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One of the challenges of writing a strong resume is taking so much information about your background and distilling it down into the important themes.
Since hiring managers don’t really read resumes, but rather scan them for just a few seconds, it is critical to hook them quickly with a clear and compelling message of value.
Long lists of random accomplishments are less likely to be read unless there is a value theme attached to them.
Think about how you read information on a website or on the feed for a business/social networking site like LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. You aren’t reading the content, word for word. You are scanning it, looking for what is important to you. Try to apply that same strategy to your resume to increase the likelihood that your reader will pick up the quality information about your candidacy on their initial scan.
Here are three strategies for creating powerful resumes based on quality themes to help your reader quickly understand the benefits you could bring to their organization.
Strategy One – Keyword Themes
Think about what the most important skills are for the role you are pursuing. Study the keywords that are used in the job description. Link each of those keywords to proof of your success.
Example - for an Asset Securitization Director….
- Business Development…Helped build desk’s client base from eight to 22 companies, increase outstanding loan amount from $700M to $5.3B, and propel revenues from $1.8M to $32M in just three years. Grew revenues from $1.7M to $11.7M in less than one year after joining the firm.
- Client Servicing… Instrumental in helping firm achieve #1 warehouse lender status, despite competition from close to a dozen larger financial houses. Improved client servicing by streamlining collateral warehouse system and creating customized reports to assist clients in reconciling account activity in a fraction of the time previously required; these new customer-driven reporting tools were quickly embraced as firm best practices.
- Retention… Achieved close to $12M in revenues between 2005 and 2007 after convincing client considering transitioning to a less expensive financing partner to stay with firm.
- Leadership… Only person in Asset Securitization and Financing Group out of 20+ to be promoted twice during tenure. Recruited and trained colleague with no previous mortgage industry experience that went on to be recognized as an outstanding contributor to the firm.
- Risk Management…minimized firm exposure during 2007 credit crunch and fared better than many of the firms’ competitors in the mortgage space by proactively analyzing market trends and recommending conservative mortgage management strategies.
Strategy Two – Competency Themes
If you have two or three main competencies that you need to showcase in your resume, create themed competency categories and group like accomplishments by theme. This helps your reader review quick digestible sound bites of information on you rather than big blocky pieces of texts or a long list of bullets. This strategy also gives the reader the flexibility to decide which category to focus their attention on first without forcing them to wade though too much information.
Example - For a Controller…
M&A Activity
- Reversed previously failed acquisition bid and successfully led $12.5M sale of privately held software company to NYSE-listed buyer by reengineering revenue recognition, restating financial results and spearheading M&A financial due diligence. Appointed CFO and Director of company.
- Developed business case, detailed projections, and industry/competitor information for additional M&A activity including new business with nationwide market.
Financial Growth
- Doubled gross margin (from 20% to 40%), gained greater visibility and control over quality and turnover by converting retail merchandise inventory from manual records to electronic scanning, tracking, and reporting.
- Realized profitability gains of $500K in one year while boosting individual accountability and manager retention by establishing inaugural manager incentive bonus program based on overall site profitability.
Cost Savings and Process Improvements
- Cut excess wage payments by 10% and trimmed non-critical expenses on average 5% across the board for 8 operations; improved budgeting/forecasting capabilities exponentially by restructuring financial statement line items to provide more detail, clarity, visibility, and consistency in revenue and expense line items.
- Unlocked $300K in savings and increased manager accountability by imbedding hourly productivity metric into weekly management reporting and budgeting.
- Slashed time troubleshooting site operating system issues in half (from 6 hours to 3 hours or less) by establishing in-house support versus long-distance telephone support model. The same model also reduced software conversion support costs by 75% while conforming menu offerings to uniform formats.
Strategy Three – Umbrella Themes
If you want to quickly convey your big picture accomplishments, create three or four all-encompassing stories of success and then list the smaller accomplishment steps that led up to the major accomplishment. This strategy allows the ready to view the high level accomplishments with a quick scan and then refocus on the smaller accomplishment based on their level of interest.
Example - For a CFO…
Created the strategic vision and tactical execution plans to propel net income by 150%, expand firm’s expertise, and create a more compelling value proposition for clients.
- Accelerated assets by 20%, added 2 new product lines, and 200 new clients by recommending the acquisition of a complementary asset management company, identifying a suitable target, leading the due diligence efforts, and coordinating the closing of the multimillion-dollar acquisition.
- Garnered a 15% increase in revenues by spearheading a new municipal trading operation; recruited top talent in area and expedited regulatory approval process.
- Proactively recognized the need to expand regulatory licenses within the firm; in just 2 months, acquired certifications as FINRA principal for options, municipal securities, research, finance and operations (FINOP), general securities, and life, health, and property and casualty insurance.
- Converted a 5-day RFP proposal process to less than a one minute process with 100% data accuracy by leveraging relational database competencies to streamline routine inquiries and data requirements.
- Built a $40M book of client assets in just 12 months; improved portfolio management efficiencies and refined pricing strategies by creating a data engine to better track and analyze all accounts.
Bottom Line:
Carefully consider the most effective values that will make your resume stand out from others, presented in a fashion that will capture the reader's eye.
© Copyright Barbara Safani, 2009. Used with permission.
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About This Author:
Barbara Safani, owner of Career Solvers, has over twelve years of experience in career management, recruiting, executive coaching, and organizational development. Ms. Safani partners with both Fortune 100 companies and individuals to deliver targeted programs focusing on résumé development, job search strategies, networking, interviewing, salary negotiation skills, and online identity. Barbara is also the author of Happy About My Resume: 50 Tips for Building a Better Document to Secure a Brighter Future.
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