As workplaces adjust to the “new normal,” executives seeking jobs need to utilize the latest resume strategies to get the attention of hiring executives to get their dream jobs.
“Many people think a resume is a professional biography, sharing details on everything you’ve ever done at every place you’ve worked. This isn’t the case,” said Jessica Hernandez, president of Great Resumes Fast, resume writing services company based in Jacksonville, Florida, serving executives nationwide.
Your resume should be written to the future – to the position you want to obtain. To do that, your resume needs three things: personal branding, a wow factor, and quantifiable accomplishments. Combining these makes a powerful first impression that helps you stand out from other applicants,” she said.
Personal branding is simple. It tells the story of your qualifications and successes while boldly weaving the golden thread of your passion, personality, work/leadership style, and other unique identifiers. It’s saying this is who I am, and this is who I am not.
Start with a strong branding statement at the top of your resume. You’ll combine your headline and branding statement to create a value proposition that appeals to your target employer. This statement must be clear, concise, and resonate with hiring managers.
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If you struggle with this, we’ll be happy to discuss how we can help you develop your unique personal brand and incorporate it into your documents during a resume strategy session.
Wow factor refers to what is the most important, impressive, and valuable information about you as a candidate for THIS job.
Your wow factor differentiates you from other candidates, so you’re not blending into the stack.
Your wow statements need to be specific. They must tell the hiring manager what you did, not what you were responsible for.
Your wow statements will go in your summary, experience section, honors and awards section, and education section, if applicable.
Here are examples of wow statements from our past clients. Note these statements don’t start with “responsible for” or “duties include.”
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- Developed and deployed a curriculum that reached 4,000+ team members, implemented new strategies at the pace of business – rapidly shifted learning from in-person to virtual programming during COVID-19.
- Navigated URAC accreditation to halt 60% loss of business within first eight months by overhauling clinical operations, building policies and procedures, and revamping training.
- Overhauled processes and practices to deliver $10M in soft savings through 4x increases in efficiencies and productivity.
Each statement includes metrics, high-priority keywords, and strong action verbs that convey impact. These statements resonate with employers.
Want to capture the hiring manager’s attention instantly? Then you must write with meaning and power. Steer clear of writing like this:
I was responsible for creating a new office procedure manual.
Instead, write with strength and impact like this:
Decreased costs 22% after developing and launching new office procedure manual.
Numbers, dollars, and percentages are powerful because they communicate proven factual data. They’re measurable and show employers the value you can deliver.
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[To share your insights with us, please write to sghosh@martechseries.com]