Resume Transformation - The 1 “Magic” Word That Transforms Your Resume / CV

Your resume is of course is your ticket to job interviews, but, if you're like
most people, your resume can do with improving. I had a phone call very
recently that relates to this. The caller asked:

“What's the one thing that I can do to change my resume that will have
the most impact.”

I said that there's no single “magic bullet” as a truly great resume comes
from doing a lot of things right. However, there is one word that
99% of people don't use, but if used properly can have a dramatic
effect on the number of interviews you're invited to.

The “magic” word to add to your resume is….. “Achievements”.

Here's why…

When writing a resume, for each previous position most people
will just use the title “Responsibilities” and just list previous
responsibilities. This is not a bad thing, as some responsibilities should be listed
for each position that you have held.

But it is an “average” thing. It makes your resume look pretty much
like everyone's resume. And no hiring manager, company or senior executive wants to
hire an “average” candidate. In all my years as a recruiter, if the resume looked average, the
candidate didn't get an interview.

I'd learned that those who made the hiring decision would just
reject average-looking resumes. So when screening resumes I'd reject
average ones before they even reached the hiring authority. It's important for me to point out though that just because a
resume is average it doesn't mean that a candidate is. What happens is that resumes are often “responsibility focused” rather than “achievement focused” and can make even a great
candidate look average.

So what's the solution…?

1. Under each position title on your resume add the word
“Achievements”.

2. List 2 to 4 of your achievements in each position BEFORE you
list your responsibilities for each position.

3. Achievements come in various shapes and sizes, so here's
some pointers to help get you thinking:

- increased revenues
- increased profits
- saved time
- saved money
- found a more efficient way of doing things
- won an award
- organized successful event/product launch/other
- recognized for your contribution
- promoted
- given a bonus

Of course, if you supported an individual or a team that did any
of the above, it becomes an achievement for you.

What will be the outcome of changing my resume?

1. Instantly your resume will contain the word “Achievements”, which
in itself helps recruiters to see you as an achiever, rather than
an average candidate.

2. Secondly, it will help you to focus on achievements rather than
just responsibilities. A resume which has achievements running right
through it will get and hold a recruiter's attention much faster than
a resume which just lists responsibilities.

3. If done properly, it will of course lead to more interviews.

The one goal of your resume is to get you interviews and so this one
change to your resume will help to get you noticed.