Creating a Masterpiece Resume

I. Introduction

Your resume is a crucial tool in your job search journey, serving as the first impression potential employers have of you. It is the key component of your application that can determine your success or failure as a candidate. To effectively advocate for yourself, your resume must be able to accomplish several things, including making a positive impact within the brief 7-second review, standing out during a hiring manager's thorough examination, and passing any artificial intelligence screening processes.

A well-crafted resume can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview by offering hiring managers a clear and comprehensive overview of your studies, special projects, prior positions, and notable achievements. Despite this, many outdated beliefs and misconceptions persist in the realm of resume writing, leading to subpar resumes that fail to accurately showcase your abilities. To ensure that your resume stands out and effectively communicates your strengths, stay informed about the latest tips and tricks in resume writing and create a document that will help you shine in the competitive job market.

The Purpose of This Week's Newsletter

The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with a comprehensive guide to creating a standout resume that effectively showcases your skills and experiences. While there is no one perfect way to write a resume, there are certain elements and practices that can greatly increase your chances of success. Drawing from my professional experience, as well as insights from leading companies such as Harvard, Google, Microsoft, and Boeing, this newsletter will provide you with the latest tips and tricks to create a resume that stands out.

In my experience, I have come across resumes that lack basic information needed for a role, or have gaps in skills and incomplete thoughts. I have also seen resumes that highlight aspirations for completely different roles or niches. This newsletter aims to address these common issues and provide you with guidance on how to avoid these red flags in your resume. By following the tips and tricks outlined in this newsletter, you can create a document that accurately reflects your abilities and helps you secure your next job opportunity.

II. Understanding the Basics of Resume Writing: Essential Elements of a Resume

Contact Information

Contact information is a crucial aspect of a resume, but it is also important to prioritize online safety. The following are important considerations when it comes to including your contact information in your resume:

1. Include your full legal name and, if applicable, a preferred nickname in parentheses.
2. Avoid including a picture on your resume. Instead, consider including a title, such as BSN, MBA, PMP, or SHRM, to showcase your professional accomplishments.
3. When posting your resume on external websites, such as career boards or LinkedIn, limit your contact information to your email address only. This will help to protect your privacy and prevent the potential release of sensitive personal information.
4. When applying directly to a company's website, such as boeing.com/careers, it is appropriate to include your full contact information, including your phone number, email, zip code, and city.
5. Use a professional email address that reflects your name and, if possible, your professional title. This will help to avoid any negative impressions and ensure that your resume is taken seriously.
6. Ensure that you have a voicemail box set up, as not having one can be frustrating for potential employers trying to reach you. Consider using a Google Voice number to protect your privacy.
7. Avoid using phone numbers from outside of the U.S., as this can raise red flags and make it difficult for potential employers to contact you. Consider obtaining a U.S.-based phone number for professional purposes.

Legal Obligations

When it comes to including legal information in your resume, it is important to be clear and concise. Here are some key considerations:

1. Work VISA: If you are eligible for a work VISA, consider stating this on your resume. You may also include the type of VISA you have and its expiration date, if you choose.
2. US Person: If you are a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, consider using the term "US Person" or "Export Control Eligible" on your resume. You may also choose to use terms such as "US Citizen" or "Green Card Holder" as a personal preference.
3. Security Clearance: If you are eligible for a U.S. security clearance, consider stating this on your resume. If you already have a clearance, indicate the type and its current status (active or inactive).
4. SSBI/Tier 5 Investigation: If you have completed a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) or Tier 5 Investigation, consider including this information on your resume, along with the date it was completed.

Summary or Objective Statement

A summary statement is preferred over an objective statement as it showcases your accomplishments and qualifications for the role. When creating your summary statement, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Avoid using the summary for cover letter-style talk or discussing aspirations for a different role or niche.
2. Use the summary to highlight your top five impressive accomplishments, such as years of experience, relevant degrees or certifications, team leadership, cost savings, or technical expertise. Make sure to focus on achievements that are relevant to the job you are applying for.
3. Use specific, quantifiable examples to showcase your impact and value, rather than just listing general skills or experiences.

Education

Education is a critical component of a strong resume, as it highlights your knowledge and skills. When including education on your resume, it is important to make sure the information is relevant and meaningful to the job you are applying for.

It is recommended to include the following information in your education section:

• Degree earned
• Major
• Relevant minor (if applicable)
• GPA (if above 3.0)
• Awards and honors
• Location and year of graduation

For example, if you are applying for a role in marketing, you might include the following information in your education section:

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, XYZ University, 3.8 GPA, Magna Cum Laude, Graduated in 2020
• Relevant coursework: Consumer Behavior, Integrated Marketing Communications, Digital Marketing

In addition, if you are currently enrolled in school, it is important to be transparent about your expected graduation date and include relevant coursework. This information can be helpful for potential employers to gauge your level of commitment and dedication to your education and future career.

Work Experience

Hiring managers are interested in the specifics of your work experience, including the tools and processes used, and the final products produced.

1. When applying for leadership or management roles, be sure to highlight your leadership style and team size.
2. Include significant achievements that demonstrate your impact and value, not just a list of daily duties.
3. Use action-oriented language to showcase your contributions and impact.

Your work experience is a key component of your resume, as it provides insight into your skills and accomplishments in previous roles. Hiring managers are interested in the specifics of your work experience, including the tools and processes you used and the final products produced.

When including work experience on your resume, it is important to use action-oriented language to showcase your contributions and impact. Additionally, include significant achievements that demonstrate your value, rather than just a list of daily duties.

For example, if you are applying for a role as a project manager, you might include the following information in your work experience section:

• Project Manager, ABC Company, 2020-PresentLed a cross-functional team of 10 members to deliver 5 successful projects on time and within budget
• Implemented agile project management methods, resulting in a 20% increase in team productivity and on-time delivery of projects
• Utilized Scrum framework to prioritize and track tasks, leading to improved collaboration and communication among team members
• Conducted daily stand-up meetings to ensure project progress and address any roadblocks, resulting in increased project velocity

In addition, if you are applying for a leadership or management role, be sure to highlight your leadership style and team size in your work experience section.

Skills and Achievements

Your skills and achievements are a critical component of your resume, as they demonstrate your expertise and credibility. When including skills and achievements on your resume, it is important to include specific examples that showcase your skills and accomplishments.

For example, you might include the following information in your skills and achievements section:

• Articles you have written and published in industry-related magazines or journals
• Memberships in professional organizations, such as the Project Management Institute (PMI)
• Presentations you have given at conferences or events
• Certifications, such as a PMP (Project Management Professional) or SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) certification
• Awards and recognition received, such as a "Top Performer" award or "Employee of the Month" recognition
• Including this information on your resume can demonstrate your commitment to your professional development and your expertise in your field.

III. Common mistakes to avoid

1. Typos and grammatical errors: This can be a red flag for potential employers, indicating that you may not be detail-oriented or have a lack of attention to detail. A single typo can give the impression that you don't take the hiring process seriously. Before submitting your resume, double-check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
2. Overuse of industry jargon: Hiring managers may not be familiar with all the technical terms used in your industry, so using too much industry jargon can be confusing and detract from your message. Focus on clearly communicating your experience and qualifications in plain language.
3. Including irrelevant information: Stick to information that is relevant to the job you are applying for. Including irrelevant information such as old jobs or hobbies can distract from the key points that you want to emphasize.
4. Excessive length or clutter: Keep your resume concise and focused. Avoid long blocks of text or clutter that can make it difficult for hiring managers to quickly find the information they are looking for.
5. A lack of focus or direction: A well-crafted resume should have a clear focus and direction. Ensure that your resume highlights your skills, qualifications, and experience in a way that is directly relevant to the job you are applying for.
6. Including a picture of yourself: Including a picture of yourself is not necessary and can actually be detrimental to your chances of getting hired. Hiring managers may form unfair opinions based on your appearance, which can be illegal. Focus on highlighting your skills and qualifications instead.
7. Using an infographic format: Infographic resumes may look flashy and modern, but they can actually hinder your chances of getting hired. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and other recruitment tools are not always able to process the information contained in these types of resumes. Stick to a simple, clean, and professional format instead.
8. Including personal information: Marital status, number of children, citizenship status, and other personal information should not be included on your resume. This information is irrelevant to the hiring process and can even be illegal.
9. Not indicating visa sponsorship needs: If you require visa sponsorship, it's important to clearly state this in your resume. This will save time for both you and the hiring manager.
10. Not indicating eligibility for clearance: If you are applying for a role in the defense sector, it's important to indicate whether you are eligible for clearance and which type(s) you are eligible for. This information is crucial for the hiring process and can give you a competitive edge.
11. Poor format and presentation: A messy or poorly formatted resume can give the impression that you are not detail-oriented or don't take the hiring process seriously. Ensure that your resume is well-organized and presented in a professional manner.

IV. Tips for making your resume stand out

Tailor Your Resume for Specific Job Opportunities

Tailoring your resume to specific job opportunities is a great way to make it stand out from other applicants. Here's how to do it:

• Research the job and the company. This will help you understand the company's mission and culture, as well as the specific skills and experience the role requires.
• Highlight relevant skills and experience. Be sure to focus on the skills and experience that are most relevant to the job you're applying for. This will help you showcase your subject matter expertise and set yourself apart from other applicants.
• Match the tone and style of the job description. Pay attention to the language and tone used in the job description, and try to match it in your resume. This will help you demonstrate that you have a strong understanding of the role and the company.
• Use keywords from the job description. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so be sure to include keywords from the job description to increase your chances of getting through the initial screening process.

Highlight Your Achievements

In addition to tailoring your resume to specific job opportunities, it's also important to highlight your achievements. This will help you showcase your impact and value as an employee, and set yourself apart from other applicants. Here are some tips for highlighting your achievements:

• Use action-oriented language. Rather than simply listing your daily duties, use language that demonstrates your contributions and impact. For example, instead of saying "managed a team," you could say "led a team of 10 people to achieve a 20% increase in productivity."
• Focus on results. When highlighting your achievements, be sure to focus on the results you achieved. This will help you demonstrate the value you bring to a company.

Use a Clear, Professional Format

Finally, it's important to use a clear, professional format for your resume. A well-formatted resume will help you stand out from other applicants, and make it easier for hiring managers to quickly see your skills and experience. Here are some tips for formatting your resume:

• Use a clean, professional font. Stick to commonly used fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Keep it simple and uncluttered. Avoid using excessive graphics or decorations, as these can be distracting and take away from the content of your resume.
• Use bullet points and clear headings. Bullet points and clear headings will help you organize your information and make it easier for hiring managers to quickly see your skills and experience.

Using keywords and action verbs

Keywords are terms or phrases that employers often use in job descriptions. It can help to use the style of "Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)" instead of just "ATS" because not all members of the hiring party understand what you mean. This is like Industry Jargon. Another could be a weird and irrelevant title a company uses that other employers wouldn't know what it means. Do be sure to use keywords like tools, languages, systems, and tasks.

Action verbs describe your accomplishments and responsibilities. Don't use odd descriptive action verbs that wouldn't already be in your daily use. Try to keep it in a format that helps identify it's relevancy. Instead of "Increased revenue by 25%" try "Increased revenue by 25% through the implementation of cost-saving measures and streamlining of sales processes, resulting in a more efficient and profitable sales operation."

Using keywords and action verbs can make your resume more searchable and attention-grabbing. That is why we write things out and refer to items in 2 different ways to ensure that a recruiter's key word searches actually populate.

Example: "Implemented agile project management methods, resulting in a 20% increase in team productivity and on-time delivery of projects. Utilized Scrum framework to prioritize and track tasks, leading to improved collaboration and communication among team members. Conducted daily stand-up meetings to ensure project progress and address any roadblocks, resulting in increased project velocity."

In this example, there are multiple key words. This increases the chances of the resume being found by recruiters searching for these keywords, as well as for related terms such as "agile methodology," "Scrum methodology," "project management methods," and "team collaboration."

Highlighting your achievements and qualifications

When it comes to creating a standout resume, it's important to highlight your achievements and qualifications.

• Focus on the Results: Employers want to see what you've accomplished in your previous roles, not just a list of your responsibilities. Be sure to focus on the results you achieved, and quantify them wherever possible.
• Use Quantifiable Data: To truly demonstrate your impact, use quantifiable data. For example, instead of saying "I increased sales," say "I increased sales by 20%." This shows the hiring manager exactly what you accomplished and the impact you had.
• Showcase Your Unique Skills and Talents: Your resume is an opportunity to showcase your unique skills and talents. Highlight anything that sets you apart from other candidates, such as a proficiency in a foreign language, expertise in a particular software, or a certification in a specific field.

Defense Sector Specific

• Emphasize security clearance: If you have a security clearance, make sure to highlight it prominently on your resume. This is a critical aspect of many jobs in the defense sector, and it’s important to make sure recruiters are aware of your clearance level right away.
• Highlight relevant experience: The defense sector is highly specialized, so it’s important to focus on your relevant experience, including any military or civilian service, and any experience in a related field, such as engineering, logistics, or technology. Make sure to highlight your skills and accomplishments, and quantify your results whenever possible.
• Use industry-specific language: Make sure to use industry-specific language and terminology when writing your resume. This will help you stand out to recruiters who are familiar with the defense sector, and it will also help demonstrate your expertise and knowledge.
• Emphasize your technical skills: Many jobs in the defense sector require technical skills, so make sure to highlight your expertise in areas such as software engineering, network security, or data analysis. Be specific about the tools, technologies, and systems you have experience with.
• Focus on your achievements: In the defense sector, it’s not just about what you did, but also about what you accomplished. Make sure to highlight your achievements, including any successful projects you’ve led or any improvements you made to existing systems or processes.
• Proofread and edit carefully: As with any resume, make sure to proofread and edit your resume carefully before submitting it. This is particularly important in the defense sector, where mistakes or typos could be viewed as a lack of attention to detail.

V. The role of technology in resume writing

Utilizing resume builders and templates

• Resume builders offer pre-written content and formatting options
• Templates provide a starting point for creating a professional-looking resume
• Be careful to not use templates with graphics, outline style format, or anything other than boring. It should have all the essential elements included

Leveraging AI and machine learning in resume analysis

• AI and machine learning can help identify strengths and weaknesses in your resume. Use a tool such as Chat GPT to analyze your resume. Ask it prompts like, "Act as a hiring manager and give a summary of the following resume based on candidacy for a electrical engineering position with Boeing" or "Act like a professional resume writer and identify red flags and obstacles in the following resume"
• These tools can provide suggestions for improvement and increase your chances of getting noticed.
• Remember that AI is heavily integrated into many company's tools and systems. You want to keep the format very simple and ensure that you use proper headers, titles, and descriptive language. Just as you need AI to understand, you need to be able to help HR understand your resume, too.

VI. Best practices for presenting your resume

Formatting and design

• Use a clear and easy-to-read font, such as Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
• Utilize bullet points, headings, and white space to make your resume visually appealing and easier to scan.
• Minimize the use of graphics, photos, or other embellishments, as these can be distracting and take away from the content of your resume.
• Ensure consistency by selecting all content (CTRL-A) and formatting it with the same font, letter size, and spacing.

Length

• It is a common misconception that a resume should only be one to two pages. However, with the ability to click to the next page, it is more important to focus on the content and relevance of your resume.
• Highlight only the most important and relevant information, and avoid excessive detail or industry jargon that can make your resume unnecessarily lengthy.
• To save space, you can use a smaller font size (e.g. 8 instead of 12), and narrow margins to create more white space.

Proofreading and editing

• Thoroughly review your resume for typos, grammatical errors, and other mistakes.
• Seek feedback from a trusted professional or mentor, who can provide constructive criticism and help you improve your resume.

VII. Conclusion

In closing, writing a resume can be a daunting task, but with the right guidance and tips, it can be a successful and fulfilling process. By following the best practices outlined in this article, you can create a polished and professional resume that accurately reflects your skills and experience. Don't be afraid to seek feedback from a trusted professional or mentor, and always remember to proofread and edit your resume thoroughly. With a well-crafted resume in hand, you will be well on your way to securing your dream job. Good luck!