Make Your Resume Stand Out with this Helpful Tip from Google

You’ve heard of the not-so-good examples of resumes out there. You’ve also learned why it is important to craft a resume that stands out. But have you heard about Google’s resume formula? Google’s senior vice president of people operations, Laszlo Bock, shares his best advice to prospective applicants on writing a stand-out resume:

“The key,” [Bock] said, “is to frame your strengths as: ‘I accomplished X, relative to Y, by doing Z.’ Most people would write a resume like this: ‘Wrote editorials for The New York Times.’ Better would be to say: ‘Had 50 op-eds published compared to average of 6 by most op-ed [writers] as a result of providing deep insight into the following area for three years.’ Most people don’t put the right content on their resumes.”

Got it? Let’s break this down into a formula: Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z]. By following this formula, you can highlight your accomplishments in numbers, and not only through words. Make your resume stand out by making it “results-oriented.” Imagine that you are applying for a job as a writer. Note the big difference below:

• Previous: Wrote articles on job searching and career advice.
• Revised: Wrote 10 articles a month on job searching and career advice, exceeding the required total of 5 articles per month, which generated a combined total of 100,000 page views, 7,000 likes, and 550 tweets.

Here are a few more examples. If you’re applying for a management position:

• Previous: Managed a team in charge of developing computer-based training modules.
• Revised: Managed a team of eight members in developing 10 computer-based training modules on HR-related benefits from 2013-2014.

If you’re applying for an office management position:

• Previous: Reduced the department’s printing costs through a cost-cutting initiative.
• Revised: Reduced the department’s printing by Php15,000 per year by collaborating closely with purchasing department in acquiring lower-priced ink cartridges.

If you’re applying for a sales position

• Previous:  Produced new sales by working with the marketing team.
• Revised: Produced Php3M in new sales from 2012-2014, with Php500,000 as the initial goal over the same three-year period, by working with the marketing team and targeting companies in the Paranaque-Laguna-Muntinlupa areas.

For someone who has reviewed thousands upon thousands of resumes, Bock definitely knows what he is talking about. Simple advice that does not reek of rocket science, right? It’s time to fine-tune your resume with this Google-inspired advice. How close or far is your resume to the model Bock suggested? Was it an “a-ha!” moment for you? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. If still having trouble crafting your resume, you can use this template we provided.

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