October 29th, 2008
Resume Writing for New Graduates
My approach to resume writing for people who are still at an early stage of their careers, is simple: I believe there are 3 key elements to success:
1. Every word should be focused on answering the employer’s only question: what’s in it for me? (What quantifiable benefits will the company gain from hiring you?)
2. The resume design must support your message, communicating key points quickly and clearly. Research shows that resumes are initially scanned for less than 20 seconds. Your readers are busy and simply don’t have time to ‘dig’ to find the key information.
3) Your resume must communicate your personal brand - what is your unique value proposition? When resume writing, ask what do you bring to the table that others don’t? Don’t worry that you don’t have 20 years of experience …. you do have a unique blend of talents, experiences, personal traits and accomplishments that make you who you are. That’s what employers need to know about.