By Tom Albano
A good resume, just like a well-written news story, should inform as well as create a level of human interest. More often than not, however, we forget about the human element when we write a resume. This can be a big mistake. After all, hiring decisions are based as much upon human traits, such as character, personality, attitude, and likability, as they are upon factual data.
An excellent way to bring out your client’s “human side” in the résumé is to use the same guideline that every journalist uses to create a compelling news story, that is, incorporating the Five W’s – who, what, where, when, and why.
Of course, a resume is not a news story. But it is, nevertheless, a story that covers a very important part of your client’s life. Therefore, a strong résumé must engage reader interest, inform, and also provide a degree of insight about your client’s character. Keeping the Five W’s in mind when you write a resume can help you present a well-rounded picture of your client that showcases her full potential to clearly illustrate why she is a highly qualified candidate.
Consider the task of sifting through a stack of several hundred résumés received in response to recent job posting. It can be daunting. After a while, all the resumes start to look the same. But a resume that is able to connect on a personal level will stand out from the rest and surely grab the attention of the reader.
Let’s look at how the Five W’s can be incorporated into building a powerful resume.
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