3 Powerful Resume Secrets 99% of People Don't Know in 2024
Most people don't know how to write a resume that stands out.
They write a list of experiences and skills expecting the recruiters to find out what's in it for them.
It's a waste of time and energy.
Forget about the traditional way everyone else writes.
Instead, make it a powerful ad for your personal brand with a strong call to action.
A resume that captures who you are as a professional.
And this is how you'll break from the competition and get noticed.
Ready?
Here's how to write a CV that stands out in seconds that 99% of people don't do:
1. Focus on Your Personal Brand
Don't start your CV like everyone else with a generic line:
"Passionate Customer Success professional with 15 years of experience".
Too vague and boring.
Flip the narrative.
Talk about yourself, your skills, and how you work in a way that makes you unique and sets you apart from others.
Example: "Customer Success Manager with a track record of increasing customer retention by 25%. Implemented personalized success plans and reduced customer churn by 40%. Enjoy driving business conversations with customers to uncover new growth opportunities. Passionate about cutting-edge technology and being part of a high-performing team."
For more tips on personal branding, check out my ultimate LinkedIn Optimization Guide.
2. Set the Scene, Hook the Attention
Right after this strong personal statement on top, summarize and provide a quick overview of your experiences in a few words.
It's like anything you read yourself.
If you find it interesting, you'll keep reading, right? (like my newsletter :-)
So you must hook the recruiter's attention in a few seconds or they're gone.
This is where you write your copy to sell your skills and explain why YOU are the best match for the position.
Then, help the recruiter remove objections:
What did you do before that can help with their current challenges?
And bring in proof with a few customer references.
Example: "10+ years of CS experience in unicorn software companies. I hit and delivered beyond my targets every quarter with record retention scores of 90% and an average of 80% NPS. Helped customers XYZ reduce operational costs by 53%." (Get practical insights from top CS leaders I interviewed in CS My Way)
For more on crafting compelling stories, check out Mastering Storytelling: The Secrets
3. Deep Dive
Skills & Experiences
Now that you gave the recruiter a glimpse of your expertise, it’s time to go deeper and provide more information that aligns with the job description:
Write down all your experiences and skills adapted to the job specs.
No need to talk about things that don't bring any value to the specific role you are interviewing for.
Keep focus and be as specific as possible.
Don't provide tons of details or the reader is gone, once again.
Focus on the most important few topics. Cut off and remove all the other irrelevant ones.
Don't use vague statements like "I added value"
It's confusing and also does not mean anything without context and facts.
Use this approach instead:
“Onboarding Specialist, Great knowledge of Product XYZ, Expert in the industry, etc. Increased customer references from 30% to 70%, expanded accounts by 10%.”
For more on highlighting your skills, see Traits of High-Performing Customer Success Pros
Education - Learning & Development
And finally, highlight your achievements.
Show your commitment to learning and growing your skills on a constant basis.
You want to show them you are the best for the position, aren't you?
Check out Best Certifications for Customer Success Managers to boost your credentials.
And That’s It
It's not about "writing" a resume.
You must sell your skills and accomplishments instead!
Need any help? Book a 1:1 with me.
-Hakan