top of page
How to build a powerful resume

While there are many opinions on the topic, and myriad templates available, if you follow a few simple principles it's really not that difficult. 

 

 

Any piece of writing should be inviting to the reader.  This is especially true of a document where your audience is potentially time-poor and is likely comparing your profile to many others.  We would encourage you to take a journalistic approach to storytelling:

 

  • Get the elements you must deliver well early into your document

  • Use major sections as "headlines" that invite the reader to explore further.

Remember, just like a news piece, the reader only goes as far into it as holds their interest or until they've consumed what they needed.  For these reasons, we suggest:

  • Starting with a brief summary of who you are, what you do best and what you're hoping to achieve.  This should be genuine, a few sentences at most and avoid the usual cliches

  • Providing a table that shows the roles you've held and their chronology

  • Following this with a more detailed outline of the companies you've worked for, the mandate and circumstance at that time and the results you delivered.  Please remember that your audience may not be familiar with those companies or sectors and you should provide a snapshot of each

  • Compiling your document in reverse chronological order and avoiding too much detail of roles held early in your career

  • Using a modern font and allowing plenty of white space on the page.  If your prose looks cramped and has no breaks, it will turn off the reader

  • Using graphics and logos (without going overboard) to bring life to your document.  This is particularly valuable if you have worked for companies and brands that are known and respected

We have developed a template that could be a useful foundation; you can download it here: 

.

bottom of page