Creating a strong professional brand is not always straight-forward. This can especially be the case when your career path is a bit confusing. In this blog post we will share 5 hacks for fixing a confusing resume brand so you can experience better job search results. 

Why a confusing resume brand can kill your chances of landing a job

Have you ever been asked what you do for a living?  And have you ever found yourself giving a long explanation to try and explain your not-so-obvious job title or line of work? It’s one thing to be able to explain yourself in person when asked what you do. It’s entirely another thing, to be able to explain yourself on paper.

If you and me are talking on the phone and your job confuses me, you can be darn sure I will follow up with 20 questions. However, if I’m reading a confusing resume, I will put it down and walk away (and you can be darn sure this is one of the main reasons people experience minimal call-backs).

This is especially true if you don’t hold a standard title OR if you are like most clients I support: Looking to end up in a NEW industry or career path. I hear this from clients all the time: “I feel like my resume doesn’t communicate what I actually can do.”

So how do you communicate a better brand on paper, so that hiring managers sit up and take notice?

1.  Connect the dots for the person reading your resume

Remember: your reader doesn’t know anything about you other than that your resume somehow ended up in their inbox.  Thus, you must IMMEDIATELY tell them, “I do what you are looking for.”  If your most recent jobs have virtually nothing to do with the job opening in question, this is a disconnect that needs fixing.

If you have relevant experience but it was 4 roles prior – and nothing recently – it doesn’t make you “qualified.”  The hiring manager wants to feel confident you are the best. So you have to find a way to speak to the hiring manager in your most recent roles. In short, you have to appear to be a fit almost immediately!

2.  Look to the job description in order to job match your resume

One way to connect the dots is by looking at specifically what they are asking for and then matching your resume to the job description.  If they say it and you’ve done it, write it.  This is not the time to get creative and find a better way to communicate.  Think creatively about how what you’ve done most recently, speaks to the job description and make sure to include as close to the top of the resume as possible and throughout.  Whatever you do, don’t just give the reader everything and anything because the excess detail is what ultimately creates confusion.

3.  Don’t forget the BAM! factor

Branding is all about telling someone who you are and what you’re all about and the most effective way to do this, is by just doing it.  The top of the resume is valuable real estate because everyone starts there. Therefore, you’re missing out if you don’t include a heading or title that sums you up at first glance.  I’m not talkin’ summary statement.  I’m talkin’ something like: Noelle Gross | Career Strategist on my resume. Do you see the BAM! FACTOR?

4.  Weigh your bullets to your brand

The bulk of brand confusion comes into play because of those darn bullets. We all have a tendency to want to include all of our glorious accomplishments. However this is a horrible idea and should be avoided, especially if you are trying to portray a new brand (career/industry changers).  You have to play up the roles that are relevant and play down the ones that aren’t and the way you do this is by adjusting bullet weights.  If in your most recent role, you have done nothing relevant to the next job you’re targeting, keep it slim.  If you only have a few relevant roles sprinkled throughout your resume, focus on beefing up those bullets to the nines.  Make the resume feel heavier around the areas where you have done exactly what they are asking for.

5.  Nix, cut, clip and axe the irrelevant

When you’re writing your resume, this is the time to be VERY selective.  Every single bullet and section should speak directly to your target brand.  If your tasks aren’t relevant, play up your transferrable skills (and vice versa) but whatever you do: DON’T leave every single bullet on there to collect dust. You want to get rid of those bullets that have zero to do with the job description. Do the same for your skills, education, extracurricular… Get real honest here and spring clean your resume!

Now time for a little spring cleaning of your own.  Try putting your resume in front of a family member or friend and see if they “get” your brand at first glance. That’s the best way to tell if you’ve nailed it or not!