Crafting Your Story: A Guide to Effective Resume Writing

Life experiences outside the traditional job market - whether in caregiving, military service, volunteer work, or other areas - are often rich with soft skills like leadership, resilience, and adaptability. 

This guide is about translating those invaluable life-learned skills onto your resume. We'll show you how to frame your unique experiences as powerful assets, demonstrating to potential employers the diverse strengths and perspectives you bring. A good resume should tell your story and highlight the distinct perspective of your journey.

Tailor Your Resume:

Tailoring your resume for each job application is crucial in today’s competitive job market. A one-size-fits-all resume can easily get lost in a pile, but a customized one speaks directly to the specific needs and culture of the company you're applying to.

By aligning your skills and experiences with the job description, you demonstrate that you're not just looking for any job, but that you're interested in this particular role at this specific organization.

• Emphasize skills and experiences that are transferable to the job you're applying for, even if they were gained in a different context. Focus on how these skills are relevant to the new role.
  
  

• Ensure your resume contains keywords and phrases from the job description. This helps your resume pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) and demonstrates your alignment with the role.
  
  

• If there are potential concerns related to your unique background, such as employment gaps or career changes, address them briefly and positively in your cover letter or resume.
  
  

• Use your resume to tell a story that connects your experiences to the job you're seeking. Explain how your background has prepared you for the role.

Showcase Achievements:

By quantifying your successes with specific examples, metrics, or outcomes, you provide a clear picture of your capabilities and the value you bring. This approach shifts the focus from what you've done to how well you've done it, illustrating your potential contributions to prospective employers. In a landscape where recruiters skim through numerous applications, well-articulated achievements can make your resume shine and capture their attention.

• Where possible, quantify your achievements, regardless of where they occurred. Use concrete metrics, specific examples, and storytelling to give life to your successes. This makes your achievements more memorable and allows prospective employers to envision the value you can bring to their organization.
  
  

• If you've dedicated time to earning certifications or undergoing training programs relevant to the role, make sure to feature them on your resume. This underscores your genuine commitment to honing the skills required for the job.

Highlight Skills Over Experience

This strategy is particularly important for those transitioning careers or those re-entering the workforce. By focusing on skills, you emphasize your ability to adapt and contribute in various roles, rather than just a chronological listing of past jobs. It showcases your competency and potential, addressing what you can do for the company moving forward.

• Consider using a skills-based resume format, which places your skills and qualifications at the forefront.
  
  

• Group your skills into categories relevant to the job you're applying for, such as "Project Management," "Digital Marketing," or "Customer Service." (P.S. if you’re looking for more resume help check out The 5 Resume Tips Recruiters Want You To Know.)
  
  

• If you engaged in volunteer work, freelancing, or personal projects during your career gap, showcase them as valuable experiences.

Highlight Transferable Skills

By showcasing these abilities, you illustrate to potential employers that you possess a core set of skills that can be applied effectively in their organization, regardless of your previous jobs or experiences.

This bridges the gap between different career experiences, showing how your unique background can bring a fresh perspective and diverse skill set to the new role. In essence, it's about selling not just where you've been, but what you can bring to where you're going.

• Identify skills gained from previous experiences, even if they weren't in a traditional job setting. For instance, if you organized school fundraisers or managed household finances during your career break, highlight skills like event planning, budgeting, and time management.
  
  

• If you have experience working with customers or clients, highlight your customer service skills. These skills are essential in industries focused on client satisfaction.
  
  

• Be sure to mention if you're fluent in multiple languages. Being bilingual or multilingual can open doors.
  
  

• Support your claims with specific examples from your experience. Share stories that showcase how you've applied these transferable skills successfully.

Touch On Soft Skills

Soft skills like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence are increasingly valued in today's workforce, often as much as technical abilities. By highlighting these attributes, you not only showcase your professional competencies but also your personal qualities that contribute to a positive and productive work environment.

In a market where technical skills can be quite similar across candidates, soft skills can be the differentiator that sets you apart.

• Soft skills such as communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are highly valued by employers. Discuss how you've applied these skills in various situations, both personally and professionally.
  
  

• Share instances where you've adapted to change and demonstrated resilience in facing challenges. Employers value candidates who can navigate change effectively.
  
  

• Communication skills are a transferable skill that employers value across industries. Demonstrating strong communication at the virtual career fair is a way to showcase your abilities.
  
  

Remember that your resume is more than a document – it's a narrative of your professional journey. It's the first impression you leave with a potential employer, the initial handshake before you’ve even entered the room. Each section, each bullet point, is a chapter in your story, an opportunity to showcase not just what you've done, but who you are and what you bring to the table.

In the competitive world of searching for jobs, standing out is key. Your resume should not just tick boxes but also spark interest and conversation. It's about striking that fine balance between professionalism and personality, between brevity and impact. So take the time to tailor it, to polish it until it shines with the best version of your professional self. Your next job opportunity is out there, waiting for a resume like yours to cross the desk. Make it count. Make it memorable. Make it you.

If you’re looking for even more resume help, check out one of our Resume Templates.