The Art of Résumé Writing…

After leading a workshop earlier this summer, I have been thinking more and more about résumé writing as an art.  

Of course, there is the “art” of creating a visually appealing résumé: one that is appropriately eye catching and that balances text with open space.  This creative component is undoubtedly energizing.  Equally if not even more important, though, is the “art” of determining what information is most crucial to include and what might not be as relevant.  For example:

Should early career professionals include their college GPA or their high school accolades? 

At what point in a career, should jobseekers extend their résumé beyond one page? 

What accomplishments should be highlighted at the very top of a résumé? 

There are no definitive answers to these questions.   At its core, effective résumé writing is individualized and customized.  Each jobseeker brings different strengths, accomplishments, and career objectives to the process.  My goal is to set each person up for success by blending my expertise as a writer with my understanding of what will help clients gain an upper hand against the competition.  The ultimate goal is for the résumé to be a tool for clients to ultimately find their fit.

Now back to the résumé workshop: three fearless volunteers – all early in their careers - shared their résumés, and as a group, we analyzed each.  All three résumés had outstanding attributes including career aspirations, work history, education, and more.  Despite these similarities, we were all struck by the distinctiveness of each résumé in approach, content, and style. 

The reality that there is not one right approach to résumé writing can be daunting and even frustrating.  To me, however, the art of crafting a customized résumé is truly exciting.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to help clients embark on their journey of professional discovery and growth one résumé at a time.