Writing a resume for career advancement? Bring out your biggest selling points

Ready to climb the next rung of the career ladder? Do you want to chase a lofty promotion? No career goals is too big to be followed. If you are planning on chasing an amazing opportunity, your resume has to do its part. So, what should you do when writing a resume for career advancement?

Set a specific career goal first

You can’t just plop down on your comfy couch and start typing away at your resume just because you decided to apply for a promotion. First, you must set clear career goals for yourself. If there is a specific job opening within the company or outside work that you want to apply for, you can set that as your career goal. If your idea of a promotion is more vague, you will need to invest some time and thought into pinpointing your exact career goal.

Do some job search prep

Do you know that you want to advance in your career, but are not sure about the job title you want to pursue? Setting up a few informational interviews with people who are already working at some of your target roles will help you clarify some of your doubts. Treat your informational interview as another job interview and attend the meeting. Do your research on the job title and industry beforehand.

Track your wins

One thing you must never forget to do in your career is to regularly track your professional achievements. No one remembers details about their job from ten years ago. If you don’t keep a detailed record of your achievements during each job, you will lose valuable information that can help you stand out in the job market. Creating a master resume can help you with this. You can regularly update your master resume with your latest achievements without worrying about the length of the document.

Create a concise resume

Once you have some clear career goals, it will be easier for you to decide the focus of your resume. Ensure that your resume only carries the most relevant information for the position. If you are writing a resume for a C-suite role, you will need to use a combination format. The same goes for when you are applying for any higher management role. Your resume should not only showcase your professional achievements and career progression but also the relevant skills and additional qualifications. Be sure to emphasize your biggest selling points throughout the document.

Say goodbye to passive phrases

Does your resume carry a lot of responsibile for’s and involved in’s? These passive phrases must be removed from your resume ASAP. Passive language on your resume gives potential employers the impression that you are a doer, not a leader. Instead, use active language to describe your experience. This article can teach you a lot about writing the perfect bullet points for your resume.

Make it look modern

Still using the same resume template from 2005? It is time to swap your outdated resume template for a clean and modern one. Modern resumes are on the minimalistic side of things. They carry less fancy formatting and more white space. If your resume does not have to pass through electronic systems (if you are handing it over in person), you can even add charts and graphics to your resume to highlight your skills and achievements. However, if you are applying for a promotion online, it is better to go for an ATS-friendly resume format.