How to Write a Concise Professional Resume

I've helped craft over 1000 CVs & about 78% successful in cracking a role. How? Let's dive in. 🚀 Your CV is more than just a document—it's your personal brand. It's the first impression you make on recruiters and hiring managers. Here’s how to build a standout CV that gets noticed (and gets you interviews): 1. Highlight Your Hard & Soft Skills PMs are like APIs—they connect different stakeholders, making collaboration seamless. Your CV should reflect this balance: 👉 Hard Skills: Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), tools (Jira, Trello), certifications (CSPO, SAFe POPM). 👉 Soft Skills: Resilience, creativity, negotiation, presentation skills. 2. Use Keywords Strategically Most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan resumes. To beat the system: 🔑 Identify keywords from job descriptions (use tools like Jobscan). 🔑 Incorporate them into your work experience naturally. 🔑 Customize your CV for each job (e.g., Technical PM vs. Marketing PM vs. Growth PM). 3. Focus on Visual Appeal A well-structured CV makes a lasting impression: ✅ Use clean fonts and simple formatting. ✅ Keep it to 1 page (short CVs are more likely to be read). ✅ Use strategic white space for readability. ✅ Bullet points are your best friend—keep it concise and clear. 4. Personalize Your CV Tailor your CV for each job application: ✨ Customize your professional summary to align with the role. ✨ Highlight relevant achievements with metrics. ✨ Show cultural fit—research the company and align your CV to their values. 5. Showcase Your Achievements Don’t just list job duties—focus on impact: 📈 Quantify your contributions: "Increased user retention by 15% through feature improvements." 📊 Demonstrate results: "Led a team to deliver a product roadmap ahead of schedule, driving a 10% revenue increase." 6. Common Mistakes to Avoid 🚫 Generic professional summaries—make it personal and engaging. 🚫 Overloading skills—focus on key, relevant skills. 🚫 Industry jargon—keep it simple and understandable. 🚫 Typos and errors—proofread thoroughly. 7. Seek Feedback & Iterate 💡 Get insights from mentors, friends, or even AI tools like ChatGPT. 💡 Join communities like Product School’s Slack for peer reviews. Final Checklist Before you hit submit, ensure your CV: ✅ Clearly highlights your product management skills. ✅ Is optimized for ATS with relevant keywords. ✅ Looks visually appealing with strategic formatting. ✅ Is customized for the job you're applying for. ✅ Tells your story with impact-driven achievements. 🔄 Over to You! What’s one tip you swear by for crafting a standout CV? Drop it in the comments or DM me for feedback! Let’s nail this together. PS: I run a program that helps folks get better at product management and crack product roles, both in India and abroad. If you want to apply for the program, check out the links in comments. 🚀 #ProductManagement #CVTips #CareerGrowth #JobSearch

Looking to make your resume shine and grab attention? With over a decade of recruitment experience and having reviewed nearly 250,000 resumes while working for industry giants like Amazon, Accenture (Avanade), Cognizant, and various startups through my agency, Proven Patterns, I’ve seen what truly makes a resume stand out. Here are some top tips to help you create a powerful resume that will leave a lasting impression: ☑ Keep It Concise: Aim for 2-3 page resume when possible. Focus on your most relevant experiences and achievements without overwhelming the reader. ☑ Tailor for Each Job: Customize your resume for every position you apply for. Incorporate keywords from the job description and highlight skills and experiences that match the role. If you don't have enough time at least match the resume summary section with the job description. ☑ Showcase Achievements: Use specific numbers and examples to quantify your accomplishments. Instead of saying "improved sales," say "boosted sales by 20% within six months." ☑ Professional Format: Opt for a clean, professional layout with consistent fonts and spacing. Save the flashy graphics for creative fields. ☑ Include a Strong Summary: Start with a compelling summary that highlights your key qualifications and career goals. Make it engaging and tailored to the job you're targeting. ☑ Highlight Skills: Clearly list your core skills and competencies. Be honest and focus on those that are directly relevant to the position. ☑ Proofread Carefully: Ensure your resume is free from typos and grammatical errors. A polished resume reflects attention to detail and professionalism. ☑ Add a Personal Touch: Include a brief section on your interests or volunteer work. This can help convey your personality and values beyond your professional skills. Your resume is your first impression; make it count! 🚀 If you found these tips useful, please repost ♻ and follow me, Kumud Deepali R. for more insights and advice on jobs and career!

One of the most impactful pieces of advice I have for job seekers is very simple: Hand your resume to someone who doesn’t know you and ask them what type of job they think you’re aiming for. 🤔 Give them 5–10 seconds to respond. If they can’t tell, it’s time to refine your resume. Why does this matter? Recruiters often spend mere seconds reviewing resumes, and they rely on clear, targeted information (not “robots” or mysterious ATS systems) to decide who moves forward. Here are a few ways to make your resume stand out: 1️⃣ Replace “Professional Summary” with a clear job title that matches the role you’re pursuing. 2️⃣ Use bold text to highlight key skills, accomplishments, or metrics, so they’re impossible to miss. 3️⃣ Keep it concise: 4–5 bullet points per role, each with measurable results, and limit your professional summary to 2–3 sentences. ✅ Less is more when it comes to resumes. Clarity and focus are your best tools to make an impression and land that next interview!

Struggling to hear back from recruiters? Boost your chances with these 10 game-changing tweaks! What if I told you that the challenge lies in the one thing that connects you to recruiters? Your RESUME! Having conducted numerous resume review mentorship sessions, I've spotted common pitfalls. Here are my top 10 suggestions to overcome them: 📜 Trim the Fat: Keep your resume concise and skimmable. Recruiters dedicate an average of 6 seconds to skimming it. Your aim must be to captivate them with a single glance. 📜 Power of Bullet Points: Swap paragraphs for clear, concise, and impactful single-line bullet points. If they become lengthy, consider splitting them into two. 📜 Show your Impact: Utilize the 'STAR Method' to quantify your impact. Space on your resume is limited, so use it judiciously. Employ tangible, quantifiable metrics to showcase your actual impact rather than just listing responsibilities. 📜 Keywords are the Key: Incorporate role-specific skills and keywords aligned with the job. The more your keywords match, the higher your chances of getting noticed. 📜 Tailor your Resume for Every Role: Align your skills and experiences with the job description and requirements. Employ Word Cloud apps to extract essential keywords from the job description and integrate them authentically into your resume. 📜 Transferable Skills Matter: Highlight your versatile skills and unique experiences, even if they don't precisely match the job requirements. These highlights make you stand out. 📜 Simplicity Speaks: Forego fancy formats and fonts. Opt for a clean, standard .doc format. Pro Tip: LaTeX templates work wonders for maintaining a consistent, clean format. 📜 Structure Matters: Place your best projects at the top and other achievements in reverse chronological order. Recent graduates should prioritize their education and showcase their GPA. Ensure you provide clear start and end dates, organization names, and locations for each experience, whether personal projects, education, professional experience, or volunteer work. 📜 Master the One-Pager: Aim for a one-page resume if you possess less than a decade of professional experience. 📜 Narrow your Field to Improve your Chances: Craft a laser-focused approach that stands out in a competitive job market. Remember, your resume is a highlight reel, not your life story or a thesis! Keep details minimal and impact maximal! Pro tip: Optimize your LinkedIn profile and include as many details as you'd like. (Stay tuned for my LinkedIn Optimization guide!) ⭐ Bonus tip: Get a referral! That's the best way to get noticed and hear back from recruiters. What other resume tips do you swear by? #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #ResumeWriting #GetHired #AmazonJobs #AWS #CareerSuccess #LinkedInOptimization #JobMarket #ProTips #hiring #recruiters #opentowork #mentorship #beavailable

Writing a resume doesn't have to feel like torture. You either put it off or rush through it to check it off the list. My process makes writing them easier. Even if resume writing isn't your favorite thing to do, these tips will make the process faster and more effective. With a few smart tweaks, your resume can go from "just done" to a marketing document you are proud of, without days or weeks of struggle. Follow this process: 1. Start with an easy win. →Begin with the easiest writing sections (like skills or education). →This builds momentum and speeds up the entire process. 2. Choose a clear, effective structure. →A hybrid format often works best for mid-career pros, highlighting skills and experience. →This makes your strengths and work history easier for recruiters to find. 3. Use bullet points instead of paragraphs. →Stick to action-packed bullet points to showcase accomplishments. →Keep each point concise and impactful for maximum clarity. 4. Highlight your achievements, not duties. →Focus on results — what you accomplished, not just tasks. →Include metrics when possible, like "Increased revenue by 15%..." 5. Optimize for readability. →Choose a clean, professional font and 10+ pt size for a polished look. →Add clear headings and white space to make it skimmable. 6. Take time to proofread. → After finishing, edit with fresh eyes — even obvious typos can hide in plain sight. →Have someone you trust review for clarity and flow. We are all busy and have many things to do. Wouldn't it be great to cut hours from resume writing? With these tips, you can create a more polished and focused resume in less time. Follow these six steps and transform resume writing from that dreaded task to a manageable process. If you need help with your content because you don't know what recruiters want to see, DM me (it's always free). I offer a resume strategy session to help you create content that will wow hiring teams. ---------- 💜 Helping mid-career professionals find clarity, build confidence, and land jobs they love. 📖 Follow me for career tips, job search strategies, and interview advice. 💌 Need support in your career journey? Reach out—I’m here to help!

Have you asked yourself if your resume content clearly and concisely communicates your best work experience? Does it show the actions you took? Does it show the impact you drove? During resume reviews and mock interviews, one of the biggest gaps I see is individuals underselling their wins within their existing resume content and/or not including their highest-impact wins at all. You've got amazing experience—let's make sure your resume reflects it! Here are some tips and strategies to highlight your biggest wins while aligning your content with the roles you're targeting. Remember: think about where you want to go, not just where you've been. Step 1: Define Your Target Role. Be specific! "Software Engineer" is too broad. "Senior Cloud Security Engineer specializing in AWS" is better. Step 2: Categorize the Role's Responsibilities (R&Rs). Group them into key areas like Communication, Problem-Solving, Stakeholder Management, or Data Analysis. This helps you identify which skills are most valued. Step 3: Identify Key Metrics. What metrics does the team or role tie to? (Revenue, Operations, Adoption, Customer Satisfaction, etc.) Understanding these metrics helps you frame your accomplishments in terms of business impact. Step 4: Document Your Wins with Data. Write out past work experiences that align with all three of the above (target role, R&R category, and key metric), including quantifiable data. If you can't measure it, remove it! "Wins" are projects with clear, measurable impact on your team or the business. Focus on your top 5 wins. Step 5: Conduct a Resume Audit. For each R&R listed in the job description, assess your current resume content. Does it demonstrate your skills and experience in that area? Step 6: The "Clarity Test." Once you've completed the above steps, read (and re-read) your resume. Share it with a friend. Ask: "Does my resume clearly connect with this job description? Do you understand the work I did? Can you clearly see the impact I made?" - Keep in mind, the recruiter may only have a high-level understanding about the role. So you want to make it easy to understand. Step 7: Quantify and Show Impact. You have great wins; you just need to identify and connect them. Assess each bullet point. Challenge yourself: "How can I quantify this? How can I show impact here? You have the wins. Now, showcase them effectively! #resumetips #jobsearch #careeradvice #linkedin #jobhunt #careersuccess #resumehacks #gethired #newjob #careergoals #bigtech #finance #healthcaretech

I have seen a lot of resumes. I also have written A LOT of resumes, and while there is some level of creative freedom in it, there are simple errors that could be preventing your resume from making the impact it needs to get you that interview. Your resume is often your first impression when applying for a job, so it's crucial to make it stand out for all the right reasons! Here are some of the most common resume mistakes I see: Objective Statements: Objective statements are old-fashioned! Instead, use a professional summary that showcases your unique skills and what you can bring to the table. This needs to summarize your skills, education, and relevant information that highlights why you are the right candidate for the job. Lengthy Resumes: Keep it concise! Aim for one or two pages to highlight your most relevant achievements and experiences. If you are including work history that is 10+ years old and not directly relevant to the job you are applying for, it needs to be eliminated. Keep the resume content recent and relevant! Spelling & Grammar Errors: Triple-check for mistakes. Typos can be a red flag that you didn't take the time to tailor, and may undermine your credibility. Missing Achievements: Instead of just stating your responsibilities, highlight your accomplishments and quantify them with tangible results. You want your resume to show the impact you have made. Using An Unprofessional Email Address: This one really speaks for itself. Keep it simple with just your first and last name as much as possible. Missing Contact Information: Make sure your contact details are up-to-date and easy to find. This is a great time to mention that you should also make sure that your voicemail isn't full! Remember, your resume is your ticket to landing an interview. By avoiding these common mistakes, you'll present yourself as a qualified and professional candidate ready to take on any challenge. Happy job hunting! 🎉 #jobsearch #jobseekers #resumewriting #careerdevelopment #careercoach

I used to add every single detail of my life onto my résumé. Like my home address, my 10th result from years ago, and, yes, even “references available upon request.” Over time, though, I learned it’s not only about what you’ve done. It’s about how you tell your story. So, I did this: 1️⃣ Remove the address. Seriously, no one’s mailing you a job offer. Keep it simple: city, state, email and phone number are enough. 2️⃣ Use a single font. Unless you’re a graphic designer, trust me, multiple fonts are more distracting than impressive. One simple typeface speaks volumes. 3️⃣ No “objective” statements. Give a quick, human summary instead. 2 or 3 sentences about who you are and what you bring to the table. 4️⃣ Remove corporate jargon. Phrases like “results-oriented professional” need to go. Use human language. You’re a person, not a robot. 5️⃣ Ditch the horizontal lines. Your résumé isn’t a high school art project. Clean, consistent formatting makes it easy on the eyes. 6️⃣ Reference on request. Please don’t list references upfront. If the company wants them, they’ll ask. No Need to Say “References Available” It’s implied. Next! 7️⃣ Stop over-sharing. Focus on accomplishments. And not your daily to-do list. Show the impact you made. 8️⃣ Remove irrelevant industry terms If you used specialised lingo in a job you don’t plan to return to, don’t clutter your résumé with it. 9️⃣ Optimize the number of bullets per role. I’ve been guilty of oversharing in bullet points. But truth is, hiring managers skim. Less is more. 🔟 Human summary example. I’m a Data Scientist specializing in machine learning and predictive analytics. At Quantum Analytics, I developed algorithms that improved forecasting accuracy by 25% for key business metrics. Keep it short, keep it real. And if you need expert help, send me a message. #Careers #ResumeTips #JobSearch