How to Write a Candidate-Focused Resume

I've been writing resumes for over 15 years. A long time. After all these years, there is still one widespread mistake I see in these files that is easy to fix: Heavy emphasis on day-to-day tasks with minimal results. If you want your resume to stand out and be noticed, it must share value. Value is best demonstrated through results. Fill your resume with specifics, metrics, and personal initiatives, and aim to create results-rich resume statements like the samples below. Examples of helping a business do things faster, better, or smarter: 🔹 Lowered customer complaints 60% by launching a formal feedback system. 🔹 Improved product delivery time 23% after assigning clarified monthly job tasks to the entire team. Examples of making money, saving money, or increasing efficiency: 🔹 Grew revenue 44% and improved gross margin 25% in 1 year by standardizing business operating procedures. 🔹 Produced $2.5M in cost savings after renegotiating all supply and service contracts. Examples of personal success: 🔹 Built sustainable technical sales organizations from the ground up within 3 global organizations. 🔹 Generated over $4M in new revenue after identifying, pursuing, and securing 2 new international client contracts. The above statements can be further detailed for more significant impact with added context, but hopefully, you get the idea: * Focus heavily on results, not tasks. * Share metrics and measurements. * Be specific, not vague. * Focus on details unique to you that align with the target audience's requirements. If you don't think you have any results, check out the comments for a link to a free guide to help you better identify and track your achievements. Every person has done something well in their work, and these things can be measured more often than not. The key is to start identifying them and writing them down!

I've reviewed over 500 resumes in my career as a career spotlight coach The profile summary is your golden ticket to stand out. Here's a strategic blueprint to make your resume pop: - Keep it short - 3-4 powerful sentences max. - Focus on achievements, not generic responsibilities. - Use quantifiable metrics and specific results. - Highlight your unique value proposition. - Tailor the summary for each specific role. 🟢 Pro Tips for Crafting a Killer Profile Summary: - Start with a strong professional identity - Showcase your top 2-3 core competencies - Demonstrate industry-specific expertise - Include keywords from job descriptions - Reflect your personal brand's essence I've seen candidates transform from zero callbacks to multiple interview invitations just by revolutionizing their summary section. The secret weapon? Being laser-focused about your professional impact. 📌 Instead of "Experienced marketing professional," write "Drove 150% revenue growth through targeted digital campaigns for 3 Fortune 500 clients, generating $2.5M in new business." Your summary should tell your career story before anyone reads the full resume. Make it count, career builders! P.S. What's the most compelling profile summary you've ever crafted? Share your insights below. #resume #resumewriting #jobseekers

I've reviewed 57 resumes this year. The biggest problem I keep seeing? Job seekers focus on the wrong things. "𝘋𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 1 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦?" "𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘬𝘦𝘺𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴?" "𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦?" All valid questions. But pointless if you skip the most important step: 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. The first question I always ask is: "𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨?" And too often, I hear: "𝘐'𝘮 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴... 𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢... 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘵𝘰𝘰. 𝘏𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦." I understand where this comes from. Being open 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 like you'd get more opportunities. But in reality? It does the opposite. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. I've seen resumes with great formatting and solid experience. But fail to get interviews because there's no clear target. Resumes don't work without alignment. → Alignment for the role. → Alignment for the company. → Alignment for the job description. No amount of keyword stuffing or clever formatting can fix misalignment. Here's how you can turn your resume into an interview-generator: 1. Get extremely clear on a niche target role 2. Research 10-15 job descriptions for repeated keywords 3. Write your resume so it directly speaks to your target role 4. Only apply to jobs that match your focus Tailor slightly when needed, but the core should already align Stop chasing the perfect template. Start chasing the perfect targeting and alignment. Generic resumes look nice. Specific ones get interviews. P.S. What's one resume tip that actually worked for you?

75% of resumes never reach human eyes. That means 3 out of 4 qualified candidates get rejected before anyone sees their potential. The heartbreak? Watching perfect candidates lose opportunities they'd excel at because their resume couldn't navigate a 30-second digital scan. I've seen talented friends of mine miss a dream job due to poor resume formatting. Meanwhile, less qualified candidates with optimized resumes walk into interviews. The brutal reality: Your decade of experience means nothing if your resume doesn't speak robot first, human second. Here's how to fix it: Beat the ATS robots first ❌ Using fancy fonts and graphics that confuse scanning systems ✔️ Use standard fonts (Arial, Calibri) and save as both .docx and PDF versions ✔️ Include exact job title keywords from the posting in your experience section Turn responsibilities into achievements ❌ "Managed social media accounts" ✔️ "Increased social media engagement by 340% across 5 platforms, driving 1,200+ monthly leads" ❌ "Responsible for team meetings" ✔️ "Led cross-functional team of 12, reducing project delivery time by 35%" Write a summary that sells your value ❌ "Experienced marketing professional seeking new opportunities" ✔️ "Digital marketing strategist who generated $2.3M in revenue through conversion optimization for B2B SaaS companies" Customize for every single application ❌ One resume for every job ✔️ Mirror 3-5 key requirements from each job posting ✔️ Adjust your summary to match their specific industry language Format for scanning, not reading ❌ Dense paragraphs and creative layouts ✔️ Bullet points with strong action verbs (Generated, Led, Optimized) ✔️ Clear section headers and consistent spacing ✔️ Most important achievements in the top third of page 1 The truth: Your resume has 6 seconds to make an impression. These changes can turn those 6 seconds into interview invitations. Stop letting a fixable resume block your next breakthrough. ___ ♻️ Share this to help someone land their dream job ✔️ Follow Ulises for more career insights that get results

Looking to make your resume shine and grab attention? With over a decade of recruitment experience and having reviewed nearly 250,000 resumes while working for industry giants like Amazon, Accenture (Avanade), Cognizant, and various startups through my agency, Proven Patterns, I’ve seen what truly makes a resume stand out. Here are some top tips to help you create a powerful resume that will leave a lasting impression: ☑ Keep It Concise: Aim for 2-3 page resume when possible. Focus on your most relevant experiences and achievements without overwhelming the reader. ☑ Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for every position you apply for. Incorporate keywords from the job description and highlight skills and experiences that match the role. If you don't have enough time at least match the resume summary section with the job description. ☑ Showcase Achievements: Use specific numbers and examples to quantify your accomplishments. Instead of saying "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 20% within six months." ☑ Professional Format: Opt for a clean, professional layout with consistent fonts and spacing. Save the flashy graphics for creative fields. ☑ Include a Strong Summary: Start with a compelling summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Make it engaging and tailored to the job you're targeting. ☑ Highlight Skills: Clearly list your core skills and competencies. Be honest and focus on those that are directly relevant to the position. ☑ Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free from typos and grammatical errors. A polished resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism. ☑ Add a Personal Touch: Include a brief section on your interests or volunteer work. This can help convey your personality and values beyond your professional skills. Your resume is your first impression; make it count! 🚀 If you found these tips useful, please repost ♻ and follow me, Kumud Deepali R. for more insights and advice on jobs and career!

Good morning job seekers! For many job seekers who are feeling stuck, I find that helping them to change the story, or more specifically, change how they TELL the story is a good way to get out of a rut. Before I was a job seeking expert, I spent the majority of my career in senior roles in marketing and communications. So much of marketing and branding is about clear messaging and communications. This is especially true for job seekers. As a job seeker, you are a product in the marketplace of job seekers. Here's where job seekers hold power: Companies spend millions of dollars trying to convince consumers of their differentiators and how their product will solve problems and improve lives. In much the same way, job seekers who authentically communicate their differentiators, their ability to solve problems, their proven skills and expertise and the overall value they bring to a company will be the job seeker who gets a job offer. Try this: 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 Most candidates talk about: - Their experience - Their tasks - Their job titles But hiring managers care about one thing: “𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙢 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙮, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚?” Shift the conversation to: ➡️ The business challenge you understand ➡️ The outcome you can deliver ➡️ How your past accomplishments are predictors of future success ➡️ The value you create (See below on Impact!) Example shift: ❌“I have 15 years of marketing experience.” ➡️ “I have a proven track record of leading and motivating teams and elevating brand visibility across digital, print, web, and internal communication channels." Follow it up with specific stories and examples of success that are tied to the job you are applying and the challenges they face. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆 By the time someone interviews you, they skimmed your resume. They know your work chronology. Now they want to hear, from your mouth, your stories that show proof of accomplishment and stories of how you operate to achieve results. Change the conversation to: ➡️Revenue you helped grow ➡️Processes you improved ➡️Money/time you saved ➡️Teams you led ➡️Problems you solved 𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲 Instead of waiting to be evaluated, the best candidates evaluate the role and diagnose the needs by having authentic questions of their future employer. Try these: ➡️“What’s the biggest problem you’re hoping this hire will solve in the first 90 days?” ➡️“What would a win look like for this position six months from now?” ➡️“Where is the team struggling right now?” ➡️“What capabilities are missing that you desperately need?” This immediately reframes you as: ✔ a strategist ✔ a peer ✔ a solution, not a supplicant

I’ve been interviewing candidates for a new role and there’s one thing I’ve seen 90% of them struggle with: sharing the story of their career achievements. But don’t worry—I’ve got a simple hack that can help you overcome it: ✏️ Create a monthly ritual to review and document every significant work win, and turn each into a mini-case study. Documenting your wins regularly will save you HOURS when you prep for your next interview—plus it’s great fodder for: ⤷ your annual performance review ⤷ your 1x1s with your manager ⤷ your resume Here’s my 3-step process: 1️⃣ Weekly Check-in: Turn work ➡️ wins ⤷ Start a weekly habit of documenting your wins (grab my free template in the comments). ⤷ Block 30 minutes on your calendar every Friday to hold yourself accountable. ⤷ Ask yourself, “What did I accomplish this week that moved the needle?”   2️⃣ Monthly Recap: Turn wins ➡️ headlines ⤷ Identify 1–2 significant achievements and summarize them using this formula: [Action Verb] + [Specific Metric] + [Timeframe] + [Business Impact] ⤷ Make a bullet-point list (so you can stay organized and repurpose it for your resume later!) ⤷ Include dates and timelines for your own records—you’ll use them in step 3.   3️⃣ Quarterly Story-Building: Headlines ➡️ stories ⤷ Identify your top 3 quarterly wins. ⤷ Start a fresh document and map out each of those wins using the STAR method: ️ ⭐ Situation: What was the context? ️⭐ Task: What was your specific responsibility? ⭐ Action: What steps did you take? ⭐ Result: What measurable outcome did you achieve? ⤷ Ask AI to help you share that information as a story. Here’s the prompt I like to use: ✍ Can you help me turn this achievement into a story using the STAR framework for an upcoming interview for a [title here] role? Please keep it concise. [paste win]   Here’s what this looks like in action 👇 ⤷ Weekly win: March ’23 → Decreased CPA by 28% & increased conversion by 15% ⤷ Monthly recap: Optimized paid search campaigns in March 2023 that decreased CPA by 28% while increasing conversions by 15%, resulting in higher profit margins for the company. ⤷ Quarterly story: When I joined the marketing team in January 2023, our paid search campaigns were generating leads but at a high CPA, with budget constraints approaching in Q2.I was tasked with reducing CPA without sacrificing lead volume. In March 2023, I audited our campaigns and implemented three key changes: restructured ad groups with tightly-themed keywords, refined match types with strategic negative keywords, and A/B tested value-focused ad copy. By month-end, these optimizations decreased cost-per-acquisition by 28% while increasing conversion volume by 15%, saving budget and creating a scalable framework for future campaigns. What are your tips for storytelling in your interviews? I’d love to hear them. 

“How do I ensure my resume stands out when applying for a new job?” Here’s what I learned from my time in recruiting at Meta, Salesforce, and Google: Speak to the role you want, not the one you have. Let me explain: You could have an amazing background, but if you don’t relate it to the role at hand, recruiters and hiring managers will likely pass on your application. It’s all about how you position yourself. Here’s an example: Imagine you are a recruiter reviewing resumes. You come across two candidates who on paper have the same titles and years of experience. However, you’ve got hundreds of applications to review and have to choose which one to move forward with. Candidate 1: Simply lists what their job responsibilities are and what they have done in the past regardless of whether or not it’s related to the role at hand. Candidate 2: Connects the dots for their reader by speaking to their relevant experience related to the role, their results, and their impact. Provides evidence as to how they can solve this company’s specific problems by addressing each minimum requirement or bullet point listed on the job description. See the difference and why the recruiter would be more inclined to go with Candidate 2? Again, speak to the role you want, not the one you have. Make it easy for your reader to understand why you are a good fit for the role and provide evidence as to how you’ve solved similar problems in the past. Have you been speaking to the role you want, not the one you have? - Found this helpful? Follow Brenna Lasky for more posts like this and like and share to help your network.

As a recruiter, I’ve reviewed countless resumes, and one thing is clear: the most successful candidates know how to sell their skills effectively. A well-crafted resume isn’t just a list of jobs; it’s a story of your accomplishments and capabilities. Here are some key words and phrases that can make your resume shine: 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘀: Words like led, managed, optimized, and spearheaded show that you take initiative and get results. 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲: Whether it’s project management, data analysis, or sales strategy, highlight what you’re great at—be specific! 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆-𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀: Use relevant jargon that speaks to your field. Agile, SEO, or UX/UI Design can make your resume more relevant to the role. 𝗔𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 & 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀: Numbers matter! Use words like increased, boosted, or generated to show your impact—especially when you can back it up with data. 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Whether you mentored, directed, or coordinated teams, showcasing these experiences highlights your ability to lead and collaborate effectively. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺-𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴: Employers love candidates who can innovate, resolve, and streamline processes—demonstrating your value in solving complex challenges is key. 𝗦𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: Things like adaptability, communication, and emotional intelligence can make all the difference in the workplace. Be sure to showcase them where appropriate! 𝗧𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀: Take a look at the job description before you submit your resume. Tailoring your resume to the specific role with the right keywords can make all the difference—especially for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)! Don’t underestimate the power of a well-written resume. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀! #Recruiting #JobSearch #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #Hiring #JobSeeker #CareerGrowth #JobTips