Resume Tips

7 Words To Change On Your Resume (For More Impact & Value): 1. Responsible For Anyone can be “responsible for” something. Instead, use more specific, action-oriented language like:  - Developed  - Spearheaded  - Overhauled  - Generated  - Etc. Pair those with measurable outcomes for a winning resume bullet. 2. Hard Working Simply claiming to work hard doesn't convey tangible results. Replace this with:  - Increased  - Delivered  - Optimized  - Exceeded  - Improved Hard-working customer service representative → Improved customer retention by 30% through enhanced service strategies. 3. Team Player Employers don’t just want someone who says they’re a team player. They want to see the results of those collaborations. Replace this with:  - Collaborated  - Partnered  - Led  - Mentored Team player in marketing → Partnered with cross-functional teams to develop and execute a campaign, boosting lead conversion by 40%. 4. Results-Driven Being results-driven doesn’t mean you actually drove any results. Prove that with better language and metrics. Replace this with:  - Generated  - Produced  - Reduced  - Increased Results-driven marketing specialist → Produced a 200% increase in website traffic through a targeted SEO strategy. 5. Detail-Oriented Claiming you're detail-oriented is meaningless without evidence. Show it through actions and accomplishments instead. Replace this with:  - Audited  - Identified  - Improved  - Enhanced Detail-oriented project manager → Enhanced project documentation accuracy, reducing errors by 30%. 6. Self-Motivated Rather than saying you’re self-motivated, show it with results. Replace this with:  - Initiated  - Led  - Launched  - Created  - Developed Self-motivated team lead → Initiated a mentorship program, increasing employee engagement scores by 20%. 7. Communicator Don’t just say you’re a “great communicator” or have “communication skills.” Show them! Replace this with:  - Presented  - Negotiated  - Advised Consultant with excellent communication skills → Presented 30+ workshops to client teams resulting in 37% improved operational efficiency.

I've reviewed 2,000+ resumes this year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make. 1. Generic Summaries ❌ "Motivated professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." ✅ "Marketing Director who increased e-commerce revenue 47% through data-driven campaigns and strategic partnerships." 2. Missing Numbers ❌ "Led large team and improved sales." ✅ "Led 15-person sales team to deliver $3.2M in new business, exceeding targets by 28%." 3. Cluttered Formatting ❌ Tiny margins, dense paragraphs, and multiple fonts. ✅ Clean headers, consistent bullet points, and enough white space for easy scanning. 4. Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college. ✅ Your most relevant accomplishments from the past 10-15 years that showcase your career progression. 5. RESPONSIBILITY LISTS ❌ "Responsible for managing client relationships and handling complaints." ✅ "Retained 98% of key accounts and turned 3 dissatisfied clients into top referral sources." 6. ATS-UNFRIENDLY DESIGN ❌ Creative formats with graphics, text boxes, and unique fonts. ✅ Clean, standard formatting with relevant keywords that match the job description. Your resume has 7 seconds to make an impression.  Use these tips to make them count. Share this to help others level up their resume! 📈 And follow me for more advice like this.

Hiring the right person isn’t just about skills. It’s also about personality. A massive analysis by the University of Toronto revisits the Big Five traits—and reveals which ones actually predict job success. 1. First, a quick refresher: The Big Five personality traits These are the five broad dimensions psychologists use to describe personality. The acronym is OCEAN. Openness to Experience Conscientiousness Extraversion Agreeableness Neuroticism (emotional stability) 2. Which one matters most at work? Conscientiousness. Again and again, this trait outperforms the rest when it comes to predicting job success. Why? Because it signals reliability, goal-focus, and self-discipline. 3. Conscientious people are more likely to: —Show up on time —Meet deadlines —Follow through —Set long-term goals Whether you're a data analyst or a teacher, that matters. 4. But it’s not one-size-fits-all. Some traits matter more in specific jobs. ➡️ Extraversion helps in sales and management ➡️ Openness benefits creative and analytical work ➡️ Emotional stability matters for high-stress roles Match the trait to the task. 5. What about agreeableness? It’s great for jobs that require teamwork and collaboration. But here’s the surprise: It’s less predictive of overall job performance than you might think. Being nice ≠ being effective. 6. And neuroticism (low emotional stability)? Not great. People high in neuroticism tend to struggle with stress, criticism, and pressure. That takes a toll—on performance, health, and team morale. 7. So, what should we take away from this? ✅ Don’t hire only on skills ✅ Don’t rely on gut instinct ✅ Use structured personality assessments—and match traits to the role Skills matter. But personality shapes how people apply those skills. Bottom line: We hire for what people can do. But we often forget to ask how they’ll do it. Personality offers a powerful—often overlooked—lens for hiring better.

A 4.0 GPA is a waste of time (in tech). I learned this the hard way. As a computer science major, I graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Day-in, day-out, I was focused on acing my exams. Even if it meant sacrificing sleep, health, or a social life. But guess what? It wasn't worth it. In the tech world, no one cares about your GPA. I've only ever interviewed with one company that asked me for my GPA. And they just wanted to make sure it was above a 3.0. So, what actually matters? Your resume, projects, and internship experience. Your ability to solve problems, build things, and make an impact speaks way louder than any grade ever could. I'd rather work with someone that can build applications. Not someone who knows how many permutations "MISSISSIPPI" has. I recently shared this perspective with students at Stanford University. During my speech, I emphasized the importance of focusing on real-world skills over perfect academic scores. Take it from someone who’s been there: Don’t chase perfection in grades. Focus on building a portfolio that showcases your skills and potential. ♻️ Repost to share the info!

College students and recent grads: here’s your inside scoop from a CEO who just reviewed 500+ resumes. At REACH, we’re hiring for Q1 2025, and as the CEO, I personally skim through hundreds of resumes to spot top talent. Let me be honest: in a competitive recruitment season, you have seconds to stand out. If you want to rise to the top of the pile, here’s my advice: 4 𝐂𝐄𝐎-𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: 📌 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬. Familiarity catches attention. Highlight the companies, schools, or programs that carry weight at the very top of your resume. As a CEO, I skip the header and dive right into the body paragraphs. Don’t make me dig to find what sets you apart. 📌 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬. Big metrics grab my eye and slow me down. Whether it’s "$6𝘔+ 𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥" or "𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘸 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘺 150%", numbers scream 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒔. Use them to frame your accomplishments and ensure your skills shine. 📌 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞. If you’re applying for a role in influencer marketing (like at REACH), don’t include irrelevant experience in UI/UX design. Show me you understand the position and can bring value to the specific role. Relevance is everything. 📌 𝐁𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫. Traditional resumes are safe, but a unique design—done right—can make you unforgettable. Think creatively, but prioritize clarity. If your resume is thoughtful, well-structured, and reflects your personality, it’ll stand out and stick with me. 💡 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦: The resumes I remember are clear, focused, and demonstrate impact. Take the time to refine yours—you’re competing against hundreds of others, so make every detail count.

This is one of the most important things I’ve learned about resumes, and most don’t do it. Not doing this can hurt your chances of getting an interview 👇 Your resume 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 a description of what you are 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 for. Your resume 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 a collection of your 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭 to the job you are applying for! Here's a simple example: A Project Manager's resume that describes what they are 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 for looks like this: - Delivered the project on time and within budget. - Communicated updates regularly to all stakeholders. This is a terrible way to "stand out" - In this example, every Project Manager is responsible for delivering projects on time and budget, and for communicating with stakeholders. In other words, there's nothing 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 about this person's resume. Your resume has to show: - Evidence that you have the experience they are looking for (Tailored resume) - Evidence of the value you bring to the team (Your past accomplishments) To write a resume that 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭, here’s what you should do 👇 Write 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, not what you were responsible for : - What did you do? - What was the impact? - How did you accomplish it? Use the “𝐗 + 𝐘 + 𝐙” formula to write accomplishments: “Accomplished [𝐗] as measured by [𝐘], by doing [𝐙]” 🛑 Instead of writing: “Delivered a project on time and budget” ✅ Write this: 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 [𝐗]: “Launched ____ project” 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 [𝐘]: “1 month ahead of schedule and increasing ROI by Z%” 𝐁𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 [𝐙]: “, by creating a new communication process that allowed low and medium risk tickets to be pre-appproved, reducing friction during development” Together X + Y + Z: “Launched ___ project 1 month ahead of schedule and increasing ROI by Z%, , by creating a new communication process that allowed low and medium risk tickets to be pre-appproved, reducing friction during development” 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 help you show that you have the experience companies look for in 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 of a project that had impact to customers, your team or the organization. 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 your 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 to the job you are applying to will increase your chances of getting an interview. Adding more colors, graphs and random keywords will not. A few extra tips as you go through your accomplishments: 1. Not every accomplishment will have a number (impact). It’s ok, try to have as many as possible. 2. Accomplishments tailored to the job you are applying to >>>> accomplishments you believe are the most important. 3. You can skip the XYZ formula and instead write them as: Verb in past tense + what you did + the impact it had. ------ 🚀 Need help with your resume or Product Management interviews? Check out my comment below for THE BEST resources 👇 #productmangement #resume

Hiring managers will not connect the dots for you. If you leave it up to the hiring manager, they will not make the connection between your experience and their needs. Your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile must spell it out for them. - Clearly. - Simply. - Quickly. Here's how to do that. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 and note the key hard skills and experience the company values. I recommend that you identify at least 3 major needs the employer has that this position will address. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 3 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 that align with the needs you’ve identified and demonstrate an example of how you’ve met them in the past. Use the CAR format to make it easy for employers to see how you’ve solved similar problems. 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: What problem did you face? 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: What steps did you take to address it? 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭: What was the outcome? 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 3 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 at the top of your resume. I recommend a Signature Accomplishments section separate from the other content, perhaps set off in a shaded border. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬. If you're looking to switch industries or roles, identify the skills that are transferable. List these prominently and provide context for how they can be applied in the new role. 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲-𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬. It’s so important, especially if you’re switching industries, that you make sure your resume isn’t full of jargon from the industry you’re leaving. Use the language of the industry you’re trying to transition into. I also strongly recommend that you choose 3 high-priority keywords and place these at the top of your resume right underneath your target job title. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟. Add metrics to quantify your results. Even if you’re not responsible for revenue generation, you can add in how much, how many, size, time, or comparison to work in numbers. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲’𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫. Explicitly draw lines between your experience and the company’s needs. State specifically what they need and how you have relevant experience doing that. Give an example. This leaves no room for doubt that you are a fit for the role. How do you connect the dots? #resumes #Careers #LinkedInTopVoices

I've reviewed >100k resumes in my career. So many people make easy to fix mistakes. Here's what I wish everyone knew before submitting an application: Contact info - Include email, linkedin, github/portfolio - Show the actual linkedin url, don't hyperlink with different link text - Include city / state (or relevant to country), full address isn't necessary - designers: password protect at your peril, resume reviewers are lazy Use standard resume template - Order should be Name / contact details --> work xp --> education - Work xp should be listed most recent --> least recent - Use specific dates (month + year) - No sensitive info (DOB, Citizenship, Marital Status, Religion, etc) - No pictures - No skills / jobs chronology "side-bar" 🙄 - No skills / accreditations alphabet soup at top of resume No "fun" stuff - No weird colors (just black) - No "fun" font selection - *Designers, this section doesn't apply to you* Be concise - Max 2 pages - No more than 6 bullets per job - Bullets should be no longer than 1 line (no wrapping text) - Distill, distill, distill - resumes ARE NOT exhaustive - Do not use evasive language (unclear dates, titles, etc) - Use commonly understood (but select) metrics to exhibit impact Errors - No spelling errors!!! - HAVE SOMEONE ELSE PROOFREAD!!!!!!! ------------------------------------------ Resumes are not a place for innovation. More is not better. Be selective and thoughtful. Accept that you will get very little attention from resume reviewers - your job is to decide what to communicate in that very short span. Your resume is a MARKETING TOOL - it's intended to help you get an interview. It is NOT intended to document all of your experience. That's what the interview is for! What else belongs on this list? Any ya'll disagree with? ------------------------------------------ 👋 Follow me (Jordan Mazer), Caitlin Cooke & Jordan Carver for more tips just like this. 🏃♀️ Join the a16z speedrun talent network here: https://lnkd.in/geyt5f9b

After reviewing thousands of executive resumes throughout my career, I've noticed a clear pattern: candidates often over-emphasize technical qualifications while undervaluing what truly sets them apart - their soft skills. Data from 'Finances Online' confirms what I've observed firsthand: an overwhelming 91% of recruiters prioritize soft skills on resumes, with 16% considering them MORE important than hard skills. As an executive search specialist, I can tell you that at senior levels, technical competence is assumed. What differentiates exceptional leaders is their mastery of these five critical soft skills ⬇️ 1. Time management: Don't just claim you're organized. Highlight specific instances where your planning abilities delivered measurable results under pressure. 2. Communication: Demonstrate how your communication style has influenced stakeholders, resolved conflicts, or driven organizational change. 3. Adaptability: In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, showcase how you've successfully navigated uncertainty and embraced new challenges. 4. Problem-solving: Illustrate your analytical approach with concrete examples of complex problems you've solved and their business impact. 5. Teamwork: Highlight collaborative achievements that demonstrate your ability to build consensus and leverage diverse perspectives. The key distinction between average and exceptional candidates? The latter don't merely list these attributes—they provide compelling evidence through specific accomplishments. Are you ready to transform your resume from a list of duties into a powerful narrative of leadership and impact? Check out my newsletter for more insights here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #leadershipdevelopment

I’ve reviewed 2000+ resumes for AI/ML roles in the last 5 years. Here are 7 tips to make your resume stand out: 🔸 Tip 1: Showcase End-to-End Project Work Describe projects where you took an idea from concept to deployment. Outline the problem, data collection, model development, validation, and deployment. Demonstrate your ability to handle the entire lifecycle of an AI/ML project. 🔸 Tip 2: Quantify Your Contributions with Real-World Impact Use concrete metrics to quantify your achievements, such as 'Reduced customer churn by 20% through predictive modeling' or 'Increased sales by 15% with a recommendation system'. Real-world impact is more compelling than theoretical knowledge. 🔸 Tip 3: Highlight Collaboration with Cross-Functional Teams Showcase your ability to work with data engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Mention specific instances where you collaborated to deliver impactful AI/ML solutions. 🔸 Tip 4: Emphasize Deployment Experience Highlight your experience with deploying models into production environments using tools like Docker, Kubernetes, or cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, and Azure. Include specific examples and the impact they had. 🔸 Tip 5: Include Open Source Contributions If you’ve contributed to open-source AI/ML projects, list these contributions. Mention any significant pull requests, issues resolved, or your role in major projects. This demonstrates your commitment and expertise. 🔸 Tip 6: Focus on Recent Technologies Mention your proficiency with LLMs, reinforcement learning, or other generative AI technologies. Highlight any recent work or projects involving these technologies. 🔸 Tip 7: Keep Up with Industry Trends Stay updated with the latest trends and advancements in AI/ML. Mention any relevant courses or technologies you have learned and always keep that tab up-to date. This shows your dedication to continuous learning and staying current in the field. #ai #career #resume