{"id":11157,"date":"2024-10-22T06:13:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T10:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/?p=11157"},"modified":"2024-10-22T06:11:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T10:11:48","slug":"7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Things I Learned About Resume Writing That Changed Everything"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg\" alt=\"resume writing changes\" class=\"wp-image-11158 lazyload\" style=\"width:839px;height:492px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"376\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg\" alt=\"resume writing changes\" class=\"wp-image-11158 lazyload\" style=\"width:839px;height:492px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640-150x88.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been helping executive job seekers with their resumes, LinkedIn profiles and other job search-related materials for more than 20 years. You\u2019d think resume writing would be that much easier after all that time, but it\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Resume writing is complicated. These days, so much more is involved than merely detailing a client\u2019s career history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I started my business resumes were lifeless, dry career history documents, listing job responsibilities and perhaps an accomplishment or two. They were easier to write then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And they didn\u2019t look like much. Word processing apps like Word and WordPerfect were much simpler and didn&#8217;t allow for much fancy formatting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So there was not much enhancing to be done, once the writing was finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When LinkedIn first made an appearance in 2003 and other social media quickly began having an impact on job search, resume writing began to get more complicated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, some say <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/does-linkedin-make-the-executive-resume-obsolete\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn makes the resume obsolete<\/a>. I don&#8217;t agree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/executive-resume-linkedin-profile-biography-whats-the-difference\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Both resumes and LinkedIn profiles are necessary<\/a> and serve different purposes. And they need to be in sync with each other, so they work together the right way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-black-color has-text-color\">7 Things That Changed Everything For My Resume Writing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As I evolved as a resume writer and careers industry professional, I learned certain things along the way that cumulatively inform the way I approach <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/4-reasons-you-cant-write-your-own-executive-resume\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"288\">resume writing<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>1. A resume is a personal marketing document, not just a career history.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Resume-Tips-1.jpg\" alt=\"today's executive resume\" class=\"wp-image-14609 lazyload\" style=\"width:837px;height:446px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Resume-Tips-1.jpg\" alt=\"today's executive resume\" class=\"wp-image-14609 lazyload\" style=\"width:837px;height:446px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Resume-Tips-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Resume-Tips-1-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Resume-Tips-1-150x80.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As I noted above, <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/is-your-executive-resume-still-partying-like-its-1999\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">for many years resumes<\/a> consisted of a chronological list of jobs, with maybe a little about responsibilities thrown in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Education, training, honors, and other distinguishing information followed the professional experience section. Sometimes a brief summary would lead the resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, and for a long time now, a resume needs to market the candidate by reinforcing what specifically makes her potentially valuable to the employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It needs to convey personality, so employers will get a feel for how she works with others, and if she\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/why-culture-fit-matters-executive-job-search\/\">fit with the company\u2019s culture<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The easier a resume makes it for an employer to connect the dots between the candidate\u2019s qualifications, experience and abilities, and what their unique needs are, the better the resume will work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This also means that the <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/whats-the-best-executive-resume-format-and-length\/\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"541\">formatting of the resume<\/a> needs to be attractive and reader-friendly (on mobile devices, larger computer screens and on paper), with important blocks of information highlighted to draw the eye to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2. Resume writing without first targeting and researching specific employers won&#8217;t fly.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting.png\" alt=\"resume targeting and research\" class=\"wp-image-14897 lazyload\" style=\"width:840px;height:840px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting.png\" alt=\"resume targeting and research\" class=\"wp-image-14897 lazyload\" style=\"width:840px;height:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting.png 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/targeting-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Following the thinking in #1, anyone familiar with marketing knows that step one is <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-tips-to-build-your-executive-job-search-target-companies-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">identifying your target audience<\/a> and specific pain points of theirs that you&#8217;re qualified to help them fix. Then you&#8217;ll have the info you need to build marketing communications around why and how you will help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to effectively market a candidate, their resume development needs to begin by narrowing focus to particular employers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next step is <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/best-ways-and-places-to-research-your-target-employers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">researching each target employer<\/a> to uncover plenty of information about them for the specifics needed to position them as a good hiring choice in their resume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without knowing how the candidate will bring value to a company or organization, it\u2019s pretty hard to sell them as a necessary hire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3. The things about you that make you a good fit for your target employers will drive your resume writing.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized essb-block-image\" data-essb-pin-description=\"good fit candidate\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/right-recruiters-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15565 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:556px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/right-recruiters-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15565 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:556px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/right-recruiters-1.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/right-recruiters-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/right-recruiters-1-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where a lot of job seekers and some <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/executive-resume-writers-best-kept-secret\/\">resume writers<\/a> falter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They lean most on what the job seeker considers to be her top strengths, skills and achievements. But those particular things may not be what\u2019s most important to her target employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You need to clearly show employers that <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/how-to-write-an-irresistible-c-level-executive-resume-in-10-steps\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">you have what they need<\/a> to get certain things done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only way to know, is to do the research to find out what it is about you that they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4. A resume needs to be an interesting read and give a feel for your personality.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"interesting, dazzling executive resume \" class=\"wp-image-12902 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"interesting, dazzling executive resume \" class=\"wp-image-12902 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/fireworks.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve been in a position to review even a few resumes here and there, you know how much you\u2019re drawn to one that <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/is-your-executive-resume-an-interesting-read\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">holds your interest<\/a>, has some dazzle and highlights the candidate\u2019s personality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/worksheets-personal-branding-and-executive-job-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">This is where personal branding comes in<\/a>. It\u2019s all about balancing hard skills with softer skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Branding helps you generate chemistry for the unique value you offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you generate chemistry in a resume? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/how-c-a-r-storytelling-gives-executive-resume-branding-zing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">storytelling<\/a>, providing specific examples of contributions you\u2019ve made to past employers that will help employers see you doing similar things for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another branding strategy is to include feedback, in the form of a quote, from people you work with that supports the claims you\u2019ve made about yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I still sometimes get resistance from clients who aren&#8217;t comfortable showing their personality in their resume. They don&#8217;t understand that a resume that will help them land interviews needs to differentiate them. A resume with personality does that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5. Worry less about the length of a resume, and more about not including arbitrary information.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistake.jpg\" alt=\"executive resume length\" class=\"wp-image-14999 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:536px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistake.jpg\" alt=\"executive resume length\" class=\"wp-image-14999 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:536px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistake.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistake-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/mistake-150x96.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is another issue that bogs people down. For years, there\u2019s been so much noise among professional resume <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/find-the-best-executive-resume-writer-for-you-wheres-the-value\/\">writers<\/a> about resume length that everyone is likely confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course there\u2019s a limit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the most accomplished c-suite <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/who-is-an-executive\/\">executive<\/a> with a long history of achievements probably shouldn\u2019t have a 6 page resume. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But there\u2019s one caveat: If you\u2019re <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/build-winning-relationships-with-executive-recruiters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">working with a recruiter<\/a> who requests a long resume with all of your jobs and qualifications, do what they say. They know what their client companies want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A general rule of thumb is 2-3 pages. But make the resume as long as it needs to be, to provide only the necessary information about you, based on your targeting and research work. Nothing arbitrary should be included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The way to make a longer resume impactful is to pack the most pertinent information <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/executive-resume-brand-differentiate-your-roi-value-above-the-fold\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">above-the-fold, in the summary section<\/a> at the top of the first page. That section should be designed to stand on it&#8217;s own as your calling card. It should tell enough of your story on its own and entice people to read the whole document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>More about this in my post, <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/c-level-executive-resume-length-one-two-or-three-pages\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Resume Length: One, Two, or Three Pages?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6. Today\u2019s resume needs to sync with your LinkedIn profile.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/puzzle-1721464_640.jpg\" alt=\"Executive resume and LinkedIn in sync\" class=\"wp-image-7960 lazyload\" style=\"width:841px;height:424px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/puzzle-1721464_640.jpg\" alt=\"Executive resume and LinkedIn in sync\" class=\"wp-image-7960 lazyload\" style=\"width:841px;height:424px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/puzzle-1721464_640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/puzzle-1721464_640-150x76.jpg 150w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/puzzle-1721464_640-300x151.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A resume without links to your social media accounts (especially <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/megguiseppi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>) marks you as a dinosaur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you hesitate adding a link to any <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/how-your-social-media-use-can-sabotage-your-executive-job-search\/\">social media<\/a> because you\u2019re not active on them, you need to GET active on them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Candidates who are <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/does-your-online-presence-scream-dont-hire-me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more social media savvy<\/a> and up-to-date with the new world of work are more highly prized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other links to include are articles or white papers of yours and other relevant information about you online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, as noted earlier, your resume needs to work in tandem with your LinkedIn profile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>LinkedIn allows for a lot more content than a reasonably long resume. Load your <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/5-reasons-your-linkedin-profile-isnt-working\/\">LinkedIn profile<\/a> with as much content as you can, that will position you as a good fit for your target employers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make a note in your <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/what-not-to-put-in-your-c-level-executive-resume\/\">resume referring people to your LinkedIn profile for more information<\/a> about particular items. For instance, if you\u2019ve compellingly described an important project at length within a \u201cProjects\u201d section of your LinkedIn profile, refer people to it within your resume and include a link to your profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>7. Today\u2019s job search requires an attractively formatted resume for human eyeballs, plus an ATS-friendly version for databases.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rainbow-882859_640.jpg\" alt=\"executive resume black hole\" class=\"wp-image-7349 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:629px\"\/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rainbow-882859_640.jpg\" alt=\"executive resume black hole\" class=\"wp-image-7349 lazyload\" style=\"width:838px;height:629px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rainbow-882859_640.jpg 640w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rainbow-882859_640-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/rainbow-882859_640-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In my experience, many job seekers at all professional levels, are unaware of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) conundrum. They often don\u2019t know about the existence of ATS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They have a top-notch resume that&#8217;s beautifully formatted. It does all (or most of) the things I\u2019ve outlined above. But then they use it to apply for jobs via company websites or <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/use-job-boards-for-research-not-to-find-jobs\/\">job boards<\/a>. Crickets. It apparently goes nowhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their resume doesn\u2019t make it through the ATS, because it wasn&#8217;t built to make it through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The attractively formatted, enhanced resumes you typically see in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/10-reasons-your-executive-resume-needs-a-major-facelift\/\">resume samples and in circulation may not be the only ones you\u2019ll need<\/a>. They may not work with ATS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To meet the needs of the various kinds of people and technology reading your resume, you\u2019ll need 3 different versions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An attractively formatted Word version for humans<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A PDF version of the above so that the formatting will look the same no matter what device it\u2019s called up on<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A plain, barely formatted ATS-friendly Word version (with little to no enhancements) that will make it through any of the several hundreds of different&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/executive-resume-ats-applicant-tracking-systems-need-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Applicant Tracking Systems software<\/a>&nbsp;used to match candidates to jobs<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>It is possible for your formatted Word document resume to be compatible with some ATS software, but you&#8217;ll never know which system a company is using, so it&#8217;s safer to always prepare an ATS-friendly version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what happens when you send your resume to recruiters and employers, and when you respond to job postings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many recruiters and other hiring professionals will review every resume as they receive it and match you with a job they&#8217;re trying to fill, if you fit the bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you don&#8217;t match any openings, the document is put into a database or ATS, along with perhaps hundreds of other resumes, to call up later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ATS attempts to match candidates to particular job openings. The database sifts through the resumes and parses their content for the <a href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/keywords-in-job-search-how-important-are-they\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">relevant keywords<\/a> they\u2019ve fed into it for that particular job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The only resumes selected are those that are formatted in a way that the ATS can \u201cread\u201d. And they have to contain enough of those relevant keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resumes are not selected if they are incorrectly formatted, don\u2019t contain enough of the right keywords, or don\u2019t fit the bill in some other way.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve been helping executive job seekers with their resumes, LinkedIn profiles and other job search-related materials for more than 20 years. You\u2019d think resume writing would be that much easier after all that time, but it\u2019s not. Resume writing is complicated. These days, so much more is involved than merely detailing a client\u2019s career history. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-11157","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-executive-job-search","7":"category-executive-resume-career-biography-cover-letter","8":"entry","9":"has-post-thumbnail"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>7 Things I Learned About Resume Writing That Changed Everything - Executive Career Brand\u2122<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019ve been writing resumes and other job search materials for more than 20 years. The strategy has evolved and it&#039;s more complicated now.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"7 Things I Learned About Resume Writing That Changed Everything - Executive Career Brand\u2122\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I\u2019ve been writing resumes and other job search materials for more than 20 years. The strategy has evolved and it&#039;s more complicated now.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Executive Career Brand\u2122\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/megguiseppi\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-10-22T10:13:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Meg Guiseppi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@megguiseppi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@megguiseppi\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Meg Guiseppi\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Meg Guiseppi\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/#\/schema\/person\/8f77ad4251f6cc47790139bc14483711\"},\"headline\":\"7 Things I Learned About Resume Writing That Changed Everything\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-22T10:13:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\"},\"wordCount\":1654,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Executive Job Search\",\"Executive Resume, Biography &amp; Cover Letter\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/\",\"name\":\"7 Things I Learned About Resume Writing That Changed Everything - Executive Career Brand\u2122\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/7-things-i-learned-about-resume-writing-that-changed-everything\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/executivecareerbrand.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/direction-255294_640.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-22T10:13:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"I\u2019ve been writing resumes and other job search materials for more than 20 years. 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