You know you’re good … really good. The problem, however, is that you are struggling to prove how good you are on paper.

Ah … the resume. If you’ve ever written one, you know how challenging it can be.

Gregg’s Reference Manual tells us some fundamental facts about resumes:

• The purpose of your resume is to get you a job meeting. An interview. Your resume will not give you a job.
• Your resume is not a means of informing potential employers of your long-term goals and aspirations. It’s where you appeal to their hiring motivations by demonstrating what you can do for them, communicating the experience you’ve gained and the skills you’ve developed.

With these basics in mind, let’s summarize several other elements that your contemporary resume should include:

R = Review of your qualifications

E = Essential information only

S = Show your worth

U = You are unique!

M = Commercialize

E = makes you notice effectively

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R = Review of your qualifications

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What skills, education, or experience (paid or unpaid) do you have that make you the ideal candidate for the opportunity, industry, or career you’re pursuing? These bits of data are the building blocks of any resume. They are essential.

Most self-written resumes do a pretty decent job of listing skills and education, but they fail miserably in the Experience section. Learn more about tackling this challenge when we get to the “S” below.

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E = Essential information only

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Your resume shouldn’t be a voluminous list of everything you’ve done, in all the places you’ve done it, and all the clubs or associations you’ve been affiliated with. Sculpt your copy into content that is relevant to your target job / career path.

Suppose you are a marketer. His memberships in the American Marketing Association, the Direct Marketing Association, and the Public Relations Society of America belong on his resume.

Your memberships in the local dog trainers club and the American Dog Owners Association can clearly disenroll (unless you apply for a marketing position with the Humane Society).

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S = Show your worth

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Value. Employers want to know specifically what value you can bring to their organization. If you earn an hourly wage, you are not paid by the hour; you are paid for the VALUE you contribute at that time. If you are salaried, you are not paid by the month; you are compensated for the VALUE you bring to that month.

One of the most effective ways to communicate value on your resume is to address the burning question: “Why should we hire you?” You need to identify what specific contributions (that is, verifiable accomplishments) you have made at previous employers. This critical information is proof that you can do the same in your next job.

Displaying your unique achievements is both simple and complex. It’s simple because the best contributions are somehow related to the bottom line (money, earnings). The challenge is how to rethink what you’ve done in relation to higher profits, reduced costs, or productivity improvements.

How can your resume show that you have helped previous organizations solve a specific problem, become more competitive, expand the business, attract new customers, or retain existing ones?

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U = You are unique!

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Your resume must be unique in content and format. The information will be unique because, as mentioned above, you will have identified the achievements that will set you apart from other applicants.

Unique format means not using the templates that come bundled with your word processing software! An impeccable resume will not do you or your career justice. Bookstores are full of great resources with compelling resume samples to ignite your creativity.

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M = Commercialize

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A superior resume uses proven marketing concepts, such as headlines (rather than boring factual statements). It emphasizes the benefits it has to offer (how you can contribute), not just the features (what it was responsible for).

Capture the attention of potential employers on the first page with a compellingly written Profile or Summary of Qualifications. Resumes are initially scanned for approximately 15-30 seconds. If you’ve lost the reader’s interest at the top of the first page, they won’t read any more. Your resume will go on the “no” pile.

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E = makes you notice effectively

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There is no “good” or “bad” resume. There are only “effective” or “ineffective”. By integrating the above concepts into your resume, you can increase your chances of being noticed by those who have the authority to recommend you for the next step in the hiring process: a telephone interview, teleconference, or in person.

You know you’re good … really good. Now you are challenged to prove it on your resume.