By the same token, you should view your resume as your brochure to the world, or at least that part of the world consisting of recruiters and hiring managers. Think about a brochure, maybe for that car or home you always wanted, that really drew your attention.
Here are the ways that the content of a great resume and a great brochure are similar. They both:
- Focus on meeting a customer’s need, whether for a faster car, a bigger house, or a more skilled employee—so they contain the facts that the “buyer” (the recruiter or hiring manager) is most interested in.
- Are clearly and simply written and carefully proofread to avoid errors. Would you buy a car from a company that can’t spell “brake” correctly? Well, hiring managers are equally dubious about an applicant who can’t spell.
- Go beyond the mere facts. A brochure for an off-road vehicle shows the car climbing over mountains, because that ability is the car’s biggest accomplishment and represents the greatest value to the buyer. A resume should describe accomplishments, too, and show your potential value as an employee.
- Are positive. A brochure about an expensive home mentions the great school district, not the persistent leak in the roof. Without lying or exaggeration, a resume should show you at your best.
- Provide good information that can let the discussion move forward, with a tour of the home, a test drive, or an interview. A brochure in itself is usually not enough to close the deal and neither is a resume; but they both provide a strong foundation.