Cynthia Pong, a seasoned career coach from Embrace Change, shares invaluable insights on resume writing. She emphasizes the importance of keeping resumes simple and readable. Topics include the power of a tailored professional summary, the art of self-promotion without overdoing it, and the necessity of feedback from industry experts. Cynthia also discusses how to update your resume regularly, even when you're not job hunting, ensuring you're always ready for new opportunities. Her strategies are sure to help stand out in today's competitive job market!
A simple and streamlined resume format enhances readability and ensures vital information is easily accessible to employers.
Including a tailored summary at the top of your resume emphasizes your unique value and helps establish relevance for different job applications.
Deep dives
Keep Your Resume Clean and Accessible
A well-structured resume should begin with your name and contact information, maintaining a streamlined format for clarity. While including a physical address is often unnecessary, it may be beneficial in specific cases depending on the job location. Avoid including personal photos unless they are common in your industry; simplicity is preferred. This approach not only makes your resume visually appealing but also ensures that essential information is easily accessible to potential employers.
Craft a Compelling Summary
A short summary at the top of your resume is essential for setting the tone and showcasing your unique value. This summary should be three to five lines that encapsulate who you are, what you excel at, and how you can contribute to a potential employer's goals. It's useful for drawing attention to your skills right from the start, especially if you are changing career paths or if your experience may not traditionally align with the role. Tailoring this summary for different job applications can help reinforce your relevance and make a strong first impression.
Highlight Relevant Experience and Skills
Your work history should be relevant to the position you are applying for, emphasizing significant roles and achievements. For each job entry, include concise bullet points that detail your responsibilities along with specific accomplishments to showcase your impact. Additionally, a section devoted to core competencies outlining your key skills, tailored to the specific job description, can provide further context about your capabilities. Including transferable skills and related experience from various aspects of your life—even volunteer work—can further enhance your resume and demonstrate your well-roundedness as a candidate.
Do's, don'ts and current best practices for resume-writing from career coach Cynthia Pong. One tip? Keep the format simple and make it easy to read. This episode originally aired on Jan. 8, 2024.