How To Write A Really Good Resume - Sample Resume Template

Summary

In this informative video, Heather Austin shares six strategies to craft a resume that stands out and secures job interviews. Starting with a clear message and branding profile, she advises focusing on the top half of the resume, highlighting accomplishments with quantifiable results, tailoring content to the job description, and emphasizing the resume's format with alternate fonts and bulleted lists. She also provides a special bonus, 'The 6 Second Resume,' a downloadable template for job seekers.

Takeaways

• 📄 Have a Clear Message: Start with a clear vision of what you can offer to demonstrate your value to a company.
• 🔍 Pinpoint Your Strengths: Understand your strengths and passions to tailor your resume effectively for each position.
• 🏷️ Create a Branding Profile: A brief description of your greatest accomplishments that conveys what you can do for a company.
• 📍 Replace Objective Statements: Use a branding profile instead of an outdated objective statement on your resume.
• 🔎 Focus on the Top Half: The most important part of your resume, where you have six seconds to convince hiring managers of your suitability.
• 📞 Include Professional Contact Information: Use a professional email and consider including your LinkedIn URL instead of a street address.
• 🎯 Highlight Accomplishments: Show the results and impact of your work with percentages, numbers, and dollar amounts.
• 📈 Make It Relevant: Tailor your resume to the job description by including relevant keywords and removing outdated experience.
• 📑 Emphasize Format: Stand out with an alternate font, subtle formatting changes, and bulleted lists to draw attention to key points.
• 🎁 Special Bonus: 'The 6 Second Resume' is a downloadable template provided for tailoring to your next job application.
• ❓ Engage with the Community: The video encourages viewers to share their challenges with resume writing and to connect with others.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video presented by Heather Austin?

The main purpose of the video is to share six strategies to help viewers write a resume that will get them noticed and potentially lead to more job interviews or higher-paying jobs.

What does Heather suggest as the first step in creating an effective resume?

Heather suggests starting with a clear message, which involves understanding one's strengths, passions, and what one can offer to a company.

What is a 'branding profile' as mentioned in the video?

A branding profile is a brief description of one's greatest accomplishments, which serves to tell an employer who the individual is, who they help, and how they help them.

Why is it recommended to replace an objective statement with a branding profile?

An objective statement is considered old and outdated. A branding profile is more effective as it conveys what the candidate can do for the company rather than what they want from the position.

What is the significance of the top half of a resume according to the video?

The top half of a resume is the most important because it's the first thing hiring managers and recruiters look at, and it's where candidates have less than six seconds to convince them to consider them for an interview.

What should be included in the contact information section of a resume?

A professional-sounding email address, preferably a Gmail account with the individual's first and last name or a combination of both, and a personal LinkedIn URL instead of a street address.

How should one highlight their accomplishments on a resume?

One should highlight accomplishments by using percentages, numbers, and dollar amounts to clearly convey the results and impact they've made in previous positions.

What is the importance of tailoring a resume to the job being applied for?

Tailoring a resume to the job ensures that it is relevant to the position, which includes using keywords from the job description and removing work experience that does not have a direct tie to the position.

What advice does Heather give regarding the format and design of a resume?

Heather advises putting extra effort into the design and formatting, such as using alternate fonts, highlighting sections with subtle changes like bold text and line breaks, and using bulleted lists to break up information.

What is the '6 Second Resume' and how can viewers access it?

The '6 Second Resume' is a downloadable resume template that viewers can tailor for their job applications. It can be accessed through a link provided in the video description.

What does Heather encourage viewers to do after watching the video?

Heather encourages viewers to share their biggest challenges when writing a resume in the comments, like the video if they found it helpful, and subscribe if they're new to the channel for more career advice.

Outlines

00:00

📄 Crafting a Standout Resume

This paragraph introduces the video's purpose: to share strategies for creating a resume that captures attention and leads to more job interviews or higher-paying positions. Heather Austin, from ProfessorAustin.com and The Career Club, offers six tips to enhance viewers' resumes. The importance of a clear message is emphasized, suggesting that viewers identify their strengths and passions to tailor their resumes effectively. A branding profile, positioned before the experience section, is recommended as a replacement for the outdated objective statement, to convey what the candidate can offer to a potential employer.

05:02

🎯 Focusing on Resume Essentials

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of resume writing. It advises viewers to concentrate on the top half of the resume, as it is the first impression for hiring managers. Including a professional contact email and LinkedIn URL is suggested, with a video on customizing the LinkedIn URL provided for further guidance. The paragraph also stresses the importance of highlighting accomplishments with quantifiable results, such as percentages and dollar amounts, to demonstrate the candidate's impact. Tailoring the resume to the job description by incorporating relevant keywords is recommended, along with removing outdated work experience unless directly relevant. Lastly, the paragraph discusses the importance of resume formatting, suggesting the use of alternate fonts and design elements to stand out from other applicants.

Keywords

💡Resume

A resume is a document used by individuals to present their professional experiences, skills, and achievements to potential employers. In the video's context, it is the central focus as the speaker discusses strategies to create a resume that stands out and attracts job interviews. The script emphasizes the importance of a well-crafted resume in securing higher paying jobs and getting noticed by employers.

💡Job Interviews

Job interviews are meetings conducted by employers to assess a candidate's suitability for a job. The video aims to provide strategies to help viewers craft resumes that will increase their chances of landing more job interviews, highlighting the competitive nature of the job market and the role of a resume in the initial selection process.

💡Higher Paying Job

A higher paying job refers to a position that offers greater financial compensation compared to others. The script suggests that the tips provided are intended to help viewers secure such positions, indicating the value of a compelling resume in negotiating better career opportunities.

💡Clear Message

A clear message in a resume context refers to a concise and focused presentation of one's professional value proposition. The video emphasizes starting with a clear vision of what the individual can offer to a company, which helps in demonstrating their fit for the role. This is exemplified by the advice to pinpoint one's strengths and passions.

💡Branding Profile

A branding profile is a brief, impactful summary of an individual's professional identity, highlighting their greatest accomplishments. The video describes it as a key component of a resume, coming right after contact information, and serves to convey what the candidate can do for a company, rather than what they want from the position.

💡Accomplishments

Accomplishments in a resume are specific achievements or results that an individual has contributed to in their professional roles. The script advises to highlight these rather than simply listing job descriptions, using percentages, numbers, and dollar amounts to quantify the impact made, which can make a candidate more attractive to hiring managers.

💡Relevance

Relevance in resume writing means tailoring the content to match the specific requirements and keywords of the job being applied for. The video stresses the importance of aligning the resume with the job description to demonstrate the candidate's suitability for the position.

💡Format

Format in the context of a resume refers to its layout and design. The video suggests that extra effort should be put into the resume's design to stand out among hundreds of other applicants. It advises using alternate fonts, highlighting sections, and utilizing bulleted lists for clarity and emphasis.

💡Attention Span

Attention span is the length of time a person can concentrate on a task without becoming distracted. The video script mentions that humans have a shorter attention span than goldfish, implying the need for resumes to be concise and impactful to capture the interest of hiring managers quickly.

💡Digitized Lifestyle

A digitized lifestyle refers to the modern way of living that is heavily influenced by digital technology and the internet. The script uses this term to explain why attention spans are shortening, which has implications for how resumes need to be designed to quickly capture interest in a digital job market.

💡LinkedIn URL

A LinkedIn URL is a personalized web address for an individual's LinkedIn profile. The video suggests including this instead of a street address on a resume to provide a professional online presence and make it easier for recruiters to find and connect with the candidate.

Highlights

6 strategies shared to write a resume that gets noticed

Resume should help land job interviews or a higher paying job

Clear message by starting with a vision of what you can offer

Pinpoint strengths and passions to tailor resume for each position

Branding profile is a brief description of greatest accomplishments

Branding profile comes before experience section, conveys value to company

Replace outdated objective statement with branding profile

Top half of resume is most important, focus on it

Include professional contact info and LinkedIn URL

Highlight accomplishments with percentages, numbers, dollar amounts

Show results, problems solved, and impact made in previous positions

Tailor resume to position with keywords from job description

Remove work experience over 10 years old unless directly relevant

Emphasize resume format with alternate fonts, bold text, line breaks

Use bulleted lists to break up information and draw attention

6 Second Resume is a downloadable resume template provided as a bonus

Asks viewers about their biggest challenges in resume writing

Transcripts

Do you want a resume that will land you more job interviews? Or maybe you need a

resume that will help you get a higher paying job? If this sounds like you, stay

tuned because in this video I'm going to share 6 strategies to help you write a

resume that will get you noticed and if you stick around until the end, as always,

I have a special bonus just for you. Hi there, I'm Heather Austin from Professor

Austin.com and The Career Club on Facebook and on this channel I share

simple solutions to help you launch a career you love so if you're new here

consider subscribing. Studies have shown that humans have a shorter attention

span than goldfish, which is only nine seconds, and our attention span just

keeps getting shorter because of our digitized lifestyle. That's why I teamed

up with my really good friends over at red rocket resume to come up with six

strategies to help you write a resume that will get you noticed. So let's jump

into it. Tip number one, have a clear message. This means starting with a

clear vision of what you can offer. This will help you demonstrate what you can

do for a company and why you are a great fit.

Start by pin-pointing your strengths. Determine what you are good at. What

about your current position brings you the most excitement? What would others

say that you do well? Knowing and understanding your strengths and your

passions will help you tailor your resume better for each position. With

your message defined, you are now ready to bring it together in what we call a

branding profile. Which is tip number two. A branding profile is a brief

description of your greatest accomplishments. It tells

an employer who you are, who you help and how you help them. It comes right after

your name and contact information and appears right before your experience

section. The great thing about a branding profile is that it conveys to a company

what you can do for them rather than what you want out of the position.

A branding profile is also known as a personal summary, a qualifications

section or even a branding summary. Here's a bonus tip. An objective statement on a

resume is old and outdated so if you've been using one you need to get rid of it

and put a branding profile in its place. Tip number three, focus on the top half.

The top half of your resume is by far the most important. This is where hiring

managers and recruiters will look first. You have six seconds or less to convince

them that you are the perfect candidate for an interview. Include a good contact

phone number with a professional sounding email address, preferably a

gmail account with your first and last name or some combination of your first

and last name. You could also use an email address from your personal website.

Rather than a street address include your personal LinkedIn URL I created a

video all about how to customize your Linkedin URL and I'll go ahead and

include that in the description below. Tip number four, highlight your

accomplishments. Hiring managers and recruiters want to see the results

you've made in your previous positions. They want to see the problems you've

solved, how you solved them, and the impact that you've made. To clearly convey this,

highlight your accomplishments rather than listing your job descriptions. One

of the best ways to do this is by using percentages, numbers and even dollar

amounts. Doing this will identify the outcomes you've had and make you more

attractive as a candidate. Tip number five, make it relevant. Your resume should

always be tailored to the position you are applying for. Closely

review the job description for keywords and place those keywords throughout

your resume. This also means removing work experience

that is more than 10 years old unless it has a direct tie to the position and

company you are applying for, and finally tip number 6, place emphasis on the

format. Put extra effort into the design and formatting of your resume. This can

be difficult but it is well worth it because hiring managers and recruiters

receive hundreds of resumes. You need to do a little something extra to stand out

from everyone else. I'm not saying you need to create an infographic resume

unless your industry requires it but there are a few simple strategies that

you can put into place. First consider using an alternate font. Times New Roman

and Arial are two of the most commonly used fonts which is why they should be

avoided. Rather use alternate fonts such as Garmin, Gill Sans or even Cambria. Also

highlight sections by applying subtle changes, such as bold text, line breaks,

extra spacing and even subtle color changes. And lastly, use lists. Bulleted

lists are a great way to break up information and draw attention to things

you want someone to notice. Thanks guys for sticking with me until the end. I

promised you an extra special bonus and here it is. The 6 Second Resume. It's a

downloadable resume that you can use and tailor to apply for your next position.

I'll go ahead and link it up below. So I have a question for you, what are your

biggest challenges when it comes to writing a resume? Feel free to comment

and connect with others below and don't forget to hit the like button below and

if you're new here, consider subscribing and I'll see you guys next time!