Let me start with this - Marketing can never be greater than content! If you think I've revealed the suspense, hang on.
Starting ground up, what is it that you are hoping to achieve with your Resume? A call for an interview / meeting, right? So that's it.
Assuming you are a Project Director and that you are reaching out to someone who needs one, all your Resume needs to ensure is that you are definitely on the list of people being called.
Let me tell you a secret.
If at anytime in life or work, I'm stumped on how to react or take things forward, I think of people who would handle the situation best.
And suddenly the gates open.
Its not about imitation, its about discovering alternatives and running them in your unique way.
Start writing your Resume, not like the candidate but as if you were the hiring manager.
Trust me you'll start finding words that you hadn't been thinking of, you will find prioritization of points that hadn't occurred to you.
Before I come to the secret sauce, let me get a few things out of the way that you may know by now.
As the hiring manager, you immediately realize that there are possibly 5-10 resumes of Project Directors you have.
You'll read quickly, cut through language and jargon to see real and relevant outcomes and will end up picking one who made it easy for you to do that.
So here's your 1st cue.
List down clearly on a blank slate the roles you expect, hard clear facts about your experience, crisp well defined achievements and the canvas of your operations sitting clearly on the global map.
Now start ground up.
You could make pie charts with them, place pictures or logos around or add video details but never for a moment let the content become subservient to the tools of presentation.
And here's the secret sauce.
Make it unique.
How do you do that? Simpler than you'd think.
Look back at your tenures in each organization and start listing the reasons / situations for which bosses / peers / other colleagues sought you out.
At first some may seem irrelevant or even hilarious.
Some you just don't like.
Regardless, just keep jotting down.
Don't miss a single thing.
Now start putting them in context.
A few simple examples - You were sought out to be the emcee for company's annual events.
Implies - You are a good and engaging speaker, are possibly an asset in client facing situations and can be a visible & effective brand ambassador for the company.
Take a 2nd one - You were appointed to lead the collection efforts of the company in the last quarter.
Implies - You are diligent, persistent, action oriented, result focused, a relationship person and collaborate well.
3rd - You are nominated to lead a major initiative for the organization's CSR goals.
Implies - You are versatile and can also multi task.
You can perhaps think outside of the box.
You have the capability to think inclusive growth.
You are good at teamwork.
You have the capability to articulate to different business groups.
There are many more critical ones that you will come up with.
The most important discoveries this exercise will bring forth are the traits you are naturally good at and those you are passionate about.
It will show you a mirror to your strengths - not as you perceive or hope but as they are - proven and validated.
This will bring your unique stamp to the credentials you list.
They will be so easy to support in person too.
In the end worry about the presentation.
A tip here again.
Choose an objective and intelligent advisor to go through your document and help you tune it to the right pitch for crispness, expression, priortization and emotional connect.
The best of stories are nothing without a great rendition.