The higher your target position, the more credibility you need to establish on your resume, cover letter and/or employment proposal. Highlighting job duties by using bullet points is a strategy often used—especially by entry-level employees—but this is a strategy that sells candidates at every level short.
Employers want to know your value. Sure, they are interested in what you do, particularly if you have a highly complex job, but they’re significantly more interested in the value you deliver. What sets you apart from other candidates applying for the same position? What challenges have you overcome? What problems have you solved? The higher the target position, the more credibility you need to establish—not just over recent years, but in each position. No employer will believe a senior executive has fallen off the turnip truck into a leadership role. What have you done in the past that has prepared you to take a money-losing department or organization to profitability?
Looking for a $100,000+ job or a promotion to a higher level? You must show that you’re worth it, and that requires quantifiable results that are clearly distinct from job duties. Better to use 2-3 high-impact accomplishments under a short paragraph that explains what you do than to enumerate 10 job duties disguised as accomplishments. Chances are very good that the last 8 or so won’t even be read.
Ellie Vargo, MRW, CCMC
ev@noteworthyresume.com