Resume Writing Workshop 🔴 Day 1: The Psychology of Resume Writing

Key Concepts

• Resume as a Marketing Document: The resume is not just a work history but a tool to market oneself for future opportunities.
• Employer-Centric Approach: Focus on the employer's goals, problems, and how your skills can address them.
• Recruiter's Perspective: Understand what recruiters look for and how they quickly assess resumes.
• The Great Eight Accomplishments: Frame your experience around generating money, increasing market awareness, attracting customers, servicing customers, company growth, employee happiness, cost reduction, and process efficiency.
• Delta (Impact): Highlight the quantifiable results and impact of your actions.
• Career Profile: A well-written career profile should be enough to get an interview.
• Skimmability: Make your resume easy to scan and extract key information quickly.
• Priming and Framing: Use your resume to influence how recruiters perceive you.

Resume Writing Workshop Summary

Introduction and Testimonials

The session begins with testimonials from individuals who have benefited from Andy's coaching and programs at Milew Walk Academy. These individuals highlight:

• Connie: Appreciates Andy's realness and personal touch, emphasizing the actionable advice received.
• Denise: Secured a higher-paying job due to Andy's confidence-building techniques and recommends his boot camp.
• Johnny Stevens: Transformed his job search after 80 days of frustration, landing two offers in 19 days using Andy's principles.
• Cat: Found unemployment manageable with Andy's program, landed her dream job with almost twice the pay, and anticipates career acceleration.
• Kathleen Phillips: Attributes her job offer to Andy's advice, coaching, and encouragement.
• Venisa: Discovered Andy's "Interview Intervention" book, joined Milew Walk Academy, and plans to join the leadership program.

Workshop Overview

The workshop aims to provide attendees with the tools and knowledge to write effective resumes. Key points include:

• Agenda: The week covers the psychology of resume writing, career profile development, resume bullet writing, professional experience section, and AI commands for resume enhancement.
• Resume Content Builder: A storytelling booklet with formatting guidelines and section details is offered as a giveaway to registered participants.
• Resume as a Marketing Tool: The resume is not a work history document but a marketing tool focused on future opportunities.
• Importance of Strategy: Before writing a resume, determine your desired career path and target employers.
• Human-Friendly vs. ATS-Friendly: Prioritize a resume that appeals to humans, as it will eventually reach a person.
• Long-Term Thinking: View the resume as a tool to set the stage for easier interviews and salary negotiations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing the Resume for Yourself: Focus on how you can transform the employer's life, not your personal achievements.
• Trying to Bypass the System: Aim for a human-friendly resume that will naturally pass through Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).

The Psychology of Resume Writing

This section delves into the mindset of recruiters and how to create a resume that resonates with them.

• Recruiter's Perspective: Understand what recruiters are looking for and how they quickly assess resumes.
• Key Questions: Recruiters ask themselves: Who are you? How experienced are you? What do you know? Where do you work? Why are you sending this? Are you available?
• Spoon-Feeding Information: Make it easy for recruiters to find the information they need quickly.
• Looking for What They Want: Recruiters search for specific qualifications and experiences based on hiring manager instructions.
• Evidence vs. Claims: Provide evidence and context to support your skills and accomplishments.
• Time is of the Essence: Recruiters spend a limited amount of time reviewing resumes, so make a strong first impression.

Marketing Yourself Effectively

• Storytelling: Craft a compelling narrative that highlights your key strengths and accomplishments.
• Iterations: Present information in layers, starting with a high-level snapshot and then providing supporting details.
• Effects First: Focus on the results and impact of your actions, rather than just listing responsibilities.
• The Great Eight Accomplishments: Frame your experience around generating money, increasing market awareness, attracting customers, servicing customers, company growth, employee happiness, cost reduction, and process efficiency.
• Controlling the Narrative: Guide the recruiter's perception of you by presenting a clear and consistent story.
• Priming and Framing: Use your resume to influence how recruiters perceive you and the value you bring.

Resume Format and Layout

• Skimmability: Make your resume easy to scan and extract key information quickly.
• Layout: Follow a standard layout with a profile, highlights, professional experience, and other relevant sections.
• Chronological Order: Present your work history in reverse chronological order, unless there is a strategic reason to deviate.
• Avoid Functional Resumes: These are often perceived as hiding something.
• Prioritize Relevant Information: Focus on the experiences and skills that are most relevant to the target job.
• Address Career Gaps: Provide a brief explanation for any gaps in your work history.
• Omit Unnecessary Details: Exclude hobbies, GPA, and other irrelevant information.

Actionable Insights

• Focus on the Delta: Always highlight the quantifiable results and impact of your actions.
• Quantify Your Accomplishments: Even if precise data is unavailable, provide estimates or frames of reference.
• Think Like a Recruiter: Understand their perspective and tailor your resume to their needs.
• Don't Over-Tailor: Create a base resume and make minor adjustments for specific job openings.
• Use Action Verbs: Start your bullet points with strong action verbs that showcase your accomplishments.
• Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free of errors and typos.

Q&A Highlights

The Q&A session addresses various concerns and provides specific advice:

• Tailoring Resumes: Spend no more than 5 minutes tailoring a resume for a specific job.
• First Person: Avoid using first person pronouns in resumes.
• Industry Listing: Accurately represent your industry experience.
• Transferable Skills: Highlight transferable skills in the career profile for career changers.
• Explaining Career Changes: Do not explain the rationale for career changes in the resume.
• Addressing Gaps: Provide a brief and plausible explanation for any gaps in your work history.
• Quantifying Accomplishments: Find ways to quantify your accomplishments, even if precise data is unavailable.
• Returning to the Workforce: State your return to the workforce in the career profile and highlight relevant experiences.
• Seasonal Roles: Include relevant seasonal roles in an "Additional Relevant Experience" section.

Conclusion

The session emphasizes the importance of understanding the psychology of resume writing and adopting an employer-centric approach. By focusing on the employer's needs, quantifying accomplishments, and crafting a compelling narrative, job seekers can create resumes that stand out and lead to interview opportunities. The workshop provides actionable insights and practical advice to help attendees write effective resumes and achieve their career goals.