7 Strategies To Make Your Resume Engaging

Resume Tip Number 1 – Engaging Summary

1. A résumé objective is frowned upon. It has been for over 20 years.

2. The objective used to tell the employer what the candidate wants. Today it is outdated because it is obvious you are looking for a job!

3. The summary is focused on what you, as a candidate, can do for the employer. This is the feel-good section. It’s equivalent to the handshake.

4. Highlighting soft skills here gives your resume a core of humanity.

Resume Tip Number 2 – Engaging Headings

• Use “Core competencies” if you have two to five years of experience or are switching careers. Give categories of your expertise here.

• Use “Professional Expertise” if you have longer work histories. And yes summarize them here.

• Use “Technical Competencies” if you are technically competent. This is a key area especially for people who are applying for technical jobs.

Resume Tip Number 3 – Engaging Experience

1. People end up paying more attention to job duties and descriptions than accomplishments. Don’t do that.

2. Include results, effects and contributions made at your former jobs, along with the company name, job title and years of employment.

3. Keep them short, sweet, concise and compact.

4. State the most important points first.

5. State the most valuable bits first.

6. Avoid stating more than 7.

Resume Tip Number 4 – Engaging Education Highlights

1. Institution, dates attended and the degree or certification you received are listed in the education section.

2. Professional development, continuing education, on-the-job training and other nontraditional education should be included here as well.

3. As a bonus – state something that you are currently doing. Shows you want to learn and grow to become better.

Resume Tip Number 5 – Engaging Finish

1. Over here, add elements that don’t quite fit in any of the other sections.

2. For a technical position, this could include experience with proprietary or customized software.

3. For an executive position, you could include leadership activities.

4. Major awards, recognitions and accomplishments that deserve a little more attention than a detail in another part of the résumé, they can go here.

Resume Tip Number 6 – Engaging All The Way

1. Encapsulate the entire Resume as a package.

2. Have a singularity of Focus & Brand

3. Give the employer something extra to look forward to

4. Ensure everything from the design to the presentation is different

5. Always remember – content is king!

Resume Tip Number 7 – Engaging 101

1. Don’t assume just because you are good at your job, you are also good at Branding, Resume Writing, Interview Skills and Job Searching. Leave this to the Professionals. Being Mentored will improve your chances of being Engaging!