Oh,
the resume. It’s amazing how so much work can go into one little piece of
paper. I spent hours tweaking my resume for my B-school
applications. Come to find out, once you get in, you do an entire upheaval
of the resume AGAIN!
Here
are a few tips we’re using now that could get you a head start on a perfect
page:
Word Choice Matters: We all want
strong and active verbs within our bullet points. Yet, somehow it is
tempting to just pick the first word the thesaurus gives as another way to say
“worked”. Word choice is imperative in giving the reader a glimpse into
your actual contribution to a project. Get more specific if a lot of your
words sound like “assisted”, “contributed” or “supported”. Ask yourself
what YOU actually did on the project. Did you CREATE anything? IMPLEMENT
anything? IMPROVE anything? Those make a stronger case for individual
contribution.
Looking Forward: Shift your thinking of
the resume from a document detailing what you did in the past, to a highlight
reel of why you’d be great for the job you want in the future. Think about
what characteristics and attributes are needed for success in the field in
which you want to work. Then, construct your resume in a way that shows
your strengths and experiences in those areas.
Explain Results: Anytime you can
give insight of the result of your action, do it! How much did you
increase sales? Was your proposal implemented throughout the
company? In certain industries, results are less tangible. Ask
yourself, “What happened due to my actions on this project? Why did this
matter?” And don’t be afraid to get creative in ways to explain the impact of
your projects.
It’s
true that a resume can’t truly encapsulate everything about you as a person,
but hopefully these tips will help you project the best possible image of
yourself and your work experience!
Good
Luck!
Tricia Felice, Forte Fellow
MBA 2014, The University of
Chicago Booth School of Business
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