When you think of a resume, a story is probably the last thing on your mind. The bullet point, short sentence structure does not lend itself to the traditional framework of a narrative. However, many hiring managers appreciate when individuals utilize their resumes as tools to get to know them on a personal level.
Your resume is usually the first thing that a hiring manager sees. Most of the time, they look at it for less than 30 seconds. This means that your resume has to stand out in the sense that it reflects you, but is still short and to the point.
Sounds tricky, but it can be done.
The main error people make when constructing their resumes occurs in the employment history section. When describing each past job, many people will just create a basic description or list the duties that the job entailed. While this helps to provide details, it does not do much to display the applicant’s individual character. Remember that for most of the previous positions you have listed, the hiring manager probably knows what those positions entail and don’t need you to provide them with a list of job duties. A better idea would be to write out your major accomplishments in each role. In what areas did you go above and beyond what was expected of you? What did you learn through your experience of working there? What were you the proudest of?
Every accomplishment you write will serve as a mini-story and help the hiring manager get to know who you are. Remember that these accomplishments still need to be concise, as the hiring manager will only look at your resume for a limited amount of time. You’ll need to do the best work you can with short, bulleted sentences.
Although you may have prepared your story for your cover letter or job interview, remember that the hiring manager won’t get to experience either of those if they don’t like your resume. Hiring managers care about your story, so make sure it comes through even during the brief first impression that a resume provides.
