Create a resume in 10 minutes
U
se the strategies presented here to get your resume in great shape — in no time.
Set a goal. Try not to think of creating a resume as a “one and done” activity. Instead, imagine every job you apply for as an opportunity to craft a targeted resume that best showcases your experience, abilities, and potential value. This means setting a goal — which doesn’t need to take up a great deal of your time.
When you come across a job opening that interests you, you should be able to conjure up a goal in around a minute. Here’s an example: If you’re eager to apply to a job as a marketing manager at a tech company, you may decide that a good goal is “portray myself as an experienced leader with a track record of marketing success and technical knowhow.” That was easy enough, and now you can move forward.
Nail the fundamentals. Once you have a goal, ask yourself the following questions as you craft your resume’s bullet points: “Does this help me achieve my overall goal?” “Is there a better way to phrase this to help me achieve my goal?” This questioning process will become second nature and happen almost instinctively, ultimately saving you from sweating endlessly over each point.
Stick to the fundamentals — the key responsibilities you’ve held during each of your previous job positions — and you’ll be able to quickly put together a resume that achieves your goal. Your resume doesn’t have to include every single thing you’ve ever done in your professional life, just the major items that serve to meet your goal. Remember, you can always go into greater detail regarding your experience during interviews.
Hit your high notes. Did you take the lead on a major cost-saving initiative at work? Are you responsible for closing a lucrative deal for a previous employer? Make sure that all of your positive on-thejob accomplishments are included on your resume. These complimentary items — which will help you stand out from the job hunting crowd — are likely easy to recall, so you won’t need to spend too much time remembering them.