As a resume writer, I craft resumes almost every day. While this is routine for me, every once in a while, a unique challenge arises—one that pushes me to refine my approach. This blog is about one such experience that left a lasting impression. Moreover, it will also help job seekers to curate a winning resume.
A candidate with 33 years of extensive industry experience approached me, seeking a transition into a consulting or advisory role. So, given his vast expertise, he had a clear vision of what he wanted but struggled to articulate it effectively.
Challenges I Faced With My Client:
As always, I engaged him in an in-depth discussion, asking probing questions to unearth his aspirations, challenges, and strengths. Next, I structured his profile into a concise, impactful two-page resume, confident that it effectively captured his essence to make a winning resume.
Revamped his new profile in ideal 2 pages and forwarded him with full of excitement. I never thought it would be of short-lived as received several criticisms viz, he found the resume:
- too lengthy yet lacking in coherence
- paragraphs are not connecting to each other
- resume is quite confusing
- that piercing point is not there in the resume
- punch is missing
- the main message is not very clear: what he is doing and what he can offer
He also said that the basic ideas are not reconciling between you and me, it did not spell out my entire personality. Moreover content structure is to be as per my way. The resume you forwarded didn’t quite capture the essence of what I want to convey about myself.
“He commented that his offering wasn’t clearly presented in my draft, with several key points omitted, pertinent points are not featured. He even remarked, “My offerings need to be presented like a bouquet on a dining table—visually appealing and well-arranged.”
More Corrections From Client’s End
There’s no synchronization of thoughts because you are not aware what I have been doing and what other people are expecting out of me; I am not expecting you to be the expert of my domain but at least you should be aware of my wish. Furthermore, he also added that everyone does not have capability to understand such bombastic words, it needs amendments, if somebody else is writing the resume of somebody there would be thought process difference but what I shared in the draft is 24 carat gold ingredients. So, better do it as soon as possible because I don’t want matter to go stale.
I remained open to feedback, listening attentively without arguing. At the end, he said let me jot down my thoughts into words and it was of 6 long pages intricate profile, assimilate what I have forwarded to you in the form of consulting business Resume, a strict instruction to me. I was taken aback and at this moment, I realized the challenge was not just about writing—it was about shifting his perspective.
Guiding Him On Key Principles Yo Create A Winning Resume:
Rather than arguing, I took the opportunity to educate him on key principles of a winning resume:
- Information Overload: Too much detail can dilute the core message.
- Lack of Focus: A resume must highlight key strengths, not narrate an entire career history.
- First Impressions Matter: Industry leaders and decision-makers seek clarity, not lengthy narratives.
I acted as career strategist and literally taught him about “Information Overload, Lack of Focus, Perception of Lack of Conciseness and Negative Impact on First Impression” and convinced him for the edited version in 2 pages. Lastly, he acknowledged that while he had deep industry expertise, my ability to distill complex experiences into a compelling narrative was a unique skill in itself.
My Final Thoughts
In the end, I successfully repositioned his profile, aligning it with the expectations of consulting firms. More importantly, I helped him shift his mindset—from detailing every experience to focusing on his strategic value. This experience reaffirmed the essence of my work: helping professionals articulate their true worth in the most impactful way possible.
My biggest prize in this episode is to turnaround of the thought process and make him understand that he has been in helms of affairs in each company. So, he should shun from writing trivial matters in his profile. Instead, he should see the bigger picture because he would be interacting with industry honchos. Besides, it will make him prepare for the interview because he was longing not for job but grabbing significant consulting assignments.
This experience reinforced the importance of guiding clients toward clarity and impact. Remember: It’s not just about listing experiences; it’s about telling a powerful, concise, and targeted story.
Myself Devdat, Career Coach, Professional Resume & Linkedin Profile writer. My Email: devdat23@gmail.com and M: +91 9811664625.
