Sharing the Love: Resumes

Resumes aren’t templates – they’re storytelling tools.

A lot of people believe there’s only one way to write a resume or that there are certain rules you have to follow. The truth is, resumes are not one size fits all – there are many ways to use these documents to tell an intriguing story of who you are.

Before listing out your experience, take some time to think of what your storyline can be. What are your career goals? What are you passionate about? What skills or interests do you have that could make you stand out? How would you want to be seen by a potential employer?

See below for some of our resume tips and The Real Deal: excerpts from actual resumes BrandTuitive has received that demonstrate our advice.

TIP #1

It could seem like your past jobs are unrelated to the job you want in the future, but there is always a way to find examples of the skills that make you a strong candidate.

EXAMPLE

You worked as a cashier at a store and are applying to a job at a marketing agency. Through interacting with customers on a daily basis, you gained experience such as customer service skills, which can help you when being client facing at an agency.

FEEDBACK

We love that this person wrote about their work experience in a story-telling format.

THE REAL DEAL #1

TIP #2

It’s good to include numerical data on your resume – but use it wisely. It should add something meaningful to your story, so there needs to be context.

EXAMPLE

You managed social media engagement at your past job and raised follower counts by 200%. By itself, this number doesn’t convey an entire story (what if you just raised followers from 5 to 15?). If you started with 1,000 followers and raised to 3,000, this context makes the numbers much more impressive.

FEEDBACK

This resume demonstrates the applicant’s ability to set big goals and achieve them.

THE REAL DEAL #2

TIP #3

Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. There are many ways to format a resume, so don’t worry about following a template.

EXAMPLE

There’s no correct way to write a resume. Of course, you need the basics (your name, your work experience, etc.) but the way you choose to present this information is up to you. If you’re interested in graphic design, incorporate colors and design elements. If you are passionate about something, include it in a section about your interests. This will make you stand out and give a genuine portrayal of who you are.

FEEDBACK

This updated resume draws the viewer’s eye and better showcases the personality of the applicant.

THE REAL DEAL #3