The Eyes Do not Have It in a Resume
When you’re writing a letter to a friend, you probably use the word “I” a lot. “I saw John tonight;” “I loved the movie;” “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” You would think that a resume, which is really all about you, would be full of the word “I” – and yet it is the one common English word you are never allowed to use!
How do you get around the use of the word “I”? Essentially, the sentences in a resume aren’t sentences at all, because the initial subject – “I” – is dropped off. So instead of saying “I spearheaded the development of a new manufacturing process”, the bullet would simply read “Spearheaded the development of a new manufacturing process.”
This is really a pretty simple technique to follow. Because every job description and every bulleted item begins with a strong action verb, the emphasis is shifted off the actor – you – and onto the action performed. But the verbs and descriptions you use have to be strong and active; just saying “worked at supermarket” won’t cut it here.
Even though the “eyes” in a resume definitely don’t have it, mastering this simple strategy will make all the difference in the professionalism of your resume!
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