Tips for Tailoring Resumes to New Roles

I think I get at least one question every day about optimizing your resume to land interviews as a career pivoter. So let’s break it down: how to write a resume to pivot into a new job that you don’t previously have experience in 💡 (and to be confident you’re getting the best advice, I come with receipts from Wharton’s best practices for career changing resumes) Before we start... general resume best practices will still be your best friend. Think ATS-friendly formatting, focusing on accomplishments rather than responsibilities, quantifying your achievements, and using keywords - all tips that still apply. But there are a few resume tweaks that can help you compete with more "traditional" talent. 1. Include an objective You may have been told to skip a summary at the top of your resume that it’s a waste of space - not anymore! A summary is your chance to make it crystal clear why your background (that doesn’t look like an obvious fit on paper) will be the perfect thing this hiring manager needs (even more perfect than the “right fit on paper candidates”). To do this, focus on the outcomes you can deliver and the skills that qualify you for the job. 2. Summarize your skills Above your work experience, try creating a skills summary section, by listing a few of the most important skills you want to highlight, and then a bullet point that describes an example of when you used this skill. 3. Focus on only relevant experience Time to be RUTHLESS with tailoring your work experience. You’re only including bullet points that are relevant to the role you’re applying to. Get rid of the fluff. 4. Emphasize education This section can be a great way to show you’re serious about making the career pivot. List relevant coursework from your university education, plus any courses or certification programs you’ve completed to make this pivot. The more reputable the better. 5. Use a notable accomplishments section Especially if you don’t have a ton of experience, it can be helpful to add a notable projects or accomplishments section. I remember on early versions of my resume I had a Leadership Experience section where I listed Volunteer programs that I ran and my position on my Sorority’s Executive board. Be sure that everything you list here ties back to the key skills required in your target job. Go forth, and build your resume, and remember, career pivoting is a whole strategy that is sooo much more than just applying to the jobs you want!

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

Have you been applying for jobs lately? This post is for you. Yesterday, I attended a resume prep session organized by the AWS Skills Center in Arlington, VA. I gained some valuable insights that I believe can help anyone looking to enhance their resume and stand out in the job market. ----- Here are some key takeaways ----- 1️⃣ Tailor your resume to each job Carefully read the job description and align your skills and experiences to the requirements. Use keywords from the posting to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). -> Whatever you put on your resume, be ready to discuss it. 2️⃣ Quantify your achievements Include strong metrics that will show the amount of impact, the number of people, etc. For example, Instead of saying "Improved customer satisfaction," say "Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% through process improvements." -> Numbers speak louder than words. 3️⃣ Keep it concise and relevant Recruiters typically spend just a few seconds scanning your resume. So, ensure your most relevant experiences and achievements are easy to find. A well-structured one-page resume (or two for more experience) is ideal. -> Everything you put in your resume should be relevant to the job you are applying for. 4️⃣ Highlight transferable skills Even if you’re transitioning into a new role or industry, focus on the skills that apply across domains such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability. -> You can include an experience that is not directly related to the role you are applying only if it demonstrates leadership skills. 5️⃣ Professional formatting matters A clean, professional layout with consistent fonts, spacing, and bullet points makes your resume easier to read and leaves a good impression. -> Using fancy fonts will distract recruiters from important information on your resume. 6️⃣ You need more than one resume Keep a primary CV that includes everything you have ever done (DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE). Then, create multiple resumes from it when applying.  -> This will save you a lot of time. 7️⃣ Hyperlink wherever possible If you have a chance to hyperlink something on your resume, do it. It will be helpful to the recruiter. -> Keep it simple and avoid long links. For example, for your LinkedIn profile, write it like “in/your_name” and hyperlink it. 8️⃣ Proofread your resume Get someone to proofread your resume. A second eye to your document will always spot something you missed. Besides, anything you see as negligible, could be a big deal to the recruiter. I would like to thank the AWS Skills Center for hosting us. A big shout to the organizers of that resume prep session for their dedicated time and input. It was an invaluable moment for me and I am sure for everyone present. Have you recently updated your resume? What are some tips you would like to add to this list? Let’s discuss this in the comments section. Found this helpful? Please like ❤️, comment 💬, or repost ♻️ to help others.

Lately, I’ve been receiving more requests to review resumes—from friends who've been impacted by layoffs to job seekers eager to land their next role to students prepping for summer internships or jobs after graduation. I'm fortunate to come across a lot of resumes and enjoy reviewing them, so if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: your resume is your first impression. I know it's an extremely competitive job market, so I hope these quick tips support anyone looking to stand out: ✅ Lead with impact—Start each bullet point with a strong action verb and highlight results, ideally with a % impact - could be improvement in satisfaction scores, time saved, money saved, etc. And if you're leading a lot with "Managed" or "Coordinated," there are likelier stronger verbs to choose. ✅ Keep it clean & brief—Recruiters and hiring managers often skim, so make sure your resume is easy to read, well-structured, and free of fluff. My rule of thumb is if you have less than 8-10 years of work experience, it should fit on one page. And keep the format simple and ensure your personal data is safe: I only need to see your name, phone, email, and LinkedIn profile. Sharing home or mailing addresses isn't necessary and may signal an unwillingness to relocate. ✅ Grammar & consistency matter—A simple typo can cost you credibility! Ensure your formatting, punctuation, and verb tenses are consistent throughout. ✅ Tailor, tailor, tailor—One-size-fits-all resumes? Nope. Customize your resume for each role or company by mirroring keywords from the job description. Here's where AI can help... ✅ Leverage AI tools—Think of Copilot or AI-driven writing tools as your personal editors. They can catch grammar mistakes, improve clarity, and optimize your resume for keyword searches. You can also ask them for suggested learning courses or articles to improve upon skills that may be helpful in jobs you're looking for. ✅ Showcase YOU—Your resume isn’t just about what you’ve done—it’s about what you can bring. Highlight unique skills, projects, or volunteer experiences that set you apart. I often find that the most interesting and insightful interview questions can come from someone reviewing your resume and asking you something at the very bottom of it. For me, I was often asked about teaching dance fitness classes and why that was a passion of mine. If it's on your resume, ensure YOU want to talk about it! And while this post was all around resume/CV tips, I hope you prioritize networking and finding warm introductions through people in companies or with career paths that inspire you. Those connections can help and be an extension of your professional brand! Comment below any other tips or what resonates most ⬇️ #ResumeTips #JobSeekers

This is what I do if I had to apply for a Product Manager job like this one. 3 things I do to stand out in my applications 👇 The most important thing about your job applications is that your resume and LinkedIn are not for you. It is to help recruiters and hiring managers see that you have the experience and skills they need. 🔵 Relevant accomplishments on your resume >> Anything else Every job description has "Required" qualifications. This is EXACTLY what hiring managers are looking for and you should prioritize writing accomplishments related to, ideally, every single one of them. Adding keywords in a skills section is not enough. Saying that you have skills in "Leadership", or "Roadmap" without context is meaningless. Instead, use the X-Y-Z formula: "Accomplished [X], as Measured by [Y] by doing [Z]" to show that I have the experience they need. For example: "Increased the usage of [feature] by n%, by leading a team of engineers and designers to develop, A/B test, and launch a new user onboarding flow." In a single sentence, I mix multiple concepts and PM keywords that I find in the job description: → Launching → Leadership → A/B testing → Developing a feature → Working cross-functionally The more tailored your resume to the job description, the higher your chances of getting a call for an interview. 🟠 Required Qualifications >> Preferred Qualifications >> Everything else Have you applied to a job that has REQUIRED 2+ years of experience in PM but you don't have any and wonder why you didn't get a call for an interview? Yes, not meeting the required/basic qualifications may be a strong reason to not get an interview. When you tailor your resume to a job description, make sure that you are prioritizing in this order: 1 → Basic / Required qualifications 2 → Preferred qualifications 3 → Responsibilities 4 → Anything else Showing that you have the required qualifications in the form of accomplishments on your resume should be your top priority! 🟢 Tailoring for every job can be exhausting, here's a different approach Tailoring your resume is not easy and can quickly become overwhelming. I divide my experience into types of PM jobs for which I can be a good fit. For example, I may want a marketplace 0 to 1 job... but I don't have that experience so it'll be hard to tailor my resume to that. So, I focus on my strengths: → AI/ML for either consumer or Enterprise → Consumer Growth → B2B Platforms (a bit of a stretch) Instead of tailoring my resume to every job I apply for, I create one resume for AI&ML, a second one for Consumer Growth, and a third one for B2B Platform. 🚀 Networking, networking, networking Needless to say, I don't rely only on applying for a job. I spend as much time networking with recruiters and hiring managers on LinkedIn. I focus on a key message: → Why am I reaching out → Which job did I apply to → Why am I a good fit --- 🚀 Need help with your PM resume or interview? Check out my comment below!

𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵: 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. 👀 One of my clients just landed an interview for the first job she applied to with her revamped resume! 🎉 We restructured her resume to highlight her seniority and showcase her unique accomplishments. By tailoring it to her target role, we made it super clear that she had the right experience for the job. ✨ Don’t be fooled into thinking only AI tools are scanning resumes. Sure, keywords matter, but real humans are still reviewing your resume. If you can’t grab their attention in the first 3-5 seconds, they’ll move on. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘁—𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁.. 🏃♀️ Resume Refinement Tips: 1. 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀💡: Write down everything you’ve achieved in the past 2-3 years, then pick the most impactful stories. 2. 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀  📋: Use your manager’s feedback and praise to highlight specific achievements. Their words can help your resume shine even more! 3. 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁  🌍: It’s not just about tasks—did you manage major projects or help the company scale? Show how you made things happen! 4. 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 📊: Numbers speak louder than words. If you boosted sales by 25% or saved time or money, shout about it! 5. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 ✏️: If it sounds like a generic bullet point from a job description, rewrite it to reflect what’s unique to you! Hiring managers 𝙖𝙧𝙚  reading resumes—they want to know you’re the perfect fit. Make it easy for them to spot your brilliance! 🌟 ___________________________________________ PS. I’m hosting a 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 (March 25th) on 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, so you can land a role that fits your current life stage and start securing interviews quickly—without starting from scratch. You’ll learn how to: ✨ Leverage your skills to 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀. ✨ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 and start interviewing for the RIGHT roles ✨ Reframe your narrative to 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗹 📅 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵, 𝟯𝗽𝗺 𝗣𝗗𝗧 It’s going to be fun and I hope to see you there! (𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗶𝗼 and comments) 👇 #careercoach #jobsearchtips #interviewtips