A resume is typically one page in length. Some people suggest adding a second page if your industry is research heavy. In that case, consider a curriculum vitae (CV), which is an outline of your professional career.

A resume is not a summary of everything you have done. It is about telling the hiring committee about your past experiences, how they have prepared you for the role at their company, and why you think the role aligns with your future goals.

A resume is a constant work-in-progress. Each position you apply for should inspire another look at your resume. Look to include keywords from the job description that still describe you, your skillset, and your value. Again, be yourself.

2. Transferable Skills

Hiring committees know that candidates want to gain new skills and experience. Employers are looking for your capabilities. What can you do effectively in this role? How did you showcase that skillset in previous roles?

It is rare to find identical jobs within companies and across industries. Public speaking, data analytics, community engagement, event coordination, carpentry, home building, and more apply to multiple jobs and job types. If you enjoy connecting with other people and providing solutions to problems, you may find success in sales, non-profit event planning, fundraising, or coaching. If you enjoy working on houses or landscaping, you can learn the jobs associated with those industries.

As you grow in new roles, you will expand your team building, team managing, and problem-solving as an effective leader.

3. Job Performance Competencies/Results

What have you accomplished? Quantify it. To put it simply, how much did you do/manage/supervise?

Did you lead a team of 3 or 25? Did you manage a budget of $10 or $100,000? Have to presented to 1 company or hundreds of companies? Numbers matter. They show one dimension of experience and help hiring committees understand your accomplishments from a numbers standpoint.

As job listings see more applicants, it is important to stand out. Providing examples of your performance competencies give people a chance to understand your approach and the results you provide.

4. Resume Layout

1. Most recent experience first
   1. Organize your bullet points from most important/relevant to least. What makes an accomplishment significant?
   2. Explain the environment in which your accomplishments were achieved. (strict deadline, team management, heavy competition)
2. Include 3-5 bullet points for most relevant experience to the company/position where you are interviewing
3. Education below experience – optional – some people prefer education first
   1. Include scholarships, extracurriculars, GPA optional
4. Always include Personal Skills, Leadership, and Interest section – highlight hobbies, skills, facts about you
   1. Be specific – you never know when you share interests with someone who is interviewing you. (what instrument did you play? what sport? where have you traveled?)
5. Start bullets with verbs. “Built… Supervised… Managed…”
6. Quick Tip: Utilize small margins to allow for more space.

My Current Resume (2022) – Notice the similarity but edit options.

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