WD Learning Resources

Résumé Writing:  Uncover Your Own Excellence

By Rich Harris

You want your résumé to stand out. You don’t want your résumé to sound like everyone else’s. But, if you’re like me, here’s the problem. I keep using the same worn-out phrases that show up on a million other résumés:  “Supported the department’s cost-cutting efforts.” “Assisted the team in improving efficiency.” “Carried out the responsibilities of training developer.” These phrases may be true, but they don’t tell the right story.

Why does my résumé sound like everyone else’s?

The problem is not writing; the problem is thinking—creative thinking. Most of us are good at what we do, but we have trouble explaining exactly what we do that makes us so successful.

Recently someone asked me, “Rich, just what is it that you do to build ongoing business so successfully when you teach a training seminar?” I was speechless. After mumbling that I wasn’t sure, I went on to make one of those vague statements: “I introduce myself effectively.” That’s how these broad, meaningless bullet points get into our résumés: we simply can’t think of what makes us uniquely excellent, so we settle for the same phrase everyone else uses.

What makes me special?

What makes each of us special—makes us stand out from the crowd—are things that we do without conscious thought. As a motivational speaker and trainer, I don’t go through a workshop thinking to myself, “OK, now tell a story to make people feel relaxed; now give a relevant example; now ask an open-ended question to get audience involvement.” Yet it’s these qualities of voice, examples, and questions—things I do without conscious thought—that enable me to connect with audiences

I call these qualities “excellence points.” And the problem is, How can you get your own excellence points out of your unconscious brain and onto the page of your résumé?

How do I find my own excellence points?

You need a creative thinking tool, and there are three that I have found work well. Each uses a different medium—paper, Microsoft Word, and Web—so you can choose the medium that suits you best. They all have the same result: a concise list of your excellence points.

If you prefer paper, get several pads of Post-It Notes, preferably the smaller ones, plus a desk or table that has been completely cleared.

If you like a word processor, open a new document in Microsoft Word, and select “Outline” view (View, Outline). For right now, ignore the new Outline toolbar that appears; you will see later what to do with it.

If you prefer a nice, free, open-source Web tool, try FreeMind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net. This great tool enables you to tap both sides of your brain by producing a mind map.

How do I get started?

List everything that you do professionally. And I mean everything. Be detailed. Be specific. Get down in the weeds.

For example, you may start by writing, “Manage projects,” but don’t stop there. Go on and write, “Got another department involved in the project.”

Feel free to write in shorthand. For right now, you are the only one who needs to understand what you write.

Above all, don’t edit, don’t cross out, don’t arrange or order items. Just list every, single thing you do. Avoid making any judgments about relevance or priority.

When you are done, you should have at least 35 items, possibly many more.

Be sure to list everything you do, even if no one else knows about it or you do not receive recognition for it. If you do it, it counts!

Important: Before you go on to the next step, make sure your ideas are detailed, and make sure have listed everything.

How do I focus my ideas?

Now group your ideas. Put ideas in groups that make sense to you. If one idea belongs in two groups, then make a copy of the idea and put it in both groups.

Your goal is to group your items according to your own instinct, not according to department functions or other schemes that come from outside yourself.

The end-in-mind is to have about seven major groupings. There is no requirement for how many items must be in a group. A group may have one item or 40 items; it doesn’t matter.

 Important: Before you go on to the next step, check to see you have about seven groups; if you have many more than nine groups, check to see if some can be combined; if you have fewer than five groups, see if some can be broken out.

How do I see the scope of my excellence?

Give a name to each group.

You now have named your major areas of excellence. Many people are surprised to see that their expertise covers such a broad scope of “excellence areas.”

To show the breadth of your accomplishments, your résumé should address every one of your excellence areas. If you are writing a functional résumé, you may use your excellence areas as sections of your résumé.

How do I choose my excellence points?

Within each excellence area, choose one to three items that best meet the following criteria:

·        I am extremely proud of this item.

·        This item was highly beneficial.

Your goal is to have about 12 excellence points. If you have more than 12 points, apply the two criteria to reduce the total number.

How do I write my excellence points?

1.  Phrase each excellence point using this formula:

ACTION VERB + TASK + BENEFIT or RESULT

2.  Start by choosing specific action verbs that answer one of these questions:

·        What did I do? (for previous jobs or assignments)

·        What do I do? (for current jobs or assignments)

Tip:  Make sure the verb is action specific, for example, developed, managed, analyzed, sold, led, or designed.

Choosing a verb tense:

·        For your past positions and accomplishments, use the past tense (-ed ending on the verbs).

·        For your current position, use an –ing end on the verbs.

3.  Describe briefly the task that you performed.

Examples of VERB + TASK:

• Used an innovative analysis approach and produced accurate, on-time market analysis reports
• Led projects and involved multiple departments in collaborative project management

4.    End by stating the benefit or specific result of your task.

Tip:  Make sure the benefit or result is specific to your group, department, company, or organization.

Examples of RESULT or BENEFIT:

·        … resulting in company expansion into three new markets

·        … resulting in high team morale and on-time, on-budget system releases

·        … enabling the department to reduce manufacturing waste by 15 percent 

What’s next?

Find yourself some quiet time and space; you don’t need that much time to get started—even five or ten minutes are enough. As you get more time here and there, you can come back and expand or organize your list. The key is to begin now!

Whether you use Post-It Notes, Outline View, or FreeMind, the key is to uncover your excellence points, group these points into logical categories, and present yourself to stand out above the crowd.  Today’s economy means that thousands of people are competing for a limited number of opportunities, so give yourself the best chance for success!