Resume writing can be tough. If it were easy, no one would complain about how hard it can be to get a job. But that is not the world we live in.

I was rewatching our resume workshop from a few weeks ago and there was one thing that really stood out to me. Gabe was discussing the decision to include an "additional" section at the end of the resume. He likes including a few fun facts about himself so recruiters know he is human and not a robot. Chad, one of our trainers, disagreed and said it was "not something he would include on his resume." Chad then followed that by stating that you could use "travel" in your education in order to not make another section for "additional." This accomplishes the goal of showing the recruiter that you are human while saving space on your resume. And I think it is a phenomenal idea. This whole conversation between two tech gurus sparked the idea in my head: what is the value each line on your resume?

Ideally, you want to maximize the value of each line on your resume. Wasting space This means making difficult decisions about what to include on your resume. Since we know from another blog post about resumes that your resume must be 1 page, you will have to trim some fat from your list of accomplishments.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Is this relevant to the position I am applying for?

Does this set me apart from others?

Am I simply restating the job role? (Should be accomplishments)

Am I using metrics to show credibility?

Am I showcasing an accomplishment that the recruiter cares about?

Am I being as specific as possible about the tools and other companies involved?

Am I being clear and concise with how I describe my accomplishment?

--

Is this relevant to the position I am applying for?

If you've attended one of our resume workshops, you know that Gabe can pretty much take any accomplishment from any job and spin it to be relevant to a new position. His classic example is a barista looking to move into a new role.

Applying for SDR: Had the highest customer service rating among the 12 other baristas which improved the company's customer retention rate and increased revenue by 5%.

Applying for Project Manager: Surveyed 100 customers on their favorite drinks and relayed this information to management which led to reducing the options from 20 to 15 and saved the company $_____ on supplies.
Think about what you do at your current job and which metrics matter at the job you want.

Does this set me apart from others/Am I simply restating the job role?

These two kind of go hand-in-hand. If you are just restating the job description that was posted on Linkedin or Glassdoor, then you are saying that you are exactly like everyone else. Basically, you didn't accomplish anything specific that sets you apart from the competition. Do you think a recruiter wants to hire a person like that?

Am I using metrics to show credibility?

The more metrics the better. Businesses care about the bottom line and you need to show that you care as well. If you have data to show that you can help a company's bottom line, they will want you to work for them.

Am I showcasing an accomplishment that the recruiter cares about?

Think about the company. Think about the industry. Look at the company's mission statement. Look at the job description. From there you should be able to figure out what the company and recruiter care about.

Am I being as specific as possible about the tools and other companies involved?

It gives you more credibility when you specifically name software and companies. If you are using a tool or piece of software to accomplish a task, list that software. If you are involved with other companies that the company might know, mention the company.

Software example: Used LeadIQ to generate leads which resulted in being in the top 10% of the team for emails sent.

Company example: Successfully managed a pipeline with Outreach that included executives from Target and Walmart.

If you are able to combine the two like I did then all the power to you. When the recruiter sees this, he/she will think "Oh, wow they used that software to communicate with these well-respected clients. I would trust that the applicant could communicate effectively with our top clients."

Am I being clear and concise with how I describe my accomplishment?

Watch this video from one of our workshops. Dale describes it perfectly. Don't use subjective language. Use less words and more numbers. Less is more when it comes to communication.

--

Now that we have a general idea of reasoning behind each line of your resume and how to provide value, let's think about about a list of things that do not provide value on your resume or could be substituted for something with more value.

A Picture

Have you heard of Linkedin? That is the place for your picture. Space is too precious on your resume to include a picture.

Skills

I didn't specifically mention it earlier, but I generally alluded to it. Your skills can be embedded in your accomplishments. Instead of having a whole section devoted to skills, integrate your skills within the accomplishments. So instead of listing Salesforce, Outreach, and LeadIQ in their own section. Incorporate those tools into your accomplishments in your "experience" section.

Personal Information

The only personal information you should include is your contact information. Which should be at the bottom of your resume. Don't include height, weight, ethnicity, or religion.

--

There are plenty of other guides out there that provide more extensive lists. This blog post mainly aimed to make you think about how you can maximize the value of each of the lines on your resume. This should help you eliminate other pieces from your resume.

I could still go either way on the choice to include an "additional" or "interests" section. I think both Gabe and Chad make valid points to support their argument. It's really up to you to make that decision. Of course, you could A/B test and see which way converts better. Let me know if you do. Would love to hear what the data says. ;)

--

Online mini bootcamp

The online sales training videos will help you learn some sales skills as well as give you a preview of what our bootcamp training is like.

And if you're asking yourself: "How can I find a boot camp near me?" You can learn sales skills online because our sales bootcamp is virtual.

Referral program: Want to make some money? Refer your friend to our program and you make money. Email kevin@alwayshired.com for specifics.