Write an Incredible Resume: 5 Golden Rules!

Summary

The video script discusses the importance of crafting an effective resume based on an analysis of 125,484 resumes by Austin Belcak. Key findings include the significance of having a LinkedIn profile, with only 48% of resumes featuring one, and the underuse of important keywords and skills, with candidates averaging only a 51% match. Measurable metrics are shown to improve outcomes, yet only 26% of resumes include them. The ideal resume length is identified as 475 to 600 words, with 77% of resumes not meeting this criterion. Lastly, the use of buzzwords and cliches is discouraged, as 51% of resumes contained such content. The speaker, Jeff, provides practical tips for improving resumes, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive LinkedIn profile, the inclusion of relevant hard and soft skills, quantifiable results, appropriate resume length, and avoiding generic language.

Takeaways

• 📈 Include a LinkedIn profile on your resume to increase interview rates, but ensure it's comprehensive and professional.
• 🔍 Match your resume with the right keywords and skills from the job description to pass applicant tracking system filters.
• 📊 Incorporate measurable metrics in your resume to make your achievements more tangible and understandable to employers.
• 📝 Aim for a resume length between 475 and 600 words, as this range is associated with higher interview rates.
• 🚫 Avoid using buzzwords, cliches, or incorrect pronouns, as they dilute the value of your resume.
• 💼 A professional headshot and banner, informative work detail, and meaningful connections are crucial for a strong LinkedIn profile.
• 🔑 Use online word cloud tools to identify and naturally include the most frequent keywords from the job description in your resume.
• 📈 Highlight both hard and soft skills, with a focus on the latter which are often underrepresented in resumes.
• 📉 Understand that the importance of a strong LinkedIn profile is more pronounced for entry-level job seekers.
• 📌 Apply the X-Y-Z formula for resume bullet points to clearly communicate your accomplishments.
• ✅ Tailor your resume to the job by ensuring it contains the necessary keywords and skills, and by avoiding generic or irrelevant content.

Q & A

What was the main reason for excitement about Austin Belcak's findings on resume tips?

The excitement was due to the fact that Austin Belcak's findings were based on an analysis of 125,484 resumes, which provided data-driven insights that can reduce the subjectivity often found in resume advice.

What percentage of resumes included a LinkedIn profile according to Austin's study?

Only 48% of resumes included a LinkedIn profile.

What is the significance of having a comprehensive LinkedIn profile?

A comprehensive LinkedIn profile can significantly increase the chances of landing a job interview, whereas a basic or bare bones profile may actually decrease those chances.

What are the three key components of a strong LinkedIn profile?

The three key components are having a professional headshot and LinkedIn banner, an informative work detail section, and a significant effort in building meaningful connections.

How does the inclusion of measurable metrics in a resume impact its effectiveness?

Resumes that include measurable metrics are more likely to improve outcomes as they make a candidate's value easier to understand and quantify.

What is the ideal length for a resume according to the study?

The ideal resume length is between 475 to 600 words.

Why is it important to include keywords from the job description on a resume?

Including keywords from the job description helps a resume pass through applicant tracking systems that filter out candidates based on specific keywords and experiences.

What is the X-Y-Z formula for writing effective resume bullet points?

The X-Y-Z formula is 'Accomplished X as measured by Y, by doing Z', which helps to clearly communicate a candidate's achievements.

What percentage of resumes in the study included buzzwords, cliches, or incorrect pronouns?

51% of resumes included buzzwords, cliches, or incorrect pronouns.

Why is it recommended to avoid using buzzwords and cliches in a resume?

Buzzwords and cliches are unnecessary and can detract from the message of a resume, making it less impactful and memorable to recruiters and hiring managers.

What is the recommended approach to including soft skills on a resume?

One should look at workplace trends reports or summaries to identify the top in-demand soft skills that are applicable to their field and include those in the resume.

What is the suggested method to ensure a resume stays within the optimal word count range?

Using the word count tool in Word or Google Docs to ensure the resume stays within the 475 to 600 word range.

Outlines

00:00

📈 Optimizing Resumes with Data Insights

The video script discusses the importance of data-driven insights in crafting an effective resume. It highlights Austin Belcak's analysis of over 125,000 resumes and presents five key learnings. These include the significance of having a LinkedIn profile, the necessity of including relevant keywords and skills, the impact of measurable metrics, the ideal length for a resume, and the avoidance of buzzwords and cliches. The speaker, Jeff, emphasizes the practicality of these findings and provides actionable advice for job seekers to improve their resumes and increase their chances of securing interviews.

05:00

🔍 Deep Dive into Resume Effectiveness

This paragraph delves deeper into the specifics of what makes a resume stand out. It stresses the importance of a comprehensive LinkedIn profile, including a professional headshot and informative work details, over a basic one. The paragraph also addresses the use of keywords in job descriptions to align with applicant tracking systems and the under-indexing on soft skills. The X-Y-Z formula for bullet points is introduced to quantify achievements. The ideal resume length is discussed, with a focus on the statistical advantage it provides. Lastly, the paragraph condemns the use of buzzwords and cliches, urging job seekers to refine their resumes with clear, impactful language.

Keywords

💡Resume Tips

Resume tips refer to the advice or strategies given to help individuals create an effective resume that can stand out to potential employers. In the video, the host discusses the subjective nature of such tips and how data-driven insights can provide a more objective approach to crafting resumes.

💡LinkedIn Profile

A LinkedIn profile is a personal web page on the professional networking site LinkedIn, which can include a person's professional experience, skills, and educational background. The video emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive LinkedIn profile linked to one's resume, as it can significantly increase the chances of securing a job interview.

💡Keywords and Skills

Keywords and skills are specific terms and abilities that are relevant to a job position and are often used by applicant tracking systems to filter resumes. The video highlights that candidates frequently under-index on including these in their resumes, which can lead to a lower chance of being considered for a job.

💡Measurable Metrics

Measurable metrics refer to quantifiable achievements or outcomes that can be used to demonstrate a candidate's performance and impact in previous roles. The video points out that resumes with more measurable metrics tend to have better outcomes, as they provide clear evidence of a candidate's capabilities.

💡Resume Length

Resume length is the total number of words in a resume. The video presents research indicating that resumes between 475 to 600 words have the highest interview rates, suggesting that brevity and conciseness are important factors in creating an effective resume.

💡Buzzwords and Cliches

Buzzwords and cliches are overused terms and phrases that have become trite and unoriginal. The video advises against using them in resumes, as they can detract from the value of the resume and make it seem less genuine and more generic.

💡Data Analysis

Data analysis involves examining and interpreting complex data to draw meaningful conclusions. In the context of the video, data analysis is used to derive insights from a large sample of resumes, which helps to identify what makes a resume more effective.

💡Professional Headshot

A professional headshot is a high-quality photograph of a person used in professional contexts, such as on a LinkedIn profile or a resume. The video mentions that having a professional headshot and banner on LinkedIn can contribute to a more polished and appealing online presence.

💡Applicant Tracking Systems

Applicant tracking systems (ATS) are software applications used by employers to manage and sort through job applications. The video discusses how these systems scan resumes for specific keywords and skills, making it crucial for candidates to include relevant terms to pass the initial screening.

💡Soft Skills

Soft skills are personal characteristics that enable individuals to interact effectively and harmoniously with others in the workplace. The video points out that many resumes lack the inclusion of soft skills, which are increasingly important for job success.

💡Resume Bullet Points

Resume bullet points are concise statements that highlight a candidate's achievements, responsibilities, and skills in a resume. The video emphasizes the use of an X-Y-Z formula in bullet points to clearly communicate accomplishments and responsibilities.

Highlights

Resumes with a LinkedIn profile see higher interview rates, but only 48% of resumes included a LinkedIn profile.

Candidates tend to under-index on soft skills, with only 51% of important keywords and skills included on resumes.

Measurable metrics in resumes improve outcomes, yet only 26% of resumes include five or more metrics.

The ideal resume length is between 475 to 600 words, with 77% of resumes falling outside of this range.

Fluffy content and the use of buzzwords, cliches, or incorrect pronouns detract from a resume's value, found in 51% of resumes.

A comprehensive LinkedIn profile significantly increases the chances of getting a callback compared to a basic one.

Having a professional headshot and informative work detail section on LinkedIn is crucial.

Building meaningful connections on LinkedIn can improve a candidate's chances of landing a job interview.

The importance of a strong LinkedIn profile is more pronounced for entry-level job seekers.

Using online word cloud tools can help identify and include relevant keywords in a resume.

Resumes should include both hard skills, such as Excel or Python, and soft skills like teamwork and creativity.

Measurable results in bullet points, such as increased sales or productivity, make a candidate stand out.

The X-Y-Z formula for resume bullet points helps to effectively communicate accomplishments.

Resumes between 475 and 600 words are more likely to result in interviews.

Avoid keyword-stuffing and ensure resumes are within the optimal word count range.

Removing buzzwords and cliches from a resume can greatly enhance its appeal to recruiters.

Basic principles of resume writing, such as including measurable results and optimizing LinkedIn profiles, are essential.

The research emphasizes the non-negotiable aspects of resume writing that form a solid foundation for further improvements.

Transcripts

- One of the biggest issues

with resume tips from the internet

is that most of it is subjective.

What works for me might not work for you and vice versa.

So when Austin Belcak released his findings

from analyzing 125,484 resumes,

I got excited because data, to a large extent,

takes the guesswork out of the equation.

In my opinion, his findings are pure gold

because it basically confirmed my suspicions

that in order to write an incredible resume,

there are some proven, foundational principles

we should follow,

whether we're making a resume for our first job

or improving upon a good resume we've had for years.

As usual, I care about your time,

so I'm gonna share the five key learnings upfront,

then talk about the implications of the study

and end with practical resume writing tips

you can use immediately to stand out.

So let's get started.

Hi, friends, welcome back to the channel.

If you're new here, my name is Jeff,

and we're all about practical career interview

and productivity tips, so if you're a working professional,

consider subscribing for more actionable content.

Full disclosure, Austin did not ask me to make this video.

He doesn't even know who I am.

The data geek in me

just got so excited about all the numbers

that I just had to share it in a video format.

Without further ado,

the five key learnings from Austin's study.

Number one, resumes with a LinkedIn profile

see higher interview rates,

but only 48% of resumes included a LinkedIn profile.

Number two, candidates only included 51%

of important keywords and skills,

heavily under-indexing on soft skills.

Number three, measurable metrics improve resume outcomes,

but only 26% of resumes include a five or more metrics.

Number four, research shows

that the ideal resume length is 475 to 600 words.

77% of resumes fell outside of that range.

And number five, fluffy content

takes away from a resume's value,

but 51% of resumes included buzzwords,

cliches, or incorrect pronouns.

I'm gonna link the original article

and all other resources I'll mention

down in the description below,

so feel free to check that out

if you want more perspective on how to write great resumes.

Now you know the key takeaways,

what does this actually mean for you?

Let's start with number one,

including a LinkedIn profile on your resume.

And here's a graph that completely blew me away.

At first glance, the implication seems to be pretty simple.

Having a LinkedIn profile linked on your resume

gives you a much higher chance of landing a job interview.

But if you take a closer look,

having a bare bones or basic LinkedIn profile

actually decreases your chances of getting a callback.

Meaning you're better off hiding your LinkedIn profile

if you're not putting any effort into it.

In my opinion, the differences

between a comprehensive profile and a basic one

boil it down to, number one,

having a professional headshot and LinkedIn banner.

Number two, how informative your work detail section is.

And number three, how much effort

you put into building meaningful connections.

I actually have a LinkedIn Tips & Tricks playlist

that walks you through all those points.

And I also share how to get a custom LinkedIn URL

to put on your resume so that it looks clean.

Make sure to check that out after this video.

And that's not all,

you might also notice that as job level increased,

the gap in callback rates decreased between job applicants.

This suggests that having a strong LinkedIn profile

is more important for entry-level job seekers

compared to their higher level peers.

If you're finding this video helpful so far,

please drop a like,

and if not, keep watching because it only gets better.

Number two, including the right keywords and skills

when writing a resume or CV.

While I'm not a big fan

of just submitting applications online,

it is a fact of life that applicant tracking systems

scan for certain keywords and experiences

to filter out what they define as low potential candidates.

According to the research,

the average job description includes 43 keywords,

but most candidates only match 51% on their resume.

Meaning they only included 20 or so relevant keywords.

In order to overcome this,

you want to use free online word cloud tools.

I'll link a few down below.

Copy and paste the job description in there

and identify the keywords that pop up most frequently

and make sure to include those in a natural way

when writing your resume.

Furthermore, we see that candidates' resumes

included 60% of the necessary hard skills

and only 28% of the necessary soft skills

when compared to their target role's job description.

This makes sense

because there's usually a Skills/Interests section

at the bottom of your resume

where you highlight your capabilities in Excel,

Python, SQL, the hard skills, right?

To make sure you're also including relevant soft skills,

you can take a look at Udemy's workplace trends report

or CNBC's summary,

and see which of the top 10 in-demand soft skills

are applicable to you and include those as well.

Number three, include measurable results

in your bullet points.

The study shows that 26% of resumes

included a five or more instances of measurable metrics,

while 36%, more than a third,

didn't include a single quantifiable result.

Why do companies prefer resumes with metrics?

Because metrics

make value easier to understand and quantify.

I cannot stress this enough.

If 10 candidates all say they're responsible

for planning and executing social media campaigns,

it's very hard to tell who did it well and who didn't.

The one person that says,

"Hey, my campaigns drove 30% year-on-year increase

in sales revenue," is gonna stand out.

There's a popular X-Y-Z resume bullet point formula

that goes like this.

Accomplished X as measured by Y, by doing Z.

For example, if you're a content marketing manager,

your bullet point might look like this.

Drove 2,500 organic signups to our monthly newsletter

by A/B testing content layout

and collaborating with co-marketing partners,

representing a 43% quarter-on-quarter increase.

Pro tip, a lot of you might be working on projects

that might not have a direct impact on growth or revenue.

Let's say you're working on your company's internal tools.

In that case, you can say your improvements

led to a 33% increase in productivity for the sales team,

which translates to X amount of incremental revenue.

Number four, keep your resume length

between 475 and 600 words.

A, this is because the research has shown

that resumes in that sweet spot saw double the interviews

of those that were outside of those ranges.

B, 77% of the resumes from Austin's study

had either fewer than 475 words or more than 600.

Meaning, from a purely statistical standpoint,

you're automatically in a stronger position

versus other candidates if you have a 500-word resume.

Of course, I do wanna point out,

there are definitely exceptions

when it comes to career level and academic roles.

If you're a professor, a federal employee,

or a C-level executive,

you might have a two to three page resume or CV

with well over 1,500 words, and that's perfectly fine.

For those of you who do not fall in that category though,

this finding means that, number one,

do not keyword-stuff your resume.

It's not about the number of keywords you have

in your resume, right?

It's about having the ones that match the job.

And of course, number two,

something a lot of us have been doing since middle school,

using the word count tool in Word or Google Docs

to make sure we're staying within that sweet spot.

And number five, the bane of all recruiters,

hiring managers, and just resume readers in general,

buzzwords and cliches.

Do not use them.

We're all super motivated by our passions.

We're all detailed-oriented, team players.

We all have creative mindsets.

And who doesn't like to talk

about the synergies between different products?

If you found that hard to listen to,

imagine the recruiter going over 30 resumes a day.

And according to the study, 51% of resumes in the data set

included some sort of buzzword or cliche.

Buzzwords, fluff, cliches are unnecessary

and take away from your message.

Your writing should always be selling your experience,

not summarizing it.

As a very practical solution,

go ahead and google resume cliches and buzzwords,

and remove all the ones you find in your resume

to give it an instant upgrade.

Were some of the findings from Austin's study pretty basic?

Yeah.

You should always include measurable results

in your bullet points,

optimize and add your LinkedIn profile,

and avoid using buzzwords to write a good resume.

But hopefully the numbers behind the research

have convinced you that these non-negotiable aspects

lay very solid groundwork for you

to make additional tweaks and adjustments.

I've actually made quite a few of these mistakes myself

back in the day, so make sure to check out my video

on the top five resume mistakes I made

when applying to management consulting and Google.

See you on the next video.

In the meantime, have a great one.

(upbeat music)