The #1 must-know tip for an effective resume

April 12, 3:22 PMResumes ExaminerLaura Smith-Proulx, CCMC, CPRW, CIC

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Struggling to get noticed in the job market? There's a common mistake you might be making on your resume--and it's one that can keep you down for the count.

Most professionals, who've learned the basics of resume writing in college or from a book, fail to understand that a resume ISN'T a reverse chronological listing of the duties and tasks in previous jobs. This becomes quite obvious when they write a resume that buries critical information.

When you give your resume the marketing treatment, you'll quickly realize that you need to get ALL your main qualifications up front for the reader to absorb.

As they said in my journalism studies, DON'T bury the lead!

Putting pivotal, attention-grabbing information on your resume, up front, on the top half of the first page, is the #1 secret to getting noticed during a job hunt.

This advice applies to nearly everyone in today's job market, whether you're just starting out or have held a long, successful tenure in your industry.

Just started a high-level MBA program? Get it on the front page. Held roles of increasing scope that lead to your destination as CEO? Make it obvious.

Don't relegate this type of key information on page 2 of your resume. The top half of the first page is prime "resume real estate," and your main qualifications deserve center stage here.

In addition, many executives and professionals benefit from a branding statement, which is a short sentence that serves as a marketing tagline. You can develop this sentence by jotting down some ideas on what you bring to the table, and how you achieve it.

Think of a branding statement as a headline, or the marquee that advertises your most compelling credentials to the audience (meaning employers).

A great branding tagline will tap into the heart of what you offer, such as these examples culled from the front-page position on executive resumes: "COO Who Leverages Business Competencies to Create Profitable Ventures with Exceptional ROI" or "Strategic & Operational Leader for Real Estate Investment/Master Planning."
 

Overall, it's important to remember that employers are overloaded with responses to EACH job. Make it easier for them--and more effective for YOU--to get the information they need from your resume!

Keep the key components of your most attractive qualifications positioned up front. You'll see a marked difference in the impact, and in your eventual success rate.