The One Question Your Resume Must Answer

The One Question Your Resume Must Answer The One Question Your Resume Must Answer In1482, Leonardo Da Vinci wrotewhat many consider to be the first modern resume. To this day, resumesremain the main tool people useto apply for jobs.While there are all sorts ofvisual improvements and designs job seekers can use to catch an employers attention, the content of a resume is what really matters at the end of the day. The candidates who stand outare those whose resumes answer one key questionHow Is Your Previous Employer Different as a Result of You Working There?This question may seem more suitable for an interviewthan a resume, and in many ways it is. However, beginning to answer it on your resume will give you a head startover other applicants.But how, exactly, do you answer this question on your resume? Dont imagine youll just answer it directly with a single bullet under each of your previous jobs. Instead, the answer should be woven into every part of your resume. Only this way can you show the impact youve had in previous companies.First, think about all your responsibilities at previous jobs. Then, list out the results youve achieved by carrying out those responsibilities. If youre having trouble remembering what, exactly, you achieved in previous jobs, jog your memory byreading old emails and searching through old LinkedIn messages.Once you have your responsibilities and their connected results, you can write each bullet of your work experience section in a way that highlights your results. Remember Its about your impact, not your responsibilities.You can do the same thing in other sections of your resume, such as your list of strengths, achievements, or side projects. For example, instead of just naming a strength, add a short description of the impact youmade by leveraging that strength. This helps employers imagine what you could do for them if they were to hire you.Beware ofSeeming ArrogantIt may seem like this is a question about your specific achievem ents, but focusing too much on those can make you seem like a braggart. In reality, the question is about the companies youve worked for and the legacy youve left at each one. It is about the cumulative effect of your contribution and how the company changedbecause of you.Its great that you hitall your quarterly goals for the entire year - but how does that affect the companys bottom line? If you were to write a bullet point focused on this, youd want to frame it in terms of revenue, market share, or ROI for customers - in terms of the businesss benefit, not your own.Example Resume BulletsHere are a few examples of how to make sure your resume answers the all-important questionDeveloped a marketing strategy that took the company from 2% to 20%month-over-month revenue growthBuilt6 websites from scratch created 100PowerPoint presentations authored scores of newsletters grew social media communities as a result, our CRM grew from 0 prospects tomore than 15,00033 percent year-over-yea r improvement in department productivityDrove team to achieve the best direct rates in the buildings history- Writing a resume is like writing anything else Its always important to keep your audience in mind. By centering your resume on the question of how you have changed your previous employers, you are giving your readers the information they need most. This will help your potential employer understand what you can bring to the table and why you are a suitable candidate.Tatiana Rehmova does media relations and content at Enhancv.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career. Like this article? We also offer tons of free eBooks on career and recruiting topics - check out Get a Better Job the Right Way and Why It Matters Who Does Your Recruiting. document.write(Read more ) in Resume