Dear Ellen,
My question is pretty simple (and I’m sure it’s one that you get ALL the time).
I’m fresh out of college and applying for jobs. I haven’t been able to land any interviews, and I think it’s because my resume kinda sucks. It’s boring and sounds like it was written by a robot. But isn’t that what employers want — a “professional” tone?
There’s so much advice out there about how to write a great resume, but I’m feeling overwhelmed. I just want to present my skills in the best possible way — and get noticed.
Do you have any tips on how to write a jaw-droppingly-amazing resume?
Please help!
Big Dreams, Sucky Resume
Dear Big Dreams,
Ask ten people “Do you like writing and updating your resume?” and you’ll hear ten incredibly loud NO’s.
You’re not alone, Big Dreams. Most people hate working on their own resumes, and will do just about anything to procrastinate and avoid the dreaded task!
(That’s why there are people like me — “resume” oddballs who love resume editing + are happy to help!)
I LOVE resume editing because I LOVE stories.
And that’s exactly what your resume needs to do: Tell a great story.
Here are three pieces of advice for you, Big Dreams, and for anyone else who is struggling to craft a really, really good resume:
1. Tell your story so that the reader understands what you get EXCITED about. (Remember: when somebody asks, “What kind of job are you interested in?” what they’re secretly asking is: “What are you PASSIONATE about?”)
2. Be specific. Just don’t say, “I was a columnist for the Daily Californian.” Say something like, “I was a sports editor for our award-winning school newspaper, The Daily Californian, and wrote 50 columns over the course of 2 years.”
3. Make sure your resume is attractive and easy to read. Use a SIMPLE template — no fancy, swirly fonts. Double-triple-quadruple-check for spelling mistakes. You can use Grammarly.com to electronically spell-check and grammar-check your resume. (It’s amazing!)
Want a little more help? Check out my free worksheet: How To Craft A Resume That’s Inspiring To Read (And Inspiring To Write!)
Want even more help? Hire me to do a professional editing job on your resume.
It’s one of my favorite things to do — and over the years, I’ve helped many, many people go from “ignored” to “hired!”
Writing a resume isn’t impossible, Big Dreams, and it doesn’t have to feel like a chore.
If you can fill out an online dating profile…or write a bit of info about yourself on Twitter or Facebook…or have a conversation with a friend about what excites you + what you want to pursue in your career…you can write a resume, too.
Remember: you already know how to tell a good story. You tell stories all the time. At school. At parties. On dates. With friends.
Your resume is just a simple story about someone you happen to know very well…you!
Yours,
Ellen
Image: Willie Franklin