Crafting a Standout Resume: Insights from an Executive Coach
In the competitive world of job seeking, your resume is often your first impression on potential employers. Sabina Nawaz, an experienced executive coach with a rich background spanning software engineering, human resources, and leadership development, offers invaluable advice on how to transform your resume from ordinary to exceptional.
A Journey of Professional Expertise
Nawaz's credentials are impressive. After spending 15 years at Microsoft—first as a software engineer and later in human resources—she transitioned to executive coaching in 2005. Her upcoming book, "You're the Boss," promises to provide insights into effective leadership. With her experience of reviewing thousands of resumes during her time as a hiring manager, Nawaz has keen insights into what makes a resume truly stand out.
Two Critical Resume Red Flags to Avoid
1. The Pitfall of Generality: Vague Descriptions
Imagine reading a resume that simply states, "I facilitated lots of things." Such generic statements blend into a sea of identical-sounding applications. Nawaz emphasizes that the primary goal of a resume is differentiation—showing what makes you unique.
Instead of generic statements, focus on specificity:
- Highlight particular events you planned
- Mention specific papers you wrote
- Detail technologies you developed
- Showcase concrete achievements relevant to your field
By providing specific examples, you paint a vivid picture of your professional capabilities. Each detail serves as a brushstroke that helps potential employers understand your distinctive professional identity.
2. The Missing "So What?" Factor: Demonstrating Impact
Beyond listing job responsibilities, Nawaz advocates for a critical question: "What was the impact?" Every bullet point in your resume should answer this fundamental query.
Consider this transformation:
- Generic: "Worked in mergers and acquisitions"
- Impactful: "Led merger and acquisition strategies that generated $50 million in new business value, improving the company's market competitive position by 15%"
The key is to provide tangible, measurable evidence of your contributions. Employers want to see not just what you did, but how your actions positively influenced the organization.
Practical Steps to Elevate Your Resume
1. Replace Generalities with Specifics
- Ask yourself: "Can another professional in my role have written this description?"
- If yes, rewrite until the description is uniquely yours
2. Quantify Your Achievements
- Use numbers, percentages, and concrete metrics
- Translate your tasks into business outcomes
3. Reflect on Impact
- For each responsibility, pause and ask: "So what?"
- Articulate the broader significance of your work
A Resume as a Professional Narrative
Your resume is more than a document—it's a narrative of your professional journey. By following Nawaz's advice, you transform it from a mere list of duties to a compelling story of your professional value.
As you revise your resume, remember her core message: Don't just describe what you did. Illuminate how what you did made a meaningful difference.
With her upcoming book and decades of experience, Sabina Nawaz continues to guide professionals in navigating their career paths, one resume at a time.