A Resume That Works: How to Turn a Document into an Argument

A CV is not a story about you. It is a tool.

Recruiters do not read résumés—they scan them. They have 6–8 seconds to decide whether it is worth going deeper. Your task is to give them a reason to pause. Not with generic phrases or elegant wording, but with specificity, measurable outcomes, and clear value.

Here are three common mistakes that keep strong professionals on the sidelines:

Mistake No. 1: “creative, communicative, responsible.”
These words have lost their meaning. Thousands of résumés are saturated with them. They say nothing about you as a professional.

Mistake No. 2: an informal photo.
A picture from a party, the beach, or a corporate event is a fast track to the archive. Your photo should reinforce your professional reputation, not undermine it.

Mistake No. 3: “performed job duties.”
This is not information; it is a truism. What matters to a recruiter is what you changed, improved, or created.

Part 1. The Opening—Your First Winning Move

The “About Me” section is not a self-portrait. It is a concise, dense, business-oriented statement of the value you will bring to the company.

Weak:
“Sales manager, responsible, growth-oriented.”

Strong:
“Over three years in corporate sales, promoted two clients to key accounts, increasing their revenue sevenfold. Built a partner network from scratch and brought it to stable performance. Ready to replicate this result on your team.”

The difference is evident: concrete numbers, actions, and benefits.

Formula for a Strong “About Me” Section

1. Your role (marketer, engineer, analyst).
2. Scope: what you managed or oversaw.
3. A key achievement in numbers.
4. What you can deliver to the business immediately.

Limit yourself to 3–4 lines. This is not an essay; it is positioning.

Part 2. The “Experience” Section Is Not a Report—It Is a Results Narrative

Listing responsibilities does not persuade. Changes that occurred because of you.

Use the PAR method: Problem – Action – Result.

Example:

1. Problem: low lead conversion.
2. Action: implemented end-to-end analytics; updated sales scripts.
3. Result: conversion increased from 2% to 5% within one quarter; +1.2 million in revenue.

This is information that carries weight.

Avoid passive language.
Not “was involved,” but “developed.”
Not “participated,” but “initiated,” “launched,” “optimized.”

Part 3. Skills—Only What Truly Matters

This section often becomes chaotic. Thoughtful selection of skills, however, signals both competence and an understanding of employer expectations.

Divide skills into three blocks:

1. Hard Skills: only what you genuinely command—tools, systems, methodologies.
2. Soft Skills (evidence-based): “delivered 20+ webinars,” “Mentored three interns,” “Led negotiations for deals exceeding 10 million.”
3. Languages: indicate level and practical application.

Résumés that include references are reviewed noticeably more often, yet most candidates omit this section. Requesting a brief recommendation is standard professional practice, not a weakness.

Part 4. Details That Shape the Impression

1. Photo: neutral background, professional attire, natural light.
2. Contacts: phone number and email—make it easy to reach you.
3. Salary: avoid “negotiable”—it signals uncertainty. Benchmark against the market.
4. Formatting: clean fonts, adequate spacing, structured sections. Submit as a PDF.

A brief case:
Yusif submitted a four-page résumé with long paragraphs about “interdepartmental interaction.” After revision, it became a single page. The “About Me” section included a precise line:
“Automated reporting and reduced departmental costs by 25 person-hours per month.”
After sending out 10 applications, he received five interview invitations.
Not because he changed—but because he became clear.

Final Checklist

1. Does the opening section include numbers and employer value?
2. Is the experience structured using the PAR model?
3. Are the skills relevant to the specific vacancy?
4. Are the photo, formatting, and contacts error-free?
5. Have you tailored the résumé to the vacancy rather than sending a generic version?
   
   

Remember: a résumé is not a bureaucratic formality. It is your professional storefront. Make it precise, well-argued, and compelling.