Create a Resume to Make Your Next Big Move

Do you feel like you have been stuck in your current position?

Have you been working as a marketing intern, assistant or coordinator for a year or two or even three and don’t see any change in the recent future?

You know that you have excelled at your position and supervisors are happy with your performance, but you don’t see when that next big move is going to happen.

Well, stop wondering and start taking action. You are the only one navigating your career path. {Tweetable. Click here to Tweet!}

You need to think long and hard about the solutions, innovations, etc. you have given to your current firm and what value that has provided them. Instead of just writing a brief description or long list of key word attributes, you need to show that value that you have provided and what you could provide to that future supervisor. But, how specifically do you this? Well, I have outlined some basic steps below to walk you through the process. I am going to warn you, that this may take some research, self-confident thinking and soul searching, but it will be worth it in the end. It is a simple process, but it will not be easy!

First, list out everything completed in your current position. I mean EVERYTHING, even if you think it was meaningless. There is no need to get into detail, but just jot down the main task. Some ideas to get you started are listed below.

Sample Accomplishments:

• Reformatted resumes
• Reorganized files (electronic or paper)
• Track leads/proposals
• Coordinated with subconsultants for proposals
• Arranged logistics for presentation rehearsals
• Learned a new software (InDesign or Photoshop)
• Laid out a proposal/presentation/collateral piece from start to finish
• Reviewed and edited technical writing
• Worked a booth at a conference

This are just some ideas to get you started. The idea is to start writing them out. When you do this, your memory begins to pour out all of the other amazing stuff you accomplished.

Next, take a look at this list and group similar items together. If you have a lot proposal production (i.e. layout, printing, delivery) items, move them together. Similarly if you do a lot of logistics type assignments (i.e. planning conference booth attendance, preparing for meetings, coordinating with subconsultants) group those together. You don’t have to stick to these categories. They will be specific to your accomplishments. Some sample categories are listed below.

Sample Categories:

• Writing
• Graphic Design
• Proposal Production
• Presentations
• Logistics
• Analytics (sales reports, proposal tracking, basically anything with database or Excel spreadsheets)
• Content management (all things resumes, project sheets, etc.)

At this point, it may begin to be obvious which groups have the most accomplishments and where you should start with the next steps – value added results.

This next step is probably the hardest in this entire process. It really takes some thought, research, and possibly courage to ask for some information. Don’t skip it, as it is what will really separate your resume from the others.

Take one of your accomplishments or category group you listed above and answer as many of the following questions as possible:

• How did the firm achieve this before I started working here?
• Has my involvement improved the desired results? Think about how your involvement improved the results.
  • Did you achieve them faster or before a pre-defined schedule?
  • Did you achieve them using a new method or technology?
  • Did the firm experience any other benefits from your accomplishments? This could be a project win for a new client, in a new geographic or market area and/or elimination antiquated paper filing systems to electronic filing systems for marketing materials. You see where I am going with this. You want think about how your actions benefited the firm outside the direct action.
  • Was your achievement utilized in another department or office? If so, did you have to teach or train others?
  • How can you quantify your achievements? Managers love numbers and statistics. Some sample statistics include the following.
    • Hours per proposal reduced by implementing your design templates.
    • Percentage increase in win/hit ratio for office or certain market sector for the proposals you have been directly involved in.
    • Average number of proposals and presentations you are directly involved with.
    • First complete update of key staff resumes and project descriptions in XX amount of years.
    • What distinguishing qualities do your achievements have? Don’t get hung up on the numbers. There are qualitative accomplishments too. Some ideas include the following.
      • Consistency in writing due to implementing editing guidelines (or creating them in the first place).
      • Better relationships with subconsultants (or if you are subconsultant with prime consultants) through your direct coordination efforts.
      • Less stressful presentation rehearsal preparation through your close attention to logistic details.

To answer some of these questions, you might have ask your accountant or manager for some previous year’s numbers or ask a couple of project managers their thoughts on certain items. Do it! You don’t have to say why you are asking, but that you are just working some research for a proposal or industry association event. Use your marketing detective skills to seek out this before and after information.

Answer these questions for each of your categories or major accomplishments. As you answer them, you might discover other notable statistics or value added to describe.

You will then need to convert these answers into value added sentences or bullets and start formatting your resume. There is no magic resume format here, but I do suggest the following layout.

• State your desired position title with bullets underneath to highlight your best accomplishments, no matter what your actual title was when you achieved them.
• Describe your career history beginning with current or most recent position first. For each position state:
  • Your ending title,
  • Company,
  • Start and end years,
  • Brief summary of your responsibilities, and
  • Bulleted list of achievements.
  • List all industry and community related involvement activities. You can list the same achievements here as well.
  • Describe your education (Degree, Major, School, Year).
  • List all of the software and technology. Be honest here. Only list those that you can sit down at a computer today and use with little to no support.

If you have held several positions at one firm, I would suggest listing them out separately with achievements for each listed below the brief description. This is especially important if you don’t have a long work history or if you are new to this industry.

Don’t worry about page limits. It can be two to three pages if you are not just filling with fluff, but the important things need to go into that summary at the very top.

I have included a copy of my resume here. In this you can see how I have found a way to summarize and write the achievements to show the value to my firm for each of positions. Now, don’t copy this word-for-word as you are your own amazing marketer who has achieved far better things than I have. Plus it is just tacky and you are not tacky.

Take action now. In the comments section below, list at least three accomplishments and how they have added value to your firm.