How to Write a Killer Resume

In this article, we’ll go over some key elements that will ensure your resume not only stands out, but also creates a sense of urgency in the hiring manager to contact you. As you will see, by following a few simple rules, you will be able to create a compelling resume that instantly positions you as the ideal candidate for any job you choose to apply for. Furthermore, by spending just a few minutes tailoring your resume to the specific company you’re applying to (it’s simple once you know how), you’ll make the hiring manager feel as if your resume was written specifically for him/her. As a result, you’ll be one of the first candidates they contact for an interview.

Number one: Let’s start at the beginning. The first thing you should include at the top of your resume is your complete contact information. This is made up of four parts:

• Your full name
• Your mailing address
• Your phone number
• Your email address

While this information may seem obvious, you’d be surprised how many people leave out their phone number, email address, or both! As you might expect, leaving out this information makes a bad impression on the hiring manager. Including it at the top saves the hiring manager from having to search through your resume for it, and it also makes it easier for him/her to contact you.

Number two: Keep the formatting simple. This point could easily have been under “What to avoid when writing your resume,” but I wanted to put it here as you prepare to write it. In a nutshell: Keep it simple. Avoid the following:

Make sure you only use text:

• No shading, lines, or borders
• No graphics, logos, or fields
• No templates or PDFs
• No headers, footers, or page numbers
• No underlining or special characters

The reason for this is that whenever you submit your email electronically, there is a good chance that your formatting will be incorrectly transmitted or delivered, which can easily lead to your disqualification. It is estimated that as many as 75% of all resumes are never even seen because of poor formatting!

As a result, KEEP IT SIMPLE.

It is, however, acceptable to use ALL CAPS (where appropriate), as well as Bold or Italics. However, use these sparingly and only to make a specific point.

Number three: Consider keywords. The content of your resume – your headings, summary of experience, and previous job descriptions – should be tailored to the specific position and job posting for which you are applying. Yes, you will need to spend some time tailoring your resume to each specific job you are applying for, but it will pay off BIG TIME. Here are just a few examples:

Summary Section: At the top of your resume, include a brief (two or three sentence) “Summary Section” where you list the specific skills and experience you have that correspond to the position/job you are applying for. While writing a summary section is often overlooked by job applicants, it serves as an easy and quick way for a hiring manager to quickly scan your resume and decide whether or not they want to read it. This is simple (and highly effective) if you take the time to do it correctly.

What you do is examine each job description you are applying for and identify the specific skills, duties, and responsibilities that the job requires. So, if the job description calls for “an aggressive prospector/hunter who is used to making outbound calls,” your summary section should include the following:

I AM A STRONG PROSPECTOR WHO IS USED TO SEARCHING FOR ACCOUNTS.

EXCELS WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN MAKING OUTBOUND CALLS IN ORDER TO GENERATE APPOINTMENTS AND LEADS.

As you can see, this corresponds exactly to what the hiring manager is looking for, and as a result, your resume will stand out among the hundreds of others that haven’t taken the time to do so. Remember that keywords like these (“aggressive,” “hunting,” “outbound calls”) are the specific things that this hiring manager is looking for, and by making it clear in your summary section that you have them, you are effectively saying, “I’m the perfect candidate for you.” Believe me, they will continue to look over your resume.

Prior Work Experience: Following that, you should continue to list these keywords throughout your previous job experience at the companies where it is appropriate. Make sure to use the same keywords in each position where you did outbound calling. As an example:

“I excelled at Safeco International by making a large number of outbound prospecting calls. In this hunter role, I was able to secure up to five new appointments per day.”

Again, as you list these keywords in your previous job experience, the hiring manager will nod his or her head, thinking, “This is the type of person and experience I am looking for.” You should do this for each of your previous jobs (again, where applicable), and it’s simple if you keep a copy of the job description in front of you as you tailor your resume.

Here’s an example of how to transform a dull description (like the one your competition is using) into something that will not only make you stand out, but will make your resume outstanding!

Copy that is tedious:

“My job at Safeco entailed sourcing leads via internet research to find appropriate companies matching our profile. I was then assigned the task of making outbound calls in order to secure appointments. After the appointments were made, I called back to present our solution using a ClearSlide presentation. In addition, I have worked with Sales Force and other CRM systems.”

Have you started yawning yet? The hiring manager certainly is! Here’s how to make things right:

“I was an upper-tier producer on an inside sales team of fifteen reps at Safeco International, a leader in the cloud computing space. Aside from generating my own high-value leads, I aggressively pursued new accounts by cold calling and scheduling up to three new appointments per day. After thoroughly qualifying these prospects, I delivered targeted closing presentations and frequently had the office’s highest closing percentage. I was consistently among the top three closers in the office due to my consultative, yet focused closing approach. I am well-versed in most CRM systems, including Sales Force, and I am a quick learner who can easily adapt to new systems. At Safeco, I learned to develop and hone a comprehensive approach to sourcing, developing, and closing a consistent pipeline of leads, and I am excited to put my skills and experience to use in my next position.”

Which of these resumes would you like to call? Don’t brush this off as extra work. Again, it’s simple, and it makes a HUGE difference in the eyes of the person reading and evaluating your resume. It can frequently mean the difference between your resume being discarded or being contacted to set up an interview with you.

Fourth: Sell Yourself! Your resume is your personal advertisement, and it’s amazing how many people don’t treat it as such. Consider how an ad copywriter would write your resume if it was their job to sell you to a hiring manager. Instead of “Account Representative,” they could write “Outstanding Account Representative who prides himself on providing detailed customer service and timely responses for a complete customer experience.” Can you tell the difference?

Be imaginative and focused on developing a compelling image of yourself. Again, your job when creating a resume is to sell yourself to whoever is reading it. You want to stand out from the crowd of mediocre resumes they receive. And with a little effort, you can do exactly that. Here are a few more examples for you:

“AWARD-WINNING INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE WITH A RECORD OF GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND THE EXPECTATIONS. AGGRESSIVE OUTBOUND CALLING STAR WHO PRIDES HIMSELF ON HIS HUNTING MENTALITY AND IS COMMITTED TO NOT ONLY MEETING BUT EXCEEDING SALES QUOTAS.”

“INSIDE SALES PROFESSIONAL WITH A WINNER MENTALITY WHO WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE A PROVEN PRODUCER WITH A CAN-DO ATTITUDE WHO WILL BE WELCOME ON ANY INSIDE SALES TEAM.”

“AS A PROVEN PRODUCER AND FAST ADAPTER OF NEW SALES SYSTEMS AND SELLING METHODOLOGIES, I AM DETERMINED TO PUT IN THE TIME AND EFFORT REQUIRED TO SUCCEED.”

These types of descriptions can be used at the beginning of your summary or at the end of your work experience section. They also make excellent concluding statements at the end of your resume. The goal is to make a good impression on the hiring manager, as I’m sure you’re beginning to see. The time you spend rewriting your resume in the ways you’re learning here, as well as adapting and customizing it to the specific position you’re applying for, will give you an unmistakable advantage over your “so-called” competition.

Extra Credit is number five. While avoiding the mistakes listed in the previous section and combining the best practices listed above will help you create a killer resume, if you want to put the “icing on the cake,” so to speak, consider including a testimonial or any achievement awards – or both!

Testimonials: At the end of your experience section with that job, include any testimonials. Keep these brief, and as an added bonus, request that your referrer mention that you would be welcome back for rehire. Here’s an illustration:

“PRODUCER OF HIGH ENERGY AND AN AGGRESSIVE PROSPECTOR. MANAGED THE TEAM IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND ATTITUDE ON A REGULAR BASIS. WOULD DEFINITELY BE AVAILABLE FOR REHIRING IF APPLIED FOR HERE AGAIN. Michelle Keller, Safeco INCV.P. .’s of Sales”

Awards for achievement or earned bonuses: Always keep track of any awards or bonuses you receive. Certificates or names on a top producer plate in the office, trophies, or special mentions in emails or the company newsletter could be examples. Furthermore, if you won any trips or received any bonuses, whether daily or weekly, make sure to mention these as well. These should be mentioned at the end of your resume in the “Conclusion” or “In Summary” section. As an example, consider:

“FREQUENT WINNER OF THE WEEKLY CASH BONUS (AWARDED EACH FRIDAY FOR TOP PRODUCER OF THE WEEK) AT SAFECO INTERNATIONAL, I WAS ALSO AWARDED THREE OUT OF TWELVE MONTHS A SPOT ON THE CLOSER OF THE MONTH TROPHY.”

Or

“2015 PRESIDENT’S CLUB WINNER AND RECIPIENT OF THE ‘WEEKEND AWAY’ AWARD TRIP.”

Any and all special awards or acknowledgements you have previously received will not only help you stand out, but will paint a picture of you as someone who has not only succeeded in the past, but will most likely succeed at their company as well.

Conclusion

Most hiring managers are looking for your resume to reassure them that you will be a success. Because hiring a new employee is a time-consuming and costly endeavor, they seek candidates who will be a “low risk” hire and, ideally, as close to a “sure thing” as they can find. You will persuade them of this by taking the time to tailor your resume to their specific job requirements, and then creatively and enthusiastically selling yourself to them on how your skills and experience match up perfectly with what they are looking for.

And by listing your accomplishments, testimonials, and awards, they will feel not only more at ease with you, but also more eager to take you off the market while you’re still available.

Isn’t that the kind of impression you want your resume to make?